Stop Relying on Willpower. Do This Instead

Thought For The Week

We tend to think that success comes down to desire and willpower — that people who stick to their workouts or stay on track with nutrition simply have more of it.

But that’s a myth.

Desire and willpower do matter; I’ve never met a client who didn’t want things to be different. That desire can give you the courage to take the first step and imagine a new way forward. And willpower? It certainly helps in the early days when you’re building momentum.

But both desire and willpower are fleeting. They rise and fall with stress, energy, and everything else life throws your way.

Success isn’t about endless willpower — it’s about creating systems, habits, and environments that make good choices easier, even when motivation’s running low.

Exercise Tip

We’ve all had those days when the thought of working out feels impossible. You tell yourself you’ll train later — after lunch, after work, after dinner — but somehow the day slips away.

It’s easy to assume that people who never miss a session just have more willpower. But that’s rarely the case.

Their secret? They’ve built routines that make showing up the default option, not a daily decision. They’ve fuelled properly, laid out their gym clothes, booked their session, and know exactly what they’ll do when they get there.

It’s not about forcing vast amounts of willpower or staying endlessly motivated — it’s about reducing the physical barriers and mental friction that get in the way, so that moving your body becomes the easy choice.

Try this: 

Schedule your workouts like appointments and treat that time as non-negotiable. Some days you’ll need to switch things up or keep it short and that’s okay. What matters most is that you keep showing up.

Nutrition Tip

Maybe this week you found yourself giving in to the cake at work, the crisps on the table at a drinks party, the bag of chocolate buttons while watching TV, or the last-minute takeaway at the end of a busy day.

It’s easy to blame a lack of willpower — “I just couldn’t resist!” — but it’s rarely about that.

People who consistently make good food choices aren’t resisting temptation every minute, they’ve simply set up their environment to make those choices easier. They shop with a plan, keep quick and nutritious options close at hand, set aside time to batch cook, and stay flexible so one slip doesn’t derail everything.

It’s not about perfect eating or superhuman restraint, it’s about making the healthy choice the easy one. This way you don’t have to rely on bucket loads of willpower every time you eat.

Try this: 

Keep nutritious foods front and centre; fruit on the counter, ready-to-grab healthy snacks in the fridge, batch-cooked meals in the freezer. And if certain foods tend to derail your efforts, store them out of sight or avoid keeping large amounts at home. You can’t eat what’s not there.

Links & Resources

Recipe: For a good-for-you energy boost, check out my recipe for chocolate-orange energy bites. They’re easy to make, full of fibre and natural sweetness, and great for a mid-morning or afternoon snack.

Website: If you like the idea of healthy meals with minimal effort, Rukmini Iyer’s one-tin recipes offer simple, flavour-packed dishes that make home cooking super easy.

Book: Take the pressure off weeknight cooking. The Batch Lady: Grab & Cook shows you how to batch-prep affordable meals so you can eat well without defaulting to takeaways and ready meals.

Inspirational Quote

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

James Clear