Surprising strategy for increasing willpower

Instead of beating yourself up for avoiding exercise, find an aspect of the routine that intrigues you (like wondering what interesting news you might hear while on the treadmill or what moves you’ll learn at the group class). In a study at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, researchers found that 71 percent of people chose a lowcalorie cookie instead of an indulgent chocolate-dipped one after their curiosity was piqued. Similarly, there was a 10 percent spike in people taking the stairs versus an elevator when they felt curious about what they’d find in the stairwell. The reason? The drive for closure spurs us to follow through on actions requiring willpower.