Lack of willpower behind lack of workout after work

The research initiated by Kathleen Martin Ginis from McMaster University in Hamilton finds that using the willpower to perform one task leaves one with less willpower to do a completely different chore.

Kathleen Martin Ginis, associate professor of Kinesiology at the University confirmed, “Cognitive tasks, as well as emotional tasks such as regulating your emotions, can deplete your self-regulatory capacity to exercise.”

A ‘Stroop test’ consisting of words associated with colors but printed in a different color was used by the researchers to analyze the self regulatory capacity of the study participants.

Findings of the study
It was found that a hard day of work not only drains an individual’s energy but also the willpower, and this leads to not exercising after work.

Kathleen added, “After we used this cognitive task to deplete participants' self-regulatory capacity, they didn't exercise as hard as participants who had not performed the task.”

“The more people "dogged it" after the cognitive task, the more likely they were to skip their exercise sessions over the next 8 weeks. You only have so much willpower,” she said.

‘Regeneration of willpower’ is the remedy
According to the study, there are some simple methods that can revitalize an individual and boost the willpower needed to do another task.

Listening to your favorite music and making commitments like going for a walk after returning from work can actually help in refreshing your mind and can result in getting back your self discipline.

It may also be noted that exercising in between work is also a solution many people go for to maintain a healthy body, but past research shows that people who exercise late perform better and have more power as the body temperature is higher in the evening.

Another way of boosting willpower is by setting set goals and targets for yourself and using your self discipline to achieve these. The stronger your self regulatory powers become, more is the amount of willpower generated.

Kathleen says, “Willpower is like a muscle: it needs to be challenged to build itself.”

“By constantly challenging yourself to resist a piece of chocolate cake, or to force yourself to study an extra half-hour each night, then you can actually increase your self-regulatory capacity,” she continues.

The key to a healthy living is exercise and the key to exercise is a strong willpower. So go on and get some willpower and start exercising.

The present study has been published in this month’s issue of the journal titled ‘Psychology and Health’.