Genuine question - how do you get willpower?

[LylaLee]

To exercise, to run and not stop after one minute?

Also where do you get the willpower to scrub the kitchen floor and to put away laundry.

Just to add that when you start doing things that make you feel better, that's a good incentive to carry on. But just watch out for self sabotage and the internal voice that tells you to stop because you will fail. Or that you don't deserve nice things. You definitely do!

I have adhd and one of the characteristics is not finishing things - that disinterest in endings and outcomes impacts motivation and the impact of rewards.

So traditional operant reinforcement (unless they’re immediate) have limited effect. But classical conditioning is more effective. So rather than promise myself the nice thing when the job is done, having the nice thing while I’m doing the job is much more effective.

The more enjoyable the task is the better. So finding fun exercise is crucial. Or making it more fun - that could be running to music, running with a friend or imagining I’m Rocky. If it’s a boring thing then I absolutely need several layers of distraction to stay on task eg chewing gum, listening to a double speed podcast.

I don’t think willpower is a useful concept. I have an attentional issue where I can focus to an extreme level and also barely at all. It’s a neurological issue, not a character flaw.

Okay, so when your house is in a mess and someone dear to you visits unexpectedly and then leave you forever because of it, you'll be tidier next time I suppose.

I think many people only get more will power when it looks like their current behaviour and habits will get that in a bad place in life - mental or physical health problems etc.

I stopped eating sweets because I fell in love.

Because I hate being fat , I'm scared my body will fail if I don't look after it and like nice clothes .