How to Boost Your Self-Control

The main advantage of visual techniques is that they're effective immediately. Once you stop, the cravings will come back after a certain period of time. However, if you apply the technique long enough, then you can then change your habits in the meantime. Apart from overeating, you can readily apply distractions to other bad habits, including cigarette smoking and smartphone checking. In one study, researchers found that having participants count backwards for 30 seconds each time they used their lighter helped them cut down on the number of cigarettes smoked. Another study achieved the same effect by having participants smell a pleasant odor - such as chocolate or mint.