The trick to stick-to-it

You set out with the best intentions to workout regularly, be more organized, get-up earlier, or finish that big project. Some days you have the focus and determination to see it through. Other days… well, other days don’t seem to go so well.

“I need more willpower!” you say. The challenge is your willpower is finite. You only get so much willpower each day to get the tough stuff done. Some days you get more and some days you get less. The secret to stick-to-it-ness is wisely allocating the willpower you get each day to the stuff that matters.

Leverage your willpower by tackling your toughest projects first. Whether it’s working out that’s challenging for you or you’ve got a project you’ve been procrastinating, hit it first thing the morning while your willpower is strong. Starting with the toughest stuff ensures that the best of your willpower goes to what’s important before it’s tapped by daily stresses such as being patient in traffic, getting your child ready for school, resisting junk food or dealing with a challenging customer.

Protect it and use it carefully just like your other precious resources, such as money and time, and you’ll find you can get quite a bit of leverage with what you’ve got.