The PoWeR technique: a strategic approach to self-discipline

I strongly recommend the book referenced in the article. I finished reading it a few weeks ago and is a fascinating coverage of various hypotheses regarding the connection between proper breathing and health. I&#x27;m still experimenting with some of the items from the book, but it&#x27;s a good read for anyone interested in self-hacking.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Breath:_The_New_Science_of_a_Lost_Art" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Breath:_The_New_Science_of_a_L...</a>

It is question of motivation. Motivation uses logical forebrain, best way is to take thinking out of equation.<p>- marshmallow test is invalid, if kids do not trust adult. It would not work on kids from rough neighbourhood, who would get second marshmallow stollen. Single marshmallow is logical choice in this case. Apply that on savings and inflation...<p>- if phone alarm does not wake you up, use lamp with timer. 10000 lumens works pretty well...<p>- phone doom scrolling can be avoided by switching phone into black and white, or inverting colors... Or disable java script everywhere... Or use very very slow proxy server...<p>Key is not to think about it. The moment you have to switch on your brain, to convince yourself, is the moment you lost!

This one, this one will surely help me break my social media addiction...

Aside from some trick (as in the article) of using the breath to momentarily affect the amygdala, I believe the general emerging rule is to pause, in response to a temptation, just long enough to call to mind a preferable&#x2F;practical alternative. I&#x27;ve seen this characterized as &quot;you only need a moment of willpower&quot;.

I would recommend Walter Mischel&#x27;s 2014 book &quot;The Marshmallow Test.&quot; He argues that the power of the marshmallow test is not in demonstrating that some children innately have more self-control than others, but in revealing how this skill can be cultivated and improved with practice and the right strategies.<p>I think the critiques are completely valid, Mischel did not account for many variables like socioeconomic status, family environment, etc. However, I do not believe it necessarily disproves his conclusion of being able to cultivate skills like self-control.

i always find it interesting how hostile people generally are to these sort of ideas, or towards anything that contains the implication that these problems are something that can be worked on and aren&#x27;t just something that people are helpless victims of. it really is like clockwork, i knew what these comments were going to be like before i even read any of them.<p>i guess &quot;it&#x27;s not my fault&quot; is an easier pill to swallow than &quot;this weakness i have means i have to work harder than most people to compensate for it&quot;.

HahaaH!! After intently reading the first few paragraphs, I remembered that I have to mow the yard! Off now to that place of self-discipline.

Some of the best advice I&#x27;ve heard from alcoholics who got sober is: if you can have two drinks and then stop, you don&#x27;t have a drinking problem. Similarly for self-control: if you have enough patience to read this comment, you don&#x27;t have a self-control problem. Don&#x27;t get sober for fun, it&#x27;s no fun.

&gt; In short: You hold your breath and don&#x27;t allow yourself to breathe again until you begin taking an action that aligns with your goals.<p>So...this is a method to develop iron self-discipline, which requires nothing to start save for iron self-discipline.

As someone with severe ADHD this is one of the only strategies that seem to work for me!

Couldn&#x27;t get part the foundation on the debunked marshmallow test.

why does the like button cover 15% of my screen (mobile) and pop off the bottom constantly, making it even harder to read? and you can&#x27;t dismiss it?

Perhaps the author meant &quot;clenching.&quot;

Easier just to take a modafinil pill - seems that when I do that I get everything I need to do done that day.

What an overcomplicated load of baloney. If you become aware that you’re scared, stressed or overactive and distracted, do some 4-4-4-4 box method breathing until your mind calms down. The end. Just saved you having to remember this stupid acronym and this “ransom decision” nonsense. What’s more, it’s a proven technique that’s used by military personnel in life or death scenarios, as opposed to whoever this person is who’s claiming to have “10,000 learning cycles” of self discipline, whatever the fuck that means.

Lol