Self-control And Why it Matters

Written By Colēgia

Self-control is a concept that is applicable in many more instances than we might expect and learning how to use this to your benefit can help greatly. Today we want to cover what this is and why it's needed for a healthy lifestyle.

What is Self-Control?

One way to define self-control is that it is “the ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires or the expression of them in one's behavior, especially in difficult situations.” The difficult situations part of this is crucial to understand as this is often when self-control is at its lowest point. Instances of good self-control include good sleeping habits, positive emotional well-being, responding to things in a constructive manner, and more. High emotional intelligence is often correlated with this as it requires a good amount of discipline and motivation to do this. Self-control can be different for us depending on where we are in our lives and we may encounter situations that may only apply later on.

“Instances of good self-control include good sleeping habits, positive emotional well-being, responding to things in a constructive manner, and more.”

Uses in Our Lives

Now that we have a general understanding of what self-control is, where is this typically applied? Some of the most common examples of this include our eating habits. One example of this is our eating habits and how often we find ourselves reaching for food that may not be healthy for us. While the occasional treat is good we do need to also think about the ratio of protein, carbs, and fats that we consume in order to have a diet that works for us. Sleep is another area where self-control comes into play. Sometimes we may only have free time at night which, while helpful and enjoyable can also misalign our internal clock or circadian rhythm. Sleep specifically is one of our basic human needs and is an area where we need to exercise our self-control to make sure we have enough energy throughout the day. Self-control can also be seen when it comes to our interactions with others. One thing that we may encounter is overcommitting to things or being unable to say no. Being mindful of our needs is crucial as we can find ourselves doing things we may not agree or be uncomfortable with. These are just a few of the many situations where practicing self-control is applicable.

“Sleep specifically is one of our basic human needs and is an area where we need to exercise our self-control to make sure we have enough energy throughout the day.”

Why it Matters

Discipline and self-control are needed far beyond the scope of the classroom. These qualities are essential for things such as budgeting, establishing healthy relationships, and simply taking care of yourself. In addition to the mood-boosting qualities of self-control, it can help you feel that you have a say in what goes on in your life. While we don't have an influence over everything, practicing what control we do have in our lives can help make us feel more secure and stable. Understanding that we have this form of agency is good as it reminds us that we can choose both how to react and how to live our best possible lives.

Colēgia

Colēgia

Previous

Moving on Emotionally
Next

Emotions And Mindfulness