I always tried to hold my word as it was really strict in my family to do so. But anyways as i get older i found out that it's am extreme practical tool you can have. I smoked for 2 years. I wanted to stop. What did i do? I just gave my word to myself and i completly stopped. I wanted to be awake every day at 7am. What did i do? i gave my word. Im up in the morning for 4 weeks now. It only works if you never break it. It's interesting cause after i give my word i don't even think of doing these things cause i know i wont do it anyways. It's like cigarettes never existed. It's really important to make it realistic. When i quit smoking i gave my word for 2 weeks to get used to it. Then i made another one for 2 weeks. Then 2 months and so on. The same with getting up in the morning. Its also important to make strict rules. I can wake up later if im ill or if i had to be awake all night for an important reason. You can do it with everything. Going to the gym, studying and so on. That only works if you have strict discipline cause if you break it once it's over forever. You can't beginn again, cause if you break it once, you will do it again