Doing something you don’t enjoy
Selecting long-term over short-term rewardsEvery day, without realizing it, we engage in all manner of
activities that diminish our willpower. Willpower is depleted when
we make decisions to focus our attention, suppress our feelings and
impulses, or modify our behavior in pursuit of goals. It’s like taking
an ice pick and gouging a hole in our gas line. Before long we have
willpower leaking everywhere and none left to do our most important
work. So like any other limited but vital resource, willpower must be
managed.
When it comes to willpower, timing is everything. You will need
your willpower at full strength to ensure that when you’re doing the
right thing, you don’t let anything distract you or steer you away from
it. Then you need enough willpower the rest of the day to either
support or avoid sabotaging what you’ve done. That’s all the
willpower you need to be successful. So, if you want to get the most
out of your day, do your most important work—your ONE Thing—
early, before your willpower is drawn down. Since your self-control
will be sapped throughout the day, use it when it’s at full strength on
what matters most.