The Willpower Instinct：How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It

Thefirstbooktoexplainthenewscienceofself-controlandhowitcanbeharnessedtoimproveourhealth,happiness,andproductivity.Afteryearsofwatchingherstudentsstrugglingwiththeirchoices,healthpsychologistKellyMcGonigal,Ph.D.,realizedthatmuchofwhatpeoplebelieveaboutwillpowerisactuallysabotagingtheirsuccess.Committedtosharingwhatthescientificcommunityalreadyknewaboutself-control,McGonigalcreatedacoursecalled"TheScienceofWillpower"forStanfordUniversity'sContinuingStudiesProgram.ThecoursewasaninstanthitandspawnedthehugelysuccessfulPsychologyTodayblogwiththesamename.Informedbythelatestresearchandcombiningcutting-edgeinsightsfrompsychology,economics,neuroscience,andmedicine,McGonigal'sbookexplainsexactlywhatwillpoweris,howitworks,andwhyitmatters.Readerswilllearn:Willpowerisamind-bodyresponse,notavirtue.Itisabiologicalfunctionthatcanbeimprovedthroughmindfulness,exercise,nutrition,andsleep.Peoplewhohavebettercontroloftheirattention,emotions,andactionsarehealthier,happier,havemoresatisfyingrelationships,andmakemoremoney.Willpowerisnotanunlimitedresource.Toomuchself-controlcanactuallybebadforyourhealth.Temptationandstresshijackthebrain'ssystemsofself-control,andthatthebraincanbetrainedforgreaterwillpower.InthegroundbreakingtraditionofGettingThingsDone,TheWillpowerInstinctcombineslife-changingprescriptiveadviceandcomplementaryexercisestohelpreaderswithgoalsrangingfromahealthierlifetomorepatientparenting,fromgreaterproductivityatworktofinallyfinishingthebasement.