Learning to control small things can help you control bigger things. Treat it like a workout and start from monitoring simple things. Then go on to harder.

For instance, many people have a tendency to slouch (it might be you right now). Make it a challenge to keep your back straight throughout the day. Do you have a habit of swearing when you’re stuck in a traffic jam? Resist the temptation and switch your mind to something more positive.

 Additional self-control will help you manage your anger better. Do you leave your bed unmade when you wake up? Resist the temptation to leave it unmade and spend two minutes making it as perfect as if you expected someone to come over. Do you always want to prove other people wrong? Exert your self-control to put an end to this behavior and keep your tongue behind your teeth.

You can also use various online tools and apps to track the small things in your life – your spending habits, time spent browsing through entertainment sites, time spent watching TV.

Self-monitoring will help you pick new challenges that will help you improve your self-control. Start with one little thing and get better at controlling it. Increase the difficulty by picking a thing that’s a bit harder to control. Keep challenging yourself to gain more control over the little things in your life you usually do mindlessly.

Please refer to the book for more details on this activity.