Being happier at work takes this age-old skill

​All of us have done the mindless clicking from our inbox to Facebook, back to our inbox. It’s not Facebook’s fault. We got distracted long before social media existed.
The reason we are clicking away mindlessly is not because we get distracted. It is because we are avoiding something.

I was a master at avoiding
Before the Facebook days, I would water my plants, re-organize binders of information I’d never look at again or chit chat with an employee about the weather, our kids or the latest community gossip. All the time, I had work to do. I was doing other things, simply to avoid the work I didn't want to do.
 
I didn’t want to:
 
•    Complete the dreaded paperwork.
•    Have a conversation with staff about their performance.
•    Write the report, proposal or contract that was on my desk.
 
To get at all of those tasks required a measure of self-control. I had to be disciplined. I needed to exercise my willpower.
 
We need to exercise willpower
Willpower is the age old skill of self-control, restraint, strength, and determination.  Willpower happens in your head. Our mind-chatter tries to get us to avoid pain. That inner dialogue suggests to us, subconsciously, that doing the work will hurt. Our inner voice says, that somehow if we do the task in from of us, it will be painful, hard or troublesome. So instead, that little gremlin inside suggests we scan the newsfeed instead. 
 
We must be determined to stay on task
It takes a level of resolve to push past that and get to work, especially agonizing jobs. To stay on task, get done the important work and leave feeling productive at the end of your day, you must activate your willpower.
 
The research on willpower can help us
There are three parts of willpower according to willpower researcher Kelly McGonigal; I will, I won’t, I want. 

I will, I won't I want

I will
I will, is what you were going to do. It is the goal.
I will lose 10 lbs.
 
I won’t
I won’t is what you’re resisting. It is what you won’t do. This is what you will avoid or what you will stay away from.
I won’t eat the donuts at the meeting today.
 
I want
I want, is why it matters. What is the point in meeting this goal? Why are you trying to do it? It’s often attached to your values and beliefs.

Get clear on the big picture and what's haunting you today
Many people tie the I want element to something grandiose such as, “I want to live a long healthy life”. This is important, but only part of the puzzle. You must also look at what the smaller parts of the I want element to help you when the donut is right in front of you.
 
Instead, when we get really clear about why we want it in the nearer future or in a smaller, more meaningful way, it’s easier to be strong-willed. For example, I might avoid the donut today because I want to fit into that dress next month.

Applying willpower at work
Now let us tie willpower back to day-to-day work. What are you trying to accomplish at work? Let’s look at my examples from earlier.

Paperwork
I will get caught up in my paperwork.
I won’t (here is where willpower comes in) let myself get distracted when I get frustrated, bored or irritated with the paperwork.
I want to go home tonight feeling that I had a productive day.
 
Conversation with staff
I will make the conversation a priority today to address Cindy’s poor documentation.
I won’t put it off again today even if something comes up.
I want to let go of the heaviness hanging over me about that conversation.
 
Report
I will get 3 sections done on that report today.
I won’t avoid it when I feel stupid, overwhelmed or in over my head with it.
I want to learn how to write more professionally.

Practicing willpower makes you happier
When you practice accessing your willpower, you will find you are better able to get through some of your more challenging work. It will engage your inner desires to do important, meaningful, but sometimes difficult tasks. In doing so, you will feel more accomplished and confident. Activation your willpower finds you being more productive and going home at the end of the day, a happier person.