How many of you told yourself you’d only eat one tiny slice of cake, and suddenly you’re 2/3 deep and about to throw up?

How many of you said you were going to work out, but ate chips on the couch instead?

I can assume most people relate. Most of you are guilty. We are all guilty.

So what does it take to actually eat that one tiny slice? What does it take not to watch the Bachelor and study for biology instead?

Willpower.

It takes willpower, and if you’re lacking it, you’ve come to the right place.

It all starts off with how badly you want something. How badly do you want to lose those extra ten pounds? How badly do you want to ace that final exam? If you want it enough, you will do anything in your power to get it, even if it takes a few slip ups and a long, bumpy road to get there.

What I find helps me to maintain my willpower is how I approach my days right from the start. When I first wake up, I envision my goals for the day. I ask myself:

What do I need to accomplish today, and what steps should I take to get there?

By focusing your energy on completing these responsibilities right from the second you wake up, you will program your mind into what I like to call “mission mode.” In this case, waking up and locating your tasks will heighten your motivation to complete them throughout the day.

So how does this one day of willpower translate into habit?

It’s a matter of reminding yourself of your goals every. single. day.

You will come up with multiple excuses as to why it doesn’t matter if you slip up here and there. Okay, so here’s the deal about slip ups--they happen. It’s okay if they happen once in awhile because we’re human; we have impulses; we make mistakes, and sometimes we need slip ups to maintain some form of sanity. However, slip ups are harmful if you do not bounce back from them. Sometimes, one mistake can cost you your motivation, and soon you’re heading backwards, untying what took months to sew just because it feels comfortable.

F*** comfort. Comfort gets you nowhere. The whole point is to feel so uncomfortable that your lack of coziness actually becomes your new minimum standard.

If you find yourself constantly restarting your journeys toward your goals, you most likely need to re-evaluate what exactly your goals are. In other words, you may not want it badly enough or may not have established exactly what it is you want. It’s best to be specific when envisioning what it is you are trying to accomplish. For example, two scenarios are displayed below. One individual is successful in maintaining consistence and willpower. The other is guilty of starting up and stopping, repeatedly, in the journey toward reaching her goal.

1) Emma wants to lose weight. She decided she will cut out junk food and go to the gym more often, whenever she finds the time. She has wanted to lose this weight for awhile now, and knows it’s just a matter of improving her diet and exercising more. Within time, she knows she will begin noticing differences in her body.

2) Jill wants to get lean and toned. She has decided to implement vegetables into each of her meals and cut out processed foods. She has created a gym schedule for each week of the month, and will rotate these in a cycle. Within time, she knows she will begin noticing differences in her body.

So why is it that both Emma and Jill have similar goals that they REALLY want, yet Jill is the only one who is maintaining willpower and staying consistent? Jill created a specific plan that she must strictly follow. In this case, it becomes a force of habit. Rather than finding the time to take the initiative in approaching your goals, create time. Make it a part of your schedule…make it a priority in your life. If you feel any sort of temptation in losing touch with what you want, ask yourself:

How will this drawback make me feel afterwards?

No short term pleasure is worth the long term cost.

Without self-reminders, structure, and strong desire, your willpower will not prevail. Once you implement each of these components into your daily routines, maintaining drive will become second nature. It will become a part of you.

So get planning now.

Try Do it.