According to most people, after a long period of studying or working, we need to have a rest to refresh ourselves. However, that may not be the case. According to a recent report, you don't need the break as much as you may think that makes you feel less tired.

    Scientists have long assumed that willpower is a limited resource, which is why you feel the need to have a rest, have a snack and then get back to the task when you are feeling better. They argue that the only way it restores willpower is by rest, food or entertainment.

    But psychologists have challenged this theory, saying weak willpower is all in your head. They have found that people's belief in willpower determines how long and how well they'll be able to work on tough mental exercise.“If you think of willpower as something that is not really used up, you can go on and on,” said Professor Veronika Job.

    The researchers designed four experiments to test students' belief in willpower. After a tiring task, those who believed, or were led to believe that willpower is a limited resource, performed worse on standard concentration tests than those who thought of willpower as something they had more control over. They also found that leading up to the final exam week, students who believed the limited resource theory ate junk food 24 percent more often than those who believed they had more control in resisting the temptation.

    Mr. Job said,“The theory that willpower is a limited resource is interesting. Belief in willpower as a non-limited resource makes people stronger in their ability to work through challenges.”

    The findings can help people who are battling against temptation. Willpower isn't driven by a biologically-based process as much as we used to think. The belief in it is what influences your behaviors.