Take a break to boost your willpower

Chronic stress isn't only bad for your health, it's also bad for your brain. A new study in Biological Psychiatry found that even in healthy people, stressful events can make the parts of the brain that are responsible for regulating your emotions, self-control and metabolism shrink. The researchers found that stress most affected the prefrontal cortex, which is thought to play a role in impulse control and helping us reach our goals.

Bottom line: Make relaxing a priority. To find out how to meditate, click here.