Where there's a will, there's a way. This is Ellen Levine with Good Advice From Good Housekeeping. Willpower if you have enough of it, they say, you can do just about anything. But researchers are just starting to question what willpower really is, and whether it can change behavior.
Experts say self-control can be developed with planning, preparation, and reinforcement.
List the benefits of the change you'd like to make. Plan what you can do differently, and set specific goals so you can measure progress. Reduce temptation by avoiding people, places, and things that trigger the behavior. And give yourself a reward now and then for not giving in. When you do have a setback or fail to reach a particular goal, don't beat yourself up.