Dr. Roy Baumeister: The science on increasing your willpower

Amy Alkon's Advice Goddess Radio: "Nerd Your Way To A Better Life!" with the best brains in science.

A word explaining the recent “Best of” replays, including tonight’s. I’m in the final weeks of working absolutely insane hours to complete my next book. This is the only reason I haven’t been doing live weekly shows. I will soon be all-live every weekend, featuring some very exciting researchers and their books.

Tonight's guest, social psychologist Dr. Roy Baumeister, will bust all sorts of myths we believe -- to our detriment -- about willpower, which is key to success in numerous facets of life, from relationships to one's career.

An example of one of these myths is the notion that it makes sense to have New Year’s resolutions, plural. In fact, willpower is easily depleted, and Baumeister, based on the research, explains that you should have ONE resolution and explains how to eliminate cognitive stress that decreases your chances of sticking to it.

One of the most practical and helpful self-help books I've read recently is the one featured on this show, Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, by Baumeister and John Tierney -- on an issue we all have issues with: Improving our self-control.

Many of the studies in the book are from Baumeister's own lab, and he is fascinating guest. I've already improved my life with insights from the book, and I can't imagine that anyone who listens to this show will come away without tips for how they can improve their life -- and be a little more relaxed about the stuff they anguish over related to self-control.

Join me and all my fascinating guests live every week from 7-8pm Pacific, 10-11pm Eastern, and listen to all my previous shows here at BlogTalk Radio. Subscribe here, on iTunes, or Stitcher.