We’ve all had those moments that leave us wanting to call it a day so we can just get home and into bed.
This is a result of a person reaching critical ego depletion. The concept revolves around the notion that humans have a limited pool of willpower; a pool that can easily be tapped when we face a gauntlet of situations requiring patience or focus.
In 1998, a study was held to prove this was the case. Participants were gathered in a room where chocolate chip cookies had just been baked, and were asked to either eat radishes, the cookies, or no food at all, before attempting a puzzle that had been designed to be impossible. The study’s host left the room, but was able to watch the participants to ensure none of them ate the incorrect food. Results showed that those who ate the cookies attempted the puzzle for longer periods of time than those who had either nothing to eat, or were made to eat the radishes.
Those in the latter group gave up quickest. The need to resist the cookies had frustrated them to the point they were rushing attempts at the puzzle, and ultimately gave up in less than half the time participants in the other two groups relented.
If you’ve ever worked alongside someone who was on a really strict diet, these results probably don’t surprise you.
So what does it take to keep your willpower in check?
Most issues that result in ego depletion aren’t caused by external factors like someone telling you not to eat a cookie. They come from inside. From the inner voice that tells you to feel guilty about eating a cookie, because you’re watching your sugar intake and so on, and so on.
The old adage ‘pick your battles’ comes to mind: you must be willing to relent in the face of little issues in order to react properly to bigger problems down the line.
So go on. Eat that cookie. It’s worth it.