How The What-The-Hell Effect Impacts Your Willpower

It's the cycle where you indulge but then regret what you've done but you keep going back for more. Your brain tries to justifies the actions you take by saying "Hey, you've already done it so why not just finish the entire thing?"

The phrase was coined by dieting researchers but it can affect one's willpower during setbacks or challenges.

When we enter in the cycle of the What The Hell effect, we often put blame on ourselves and act harshly towards ourselves which makes us feel guilty, ashamed, and embarrassed during our relapse stages. If this is you, then it has been suggested that instead of getting angry at yourself try to show compassion instead.

More self-criticism helps no one. Indulging is not a crime and it is important to forgive yourself so that you won't completely be consumed by guilt.