Saturday, November 21, 2009

- willpower index -

Numbers are a great invention - they can put real life events and ideas into a different context.

For instance, it's recommended that you write down your numbers when working out: how many push-ups or pull-ups you've done, what weights you used in various weighty activities, and so forth. The point of tracking is to know how far you can go (whether it be repetitions or the weight of your weights) for next time. After awhile, if you graph the data, it'll hopefully be a nice line going upwards and it'll be super motivating.

Similar to levelling up in a game (as xkcd already noted).

But what if we want to track mental rather than physical strength? It's just as - if not more - important, considering studies have shown that self-control is correlated to success and happiness.

Can it be measured? Call it self-control, self-discipline or willpower, that stuff seems to be abstract and untrackable. On the other hand, research has shown that willpower is like a muscle: it gets strengthened with exercise, and it gets depleted with over-usage.

So why not have a go at it?


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