Squanderlust is a podcast about the emotional side of money. It is hosted by Martha Lawton and recorded with technical sponsorship at Wardour Studios, London.

Episode 3: Willpower Outage

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Show notes

Ego depletion is the idea that will power is like a muscle and gets tired with use. We talk about how this affects trying to stick to a budget or summon the oomph to get your boring paperwork done.

The science behind Ego Depletion is extensive but still under question.

The experiment Martha described was by Roy Baumeister and there are more details here.

For more information about the cases for and against Ego Depletion see this paper: Is Ego Depletion Real from Personality and Social Psychology Review 1 –25 © 2018

Tips prevent or mitigate a willpower shortage:

  • Automation, habits and rules. Do everything you can to remove the need to make decisions that might involve willpower.

  • Don’t put up with avoidable physical discomfort. Shoes that pinch and labels that itch drain willpower that could be used for more important things. (Also bear this in mind when talking to people who have health conditions that mean they’re in discomfort all the time! Show some empathy.)

  • Set time aside for miserable tasks and schedule fun, relaxing things to replenish your willpower either side.

  • Do unpleasant tasks early in the day before you’ve had time to run down your willpower. Do the mindless stuff at the end of the day.

  • Think about whether your routine includes unnecessary temptations that a small adjustment could remove.

  • If you know you have something especially hard or frustrating to do, see if you can schedule a treat for afterwards so other temptations have less power over you.

  • Forgive yourself when you get caught out by a stressful day and accidentally splurge. If you ran out of willpower, that just means your human.


Episode 4: All or Nothing

Episode 2: The Values of Money