4) Meditate every morning.

9 Willpower Workouts to Maximize Your Productivity

1) Eat a hearty meal.

Low glucose levels are directly correlated with to weaker willpower. In fact, a study revealedthat participants who were not fed prior to starting a project gave up completing it much quicker than their fully-fed counterparts.

“To keep [your willpower] high, eat regular meals that are full of protein and good carbohydrates, like a sandwich of lean meat and cheese packed between two slices of whole-wheat bread,” Stephanie Booth writes in Real Simple. “And never start a challenging task on an empty stomach.”

Starting each morning with a hearty meal kickstarts your willpower. During the day, snack on almonds, cashews, and yogurt to maintain high energy levels. If you’re unsure of what to eat, HubSpot’s Lindsay Kolowich put together an infographic detailing the ideal diet for maximum productivity.

2) Find the right balance.

Your willpower is a limited resource, meaning you run out of it during the day. Therefore, it’s important to not use all of your willpower too early.

“Because on any given day we have a finite amount of willpower, it’s important that we don’t deplete the well too soon,” Laura Entis writes in Entrepreneur. “Instead of simply writing down obligations on your calendar, rank them in terms of the energy or self-control they will require.”

If you’re struggling to determine which of your tasks requires the most attention, prioritize your to-do list with an impact versus effort analysis.

Here’s how it works: Write down your tasks and rank each one based on how much impact it will have on your productivity and how much effort it will require. Once you finish ranking your tasks, begin working on your low effort, high impact goals to build up steam, then transition to your high effort, high impact goals.

3) Commit to an outcome before starting.

Instead of allowing yourself to duck out of your commitment, make a “down payment” to ensure you’re going to follow through. In other words, give yourself a reason to complete a task before starting it.

“Make it inconvenient to give into your temptation,” Emily Co writes in PopSugar. “It won't stop you, but it will make it harder to go against your goals. For example, schedule a session with a personal trainer, or bring a set amount of cash with you when you're on a budget, and leave your credit cards at home.”

For example, a colleague of mine felt she was commuting to work with Uber too frequently. To counteract that, she purchased a monthly subway pass. By spending the $75 dollars for the pass, she’s committing to riding the MBTA. Otherwise, it’s just a waste of money.

4) Meditate every morning.

Although it looks simple, sitting still with perfect posture and balancing your thoughts is difficult.

But the benefits of meditating go beyond 15 minutes of quiet every morning. In fact, quite a few successful executives, including HubSpot’s Chief Technology Officer Dharmesh Shah. saymeditating keeps them calm.

According to Headspace, an eight-week 2012 U.S. study found that employees who meditated experienced improved willpower and focus. After conducting three studies, the researchers discovered that “those trained in meditation stayed on tasks longer and made fewer task switches, as well as reporting less negative feedback after task performance.”

Instead of reaching for your cell phone first thing in the morning and checking email, try spending 10 minutes meditating and reap the willpower benefits. 

5) Exercise regularly.