Improving Impulse Control

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

What You Should Know About Improving Impulse Control

Improving impulse control may not necessarily be easy to do but it is important to realize it is a learned behavior and there are some strategies that can be used to assist with this.

There is so much instant gratification in our society with new technology having advanced to the point where it has severely impacted the behavior of many. For change to occur, the unwanted and negative consequences of carrying out the behavior must be greater than the temptation. For example, if you have been trying to lose weight and you are offered a piece of cake, you may find it difficult to resist.

However, if you think of the consequences of what you are trying to avoid e.g. weight gain, and think of other negatives that might impact you long-term which might be diabetes and other health issues, you may be put off and be able to resist the temptation. Of course, if you ignore these factors, it won’t have any effect on you.

So, the first thing to do would be to assess your risks and analyze which actions cause problems for you. It might be over-eating, drinking too much, putting things off that really need to be done or it could be having outbursts when you get angry….for others it may be over-spending or gambling.

 Strategies To Use For Improving Impulse Control

Once you identify the situations where you don’t have control over your impulses, you can get on with changing the behavior. Ask yourself what you can do to prevent yourself from succumbing to this impulse and when you identify these solutions, put them into place. Develop an action plan and avoid situations where you will be tempted to give in to your impulse.

For example, if you tend to buy things online and overspend, cut up your credit cards so you lose access to your funds. Or if you stop at the pub to have a drink on your way home but want to give up drinking, change your route so you don’t get tempted.

“It is not enough to recognize what is right and true. One must control the impulse to do what is wrong and easy.” – Andy Andrews

Using delay tactics is a good strategy that can get you results….. if you want to eat a slice of pizza but you are trying to lose weight, say to yourself “I won’t eat it now, I’ll wait 10 minutes and if I still want it then, I’ll have it”.

Most of the time, your chances will be higher for successfully controlling the impulse. If you are able to resist the impulse, then reward yourself (with something other than food, of course) as it will reinforce the changed behavior and give you a sense of satisfaction and self-belief that you can conquer the impulse.

Remember that impulses come and go and there is nothing that says that you must act on them!

If you need help to change your mindset, click the link below….