exercise willpower

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exercise willpower" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of controlling one's impulses or making a conscious effort to resist temptation. Example: "To stick to my diet, I need to exercise willpower and avoid unhealthy snacks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It also makes it even more difficult to exercise willpower.

The New York Times - Food

And it is all the more difficult to exercise willpower when one is starved.

University of California, Berkeley

Conscious control enables human decision makers to override routines, to exercise willpower, to find innovative solutions, to learn by instruction, to decide collectively, and to justify their choices.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Voters need to be willing to elect mature adults, who, in turn, need to exercise willpower to make better choices for the country, he says.

The New York Times

The ability to exercise willpower and inhibit impulsive behaviours is considered to be a core feature of the brain's executive functions, a set of neural processes - including attention, reasoning, and working memory - which regulate our behaviour and thoughts, and enable us to adapt them according to the changing demands of the task at hand.

The Guardian

It's much easier to exercise willpower – and tune out potential distractions – when you're feeling happy.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

From an evolutionary perspective, the fact that exercising willpower doesn't come naturally to us makes a lot of sense.

The New York Times

The idea of exercising willpower is seen in military boot camp, where recruits are trained to overcome one challenge after another.

The New York Times

"They lose weight over the short term and say that they have exercised willpower," but over the long term, the body's intrinsic controls win out.

The New York Times - Health

Exercising willpower, but also making decisions and choices and taking initiatives, all seem to draw on the same well of energy, Baumeister has established.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

New research shows that self-control and memory share, and compete with each other for, the same brain mechanisms, such that exercising willpower saps these common resources and impairs our ability to encode memories.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to achieve a goal, actively plan strategies that require you to "exercise willpower" daily, like resisting distractions during work.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "exercise willpower" for long-term goals; supplement it with environmental changes and habit formation to reduce the strain and prevent burnout.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exercise willpower" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the act of using one's ability to control impulses or resist temptations. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

17%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "exercise willpower" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes the act of applying self-control. Ludwig confirms its correctness and suggests alternatives like "exert self-control" or "demonstrate restraint". While not overly common, it appears across various contexts, particularly in news and media. To effectively use "exercise willpower", remember to supplement it with strategies that reduce reliance on willpower alone, and be aware of overestimating its capacity. By understanding its function and purpose, you can confidently incorporate it into your writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exert self-control

Focuses more on the act of restraining oneself.

demonstrate restraint

Highlights the outward display of controlled behavior.

practice self-discipline

Emphasizes the habitual aspect of controlling oneself.

apply self-restraint

Similar to exerting self-control but slightly more formal.

muster determination

Highlights gathering the necessary resolve.

summon resolve

A more formal and emphatic way of expressing determination.

control impulses

Directly addresses the management of immediate urges.

resist temptation

Specifically focuses on avoiding alluring but potentially harmful options.

show fortitude

Highlights courage and resilience in the face of difficulty.

apply oneself

Focuses on dedicated effort and commitment.

FAQs

How can I use "exercise willpower" in a sentence?

You can use "exercise willpower" to describe making a conscious effort to control impulses or resist temptation. For example, "To stick to my budget, I must "practice self-discipline" and exercise willpower when shopping."

What is a good alternative to "exercise willpower"?

Alternatives to "exercise willpower" include "exert self-control", "demonstrate restraint", or "practice self-discipline", which all convey a similar meaning of controlling one's impulses.

Which is correct, "exercise willpower" or "exert willpower"?

Both "exercise willpower" and "exert willpower" are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. "Exercise willpower" is slightly more common, while "exert willpower" /s/exert+willpower might sound more forceful.

How can physical exercise help me "exercise willpower" in other areas of my life?

Regular physical "apply oneself" has been shown to improve cognitive functions related to self-control, which can make it easier to "exercise willpower" in resisting temptations or staying focused on tasks.