So many people think self-control only involves willpower. They’re wrong. In fact, self-control often involves more important things, including a few small behavioural patterns that nobody really talks about.
A lot of us do these things without thinking about them. Here are twelve things that, if you can do them, prove your self-control is exceptional. Which ones do you do already?
Keep your phone out of sight during deep work
A phone simply being in your view causes you to be distracted. It doesn’t matter that you may not be consciously paying attention to it because your brain can’t stop checking it.
University of Texas researchers found that people’s performance levels dropped significantly when they had a phone nearby. Being able to keep your phone away from your work shows a lot of self-control.
Walk away when costs are sunk
It’s hard for most people to stop watching a bad movie halfway through when they’ve paid for it. The phenomenon is known as the “sunk cost fallacy,” and studies have found that people often keep going with something they dislike, just to justify the cost.
Being able to ignore that urge is quite powerful. A willingness to cut your losses proves you have a strong sense of self-control.
Wait to reply when you’re upset
We’ve all had those moments when we’ve received a text & felt our pulse race. But only people with real self-control decide to wait before replying.
Research shows that delaying an emotional response gives your brain some time to take away the emotions from your reaction. You’re no longer reacting in an emotional way.
Stop scrolling the moment you notice you’re bored
Scrolling sure is addictive. However, having self-control means that you’re able to quit once you notice that you’re scrolling without a purpose.
Behaviour monitoring research has found that most people scroll automatically. They have no conscious awareness & check apps reflexively. But people with self-control? They know when to close the app down.
Leave snacks out for guests & never touch them
Let’s not forget about food. Leaving food out for guests, yet not eating any of it yourself, shows your self-control extends to your eating habits, too.
Researchers have found that leaving snacks visible increases the chances of spontaneous eating, even when people aren’t hungry. Being able to reject the snacks proves you’ve got self-control.
Keep talking calmly when someone interrupts you
You might be surprised to learn how much self-control it takes to keep your voice steady & speak normally after someone cuts you off. Emotion researchers have actually studied such things.
They’ve found that maintaining a slow tone is great at reducing your stress levels. You have to be disciplined to keep talking calmly whenever someone interrupts you.
Stick to your grocery list when everything looks good
People with self-control walk into a grocery store for three things & leave with only those exact things. It takes a lot of restraint.
Research shows that roughly 60% of purchases are completely unplanned, and it’s especially common when people are grocery shopping. Holding the line on your list is a sign of real control.
Hold a silence instead of filling it right away
The majority of people panic after a few seconds of quiet. They’ll then blurt out anything to fill the air.
It’s something that studies have looked into, and they’ve found that there’s a timing pressure during conversations. Those who resist that are able to let silence simply happen. It’s a different sort of self-regulation.
Finish a boring admin task ASAP
You might randomly remember that you have a boring piece of admin to do, like updating a licence or submitting a form. Do you actually sit down to finish it that same day?
Those who do have good self-control because research on procrastination has found that most people avoid small tasks. Doing them right away proves that you’ve managed to beat an avoidance pattern.
Stick to one coffee even when your energy dips mid-afternoon
Oh, the 2 PM slump. The majority of people will automatically get some more coffee as soon as the slump hits, although some people acknowledge the crash & stick to a single coffee. That’s self-control.
They’re making a conscious override, and that’s especially important given that research shows that many people exceed their caffeine limits. Give yourself some credit.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
Related Articles: