As I mentioned before, ego depletion can leave your willpower in a weakened state. If you’re always tired, hungry, stressed or depressed, you’re more likely to succumb to temptation.
A simple way to fight ego depletion is to live a healthy lifestyle. Since this problem is largely caused by a low level of glucose (or “low blood sugar”), you can fight temptation by:
• Getting a full night’s sleep to feel energized in the morning.
• Staying hydrated by drinking at least eight, 8-ounce cups of water every day.
• Eating a balanced meal every day—including fruits, vegetables, (good) carbohydrates and lean protein.
• Carrying healthy snacks with you to eat when you feel hungry.
• Exercising to reduce stress and maintain an optimal weight.
Don’t underestimate the power of the mind-body connection. When you live a balanced, healthy life, breaking a bad habit becomes that much easier.
(To learn more about this strategy, check out my ebook 70 Healthy Habits: How to Eat Better, Feel Great, Get More Energy and Have a Healthy Lifestyle.)
Also, it’s important to maintain a positive attitude about this behavior change. The trick is to know what to do whenever you have an impulse. When temptation strikes, reaffirm your commitment to stick to the new plan.
You can even recite a simple mantra whenever you experience a moment of weakness. This could be a silly phrase like “Smoke-free in three months,” repeated on a regular basis. Say this over and over whenever you feel the urge to light up.
CASE STUDY
I feel fortunate that I enjoy getting regular exercise. When I felt like checking my cellphone, I’d do a few things:
First, in the morning, I reminded myself that any time spent on the phone would take away time from exercise and other aspects of my habit-stacking routine. Next, while working, I’d often take quick walking breaks instead of checking different webpages. In the evening, I’d remind myself that any time spent on the cellphone was time not spent exercising with my fiancée, reading or simply doing an enjoyable activity.
All of these actions helped me realize that being on the cellphone was literally robbing me of the one thing you never get back—time.