How to Strengthen Willpower, part 1

According to this article, willpower uses up glucose, thus tiring out our body as well as our mind.  A rush of glucose raises our willpower over the short term, but a more steady level of glucose increases it over the long term.

The mind-body response of exerting willpower literally fatigues us (Tice et al.

2007). It depletes physical power, as shown in one study that looked at the effects of mental self-control on physical stamina (Bray et al. 2008). In this study, trying to control one’s thoughts decreased muscular endurance, as measured by performance and EMG activity. The researchers who conducted this study called the effect “central fatigue.”

Our minds and bodies draw from the same source of strength. But what is this source? Matthew Gailliot, PhD, a researcher at the University of Amsterdam, argues that the fuel of willpower is glucose.