Scientific Secrets for Self-Control by Professor C. Nathan DeWall

Professor C. Nathan Dewall gives a brief overview of research on Scientific Secrets for Self-Control. Many of his findings are what we would expect but have interesting implications. For example: A research paper calculated the total annual cost to New York City for keeping bars open after 1 am at roughly 250 million dollars.  Tired individuals who have their judgment impaired by alcohol consumption cause damage and death.

On a more practical note, he recommends that we engage in activities that allow us to have good executive control over our actions such as getting a good nights sleep, and avoiding making important decisions when it is late at night or when we are tired.  Sleep deprivation also reduces our will power to resist snacking on high calorie unhealthy foods.

You can increase your self-control "muscles" by doing short duration simple activities that require small amounts of self-control like using your non-dominant hand to shoot a basketball or write. You can also plan ahead to times when your self-control will be depleted and have a pre-made healthy meal along with a written reminder note describing the values that help form the decision.

Cartoon summary of Professor Dewall's book - 7 min. 

Students learn to use self control - 7 min.

Get to know Nathan DeWall - 5 min.