PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Finding pleasure in productive activities the key to boosting self-control

2014-01-16
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Dominic Ali
d.ali@utoronto.ca
416-978-6974
University of Toronto
Finding pleasure in productive activities the key to boosting self-control TORONTO, ON — After a long, tiring day many of us simply give in to the urge to grab a favourite unhealthy snack and avoid tackling obligatory tasks. But we don't have to.

A new study from the University of Toronto Scarborough shows that while people have a harder time controlling themselves when tired, it doesn't mean they've exhausted all of their willpower. The key to boosting self-control is finding pleasure in the necessary activities of life.

"When people are fatigued they experience a change in motivational priorities such that they are less willing to work for the things they feel obliged to do and more willing to work for things they like to do," says Michael Inzlicht, professor in the Department of Psychology at UTSC and affiliate faculty at U of T's School of Public Policy and Governance.

Inzlicht defines self-control as the mental processes that allow people to override thoughts and emotions in order to adapt their behavior from one moment to the next. The prevailing view in psychology has been that self-control is a limited resource where repeated acts of restraint exhaust supply until individuals are left with little to no willpower at all.

While it's true that people tend to lose their focus after performing specific tasks over a period of time, Inzlicht says that is the result of a shift in priorities and not an absence of self-control. In fact, there may be ways to avoid hours of being unproductive when one's energy and focus are low.

The important thing is to convert tasks from "have-to's" into "want-to's," says Inzlicht. When that fails, it's worth planning for the unavoidable ups and downs in motivation by steering clear of temptations and taking mental breaks in order to refresh.

For individuals with busy personal and professional lives this may be easier said than done, but certainly not impossible, notes Inzlicht.

"If someone wants to eat healthier they should think of the enjoyment they can get from eating delicious nutritious foods. They should not frame their eating goal as something they feel obliged to do because their doctor or spouse told them to do so," he says. "The key is finding a way to want and like the goal you are chasing, just like the person who loves to jog as a way to relax or take a break."

The study, which was co-authored by Brandon Schmeichel at Texas A & M University and Neil Macrae at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, is available online and will appear in the upcoming edition of Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

### Online link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364661313002945

For more information, contact:

Michael Inzlicht
Tel: 416-820-2395
michael.inzlicht@utoronto.ca
http://www.michaelinzlicht.com

Don Campbell
Media Relations Officer
University of Toronto Scarborough
Tel: 416-208-2938
dcampbell@utsc.utoronto.ca


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Global warming's biggest offenders

2014-01-16
Global warming's biggest offenders The US and China are among the 7 countries most accountable for the world's temperature increase, according to a new Concordia study This news release is available in French. Montreal, January 15, 2014 — When ...

BMC alleviates alarm fatigue by decreasing noise

2014-01-16
BMC alleviates alarm fatigue by decreasing noise (Boston) – Boston Medical Center (BMC) successfully reduced audible alarms as a way to combat alarm fatigue and improve patient safety. The hospital, one of two in the country that spearheaded this ...

Popular blood type diet debunked

2014-01-16
Popular blood type diet debunked Researchers from the University of Toronto (U of T) have found that the theory behind the popular blood type diet--which claims an individual's nutritional needs vary by blood type--is not valid. The findings are published this ...

Geosphere examines volcanic zones, the Sierra Nevada, and Utah's Confusion Range

2014-01-16
Geosphere examines volcanic zones, the Sierra Nevada, and Utah's Confusion Range Boulder, Colo., USA – New Geosphere papers posted online 14 Jan. cover the San Joaquin Basin in California, the Catalan Volcanic Zone in Spain, the Taupo Volcanic Zone of New Zealand, the Confusion ...

Brain regions 'tune' activity to enable attention

2014-01-16
Brain regions 'tune' activity to enable attention The brain appears to synchronize the activity of different brain regions to make it possible for a person to pay attention or concentrate on a task, scientists at Washington University School of ...

Food processors beware: Salmonella biofilms incredibly resistant to powerful disinfectants

2014-01-16
Food processors beware: Salmonella biofilms incredibly resistant to powerful disinfectants Once Salmonella bacteria get into a food processing facility and have an opportunity to form a biofilm on surfaces, it is likely to be extraordinarily difficult, if not ...

When a doctor's visit is a guilt trip

2014-01-16
When a doctor's visit is a guilt trip UC San Diego study examines patient reactions to physician-inspired guilt and shame Have you ever left a doctor's office feeling ashamed or guilty? Chances are one in two that you answered "yes," according to research ...

Does taking multiple medicines increase your risk of being admitted to hospital?

2014-01-16
Does taking multiple medicines increase your risk of being admitted to hospital? Patients with a single illness who take many drugs have an increased risk of being admitted to hospital, but for patients with multiple conditions, taking many medicines is now associated with ...

How much does it cost to have a baby in a hospital?

2014-01-16
How much does it cost to have a baby in a hospital? UCSF study examines charges for uncomplicated deliveries Women giving birth in California can face a huge cost difference in their hospital bills, according to a new UC San Francisco ...

In the blink of an eye

2014-01-16
In the blink of an eye CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Imagine seeing a dozen pictures flash by in a fraction of a second. You might think it would be impossible to identify any images you see for such a short time. However, a team of neuroscientists from MIT has found ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Global analysis shows hidden damage from men’s alcohol use

DRI recognizes Ashley Cornish as the 2025 Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award Winner for Women in Atmospheric Sciences

Unlocking the blueprint for a powerful plant-based drug

Bringing modern science to vitamin biology: Isha Jain wins NIH Transformative Research Award

University of Houston scientists learn that rare bacterium ‘plays dead’ to survive

Introduced animals change how island plants spread, new global study finds

Mayo Clinic researchers discover ‘traffic controller’ protein that protects DNA, and may help kill cancer cells

Protein sidekick exhibits dual roles in stress granule assembly and disassembly

New hope for MS

Kennesaw State professor receives grant to study cancer origins

Pain and antidepressant drug combo linked to increased seizure risk in older adults

Cancer researchers shape new strategies for immunotherapy

Physical exercise can ‘train’ the immune system

Calm red brocket deer can learn to "Come" and other commands - but the flightiest, most restless individuals struggle

China, the world's largest tea producer, is predicted to experience increases in land suitable for tea-growing under climate change, with the overall range shifting northwards, per AI modeling study

Composing crews for Mars missions

Early humans butchered elephants using small tools and made big tools from their bones

1,000-year-old gut microbiome revealed for young man who lived in pre-Hispanic Mexico

Bears and pandas in captivity develop significantly different gut microbiomes compared to their wild counterparts, and giant pandas in particular have less diverse microbiomes than their wild counterp

Prenatal and postnatal support apps might not work

Dancing dust devils trace raging winds on Mars

Raging winds on Mars

Real-time biopsies uncover hidden response to glioblastoma therapy

Repeated brain tumor sampling uncovers treatment response in patients with glioblastoma

Novel immunotherapy combination destroys colorectal liver metastases

Farmed totoaba could curb poaching

Avalanches: user-carried safety device increases survival time fivefold

It’s all in your head: Select neurons in the brainstem may hold the key to treating chronic pain

Time-restricted eating can boost athletes' health and performance

Burning issue: study finds fire a friend to some bees, a foe to others

[Press-News.org] Finding pleasure in productive activities the key to boosting self-control