Willpower: What it Is and Why it Matters with Roy Baumeister Pt 1

Roy F. Baumeister is one of the world’s most prolific and influential psychologists. He has published well over 500 scientific articles and more than 30 books. In 2013, he received the highest award given by the Association for Psychological Science, the William James Fellow Award, in recognition of his lifetime achievements.  He is currently the Eppes Eminent Scholar and a professor of psychology at Florida State University, and he holds distinguished visiting professorships at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia and VU University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. His 2011 book Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength (with John Tierney) was a New York Times bestseller, and he has appeared on several television shows.

Today, Roy joins me to talk about willpower. We explore willpower, what it is, and why it matters. We discuss how we can strengthen our self-control, and we note the impact of stress on decision-making. We discuss how when we use self-control to establish good habits and routines, our lives can run smoothly on autopilot, which manages the depletion of energy. We note the importance of sleep for the body, mind, and self-control. We also talk about how to live in the present while respecting the future.

 

“The people who go through life just trying to improve a little bit, they often do the best.”
– Roy F. Baumeister

This week on In the Doctor’s Chair

  • What is willpower
  • The importance of self-control
  • How to strengthen your self-control
  • The benefits of routine
  • The importance of sleep

In the Doctor’s Chair 

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