Willpower is a limited resource.

Willpower, or the ability to resist short-term temptations in order to meet long-term goals, starts off full in the mornings and gradually declines over the course of the day.

This is precisely why you never break your diet at 8am. Diets are always destroyed at 10pm when that bowl of ice cream or, in my world, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, beckons.

This is also why you should never plan meetings for the morning. Instead, do the work that really matters right away. Block your morning hours for creative work that requires critical thought and focus.

Put your meetings in the afternoon when a little sociality might boost your energy as your willpower begins to wane.

Minimize distractions by shutting down your email and setting specific times to take action on administrative (aka “soul-sucking”) tasks.

And, if your willpower is low but the task before you requires maximum focus and engagement, tap your strengths, which are natural catalysts for energy. Do something that releases your flow state and tap those energy stores to accomplish the tasks.

Willpower and energy are powerful forces for getting stuff done. Take advantage of them during the day to do your best work.

Need help understanding your strengths? Check out my Coaching Page (www.dustinpeterson.me/coaching) and let’s talk.