Notes

Do Not Use Your Willpower Unless You Absolutely Have To

  • Updated July 2, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Do not use your willpower unless you absolutely have to

“I only do what is easy. I only write when I immediately know how to do it, if I falter for a moment, I put the matter aside and do something else .” — Niklas Luhmann


Avoid temptation rather than relying on willpower.


Never rely on strong willpower or overcoming resistance, but rather designing an environment that is flexible enough to avoid friction in the first place. Instead of struggling with adverse dynamics, highly productive people redirect obstacles, much like Judo champions do.


Try to use the least amount of willpower for self-control or self-discipline. Ask yourself the WHY instead.


Don’t rely solely on willpower to push through toward distant goals. Don’t just grit your teeth. If an activity doesn’t provide some immediate gratification, it’s hard to stay committed. Instead, try bundling your goals with enjoyable activities. Turning goal pursuit into something pleasurable is one of the most effective ways to make meaningful progress—and enjoy the journey along the way.

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Updated July 2, 2025 • 10 days ago
© 2025 • Hua-Ming Huang licensed under CC BY 4.0

Hua-Ming Huang

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