A similar study of weight-lifting would conclude that it weakens you: after all, doing some squats leads to fatigue. Frequently an activity that causes effect X in the short term leads to its opposite when repeated over long periods; see drug habituation, the effects of physical exercise, the effects of intellectual efforts, etc.<p>This study tells us that self-control might be a bit like a muscle, in that its use acutely makes it weaker. But do we chronically adapt to its use, and become stronger once the temporary fatigue has passed, as with so many other forms of stress? Intuitively, from my experience, we do, but it might be interesting to study. Either way, this possibility makes this study insufficient basis for advice to "use it sparingly."
There is a lot more evidence.<p><a href="http://lesswrong.com/lw/10x/the_physiology_of_willpower/" rel="nofollow">http://lesswrong.com/lw/10x/the_physiology_of_willpower/</a> -- exerting willpower leads to glucose-depletion.<p><a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=848839" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=848839</a> -- this topic has been on here before, though it was a different paper.
I’ve experienced what the article describes first hand when my son was born two months ago. For whatever it’s worth, here are my 2c for other HN readers who are babying a startup while starting up a baby:<p>Even after my sleeping patterns returned to normal, it was harder to deal with some of the more annoying parts of startup-life. Here’s what it took to get my work stamina back on track:<p>I’m now doing one thing at a time, wholeheartedly. I don’t think of work when with baby. I don’t think of baby when at work. Sounds trivial, but easier said then done. I use whatever self-control I have left on this.<p>I separate work and home with an indulging buffer activity. Preferably something that also nourishes the body like mild exercise (but even if not that’s ok). What works now is biking a few miles between home and work, with a short pit stop at my favorite coffee shop.<p>Took me a couple months to get this to work, and it takes energy to keep it optimized. But when it clicks right, be prepared for a powerful feedback loop of goodness.
interesting. i realise that there must be much more evidence and study than is contained in that article, but it struck me that for the particular experiment they gave the people with the harder task may have a stronger sense of being "owed" something, since they made more effort, and that maybe this stronger sense of entitlement leads them to take more rewards...?
Interesting. Anyone think this correlates to top athletes cheating on their wives? Most notably, Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan.<p>Also, with a small n of 84, I think more experiments should be conducted in this area.
My speculation is that 'willpower' or 'vitality' relates directly to the available reserves of neurotransmitter(s) in your nervous system.<p>Notes:<p>If you try to do something bad (that part of you knows is wrong), this will set up repetitious, conflicting thoughts which act to deplete willpower.<p>Willpower is replenished by sleep.<p>Activities seemingly opposite to those activities which require willpower are known as <i>pleasures</i>. However, my guess is that these also drain neurotransmitters, rather like revving an engine in neutral.<p>Therefore the way to maximise useful activity is to:<p>(a) do something that is genuinely in accordance with your highest wishes and values
(b) <i>decide</i> that it will be your sole source of pleasure and entertainment