The Myths and Truths About Willpower Depletion

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Willpower is not a limited resource, contrary to the popular belief of having a limited amount of willpower. The concept of ego depletion, which suggests that we run out of willpower like a phone running out of battery, has been debunked by recent research. Studies have shown that the only people who experience ego depletion are those who believe that willpower is a limited resource. This belief of limited willpower can lead to self-limiting thoughts and behaviors. Therefore, our willpower is not limited unless we believe it to be.

In this new episode Steven sits down with the American behavioural design expert, Nir Eyal.

Nir’s career has focused on behavioural engineering and helping businesses to develop habit-forming products. His work explores the intersection of psychology, technology, and business, and has earned him the label of “The Prophet of Habit-Forming Technology”. Since 2003, he has co-founded two technology companies, worked as a consultant in product design and taught as a lecturer in Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design. Nir is the author of 2 bestselling books, ‘Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products’ and ’Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life.’

In this conversation Nir and Steven discuss topics, such as: