讀後心得

Willpower is a driving force for success, but it is prone to "self-depletion" when frequently faced with temptations, leading to a decrease in self-control. Research shows that fatigue can affect our choices; for example, after being busy, we tend to choose high-calorie foods. Therefore, appropriately replenishing energy can help maintain rational judgment and avoid making impulsive decisions when extremely tired. Thus, when feeling fatigued, it is advisable to take a break and avoid making significant decisions.

Many people envy those with strong willpower, who pursue success relentlessly and can withstand various obstacles. In fact, willpower also plays a driving role in life, often allowing us to focus on something for a short period and give our all to achieve it. However, once willpower is activated, it may enter a phase of temporary depletion or mental fatigue. During this time, we are easily swayed by external temptations and find it difficult to think deeply.

Self-depletion can lower self-control because the brain also needs to recharge. This phenomenon is known as "self-depletion," akin to a toilet tank being temporarily empty after flushing. During this period, we find it hard to resist habits and lack self-control, especially in terms of dieting or moderation.

Think about your past dieting experiences; have you ever been particularly careful in choosing dinner? For example, even when under a lot of stress, you might resist eating high-calorie foods and opt for healthy vegetables or half a bowl of rice. But later, you might still order a cup of mocha because you saw a discount — this experience is actually quite common. When the brain is exposed to multiple temptations in a short time, its ability to make rational judgments diminishes because the brain needs rest and recovery.

For example, many office workers binge eat after returning home, watching TV and snacking; this is often due to excessive fatigue from a busy life, as even daily stress can lead to self-depletion.

To better understand the decrease in self-control after short-term energy expenditure, some experiments were conducted. Participants were divided into two groups: one group had to memorize a simple two-digit number, while the other had to memorize a complex seven-digit number. The results showed that those who remembered the simple numbers were more likely to choose healthy salads, whereas those who remembered the complex numbers predominantly chose desserts. This indicates that when the brain undergoes stress, it is easy for the body's energy to become depleted, making it difficult to resist instinctive desires.

Even socially adept individuals who usually suppress impulses will react immediately when energy is depleted, without further consideration. For instance, when you are fatigued, you may thoughtlessly purchase unnecessary items.

However, by replenishing energy, we can avoid such situations. Research has shown that interviewers who offered orange juice before interviews made more rational and flexible judgments compared to interviewers who provided only water. When feeling fatigued, it is advisable to maintain a reserve attitude, avoid making major decisions, and allocate some time for rest.

When tired, if you need to face problems that require deep thinking, it's easy to make decisions without careful consideration. We should not be overconfident in our willpower, as there will always be someone who exploits the mechanism of self-depletion, proposing small tricks before larger temptations arise, taking advantage of us when we are worn out.

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