Good day self-managers! DISCIPLINE. What is discipline? If we want to build it we must first understand what it is. We understand it intuitively but the actual definition in the context we are using it from the Cambridge Dictionary goes as follows:
Discipline (noun): self-control; the ability to control your own behavior carefully.
This definition is GOALS! Keywords: self-control, ability, your own behavior, carefully
Those keywords are on point! See how it focuses on YOU and the SELF. It means you have all the control and freedom in the world to apply it with thoughtfulness (carefully) and see the marvelous results of it.
DISCIPLINE has become more than a word for me. It is a mantra. It is a tattoo…in my brain. I don’t always have it but I invoke it everyday and you can too. It helps me push through dumps in motivation because I don’t always feel motivated to crush the day!
Talking about motivation…what is motivation?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary the definition goes as follows:
Motivation (noun): enthusiasm for doing something.
Notice keyword: enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is a feeling and it comes and goes depending on our hormonal cycle *yikes*, the climate, our energy levels, etc… But self-control means you are in control of yourself no matter what external factors are at play. You figure it out and push through!
OK. Let’s get down to business! How do I push through when I don’t feel motivated?
TIP #1: I PLAN AHEAD
This is my low hanging fruit. I plan ahead of my lack of motivation and try to prevent decision fatigue. I put it in my schedule and prepare the environment for the activity. Ex: leaving the workout outfit prepared. Setting up an alarm for study time, etc.
Every time you make a decision you exert willpower. My whole day due to my career is based on decision making so you bet that by the end of the day my willpower is lacking.
Therefore, if the activity I need to do is already planned in my schedule beforehand, the probability of me following through are pretty significant. At the moment of doing the activity I don’t have to decide what I want to do or whether I will do it or not. I have already decided for my future self!!!
SO PLAN AHEAD! REMEMBER, IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN, YOU PLAN TO FAIL.
TIP #2: INVOKE DISCIPLINE AND PURPOSE
Guess what? Some days…even if I plan ahead…I don’t feel like doing shit *pardon my vocabulary but those are my precise thoughts*. Still, planning ahead helps me to become highly aware of this activity that I scheduled to do and that I am consciously deciding not to. This awareness triggers my next step.
My next step is to invoke self-control and purpose.
Please pay close attention to this step!!!
I will get a journal, a notebook or even an index card and write down what I have to do. Using exercise as an example, often it will come out something like:
Ugh. I gotta workout. OR I’m too tired to workout.
I then write the word DISCIPLINE. Next to it the word PURPOSE. I then stop to think what is my purpose for working out and will write something like:
I deserve a healthy life with the people I love. OR
I want to have more energy to do the things I love.
With this step I do 3 things. 1) I validate my feelings. 2) I recognize that without discipline I can’t achieve anything long-term. 3) I reframe my feelings and mindset in #1 with my long-term purpose.
Do this enough times in paper and eventually you will do it automatically in your head.
TIP #3: DO IT FOR 10 MINUTES
When everything else fails I just do the activity for 10 minutes because EVERYONE can do ANYTHING for 10 minutes!!!
Many times after 10 minutes I will definitely stop and be happy with that. When I do the activity for 10 minutes I will still receive that hit of instant gratification associated with “task completed” and move on.
However, what usually happens is that getting started was the hardest step. Like a bump to overcome before the downhill. And then, once you start the fun won’t stop. *Pringles reference* Did you get it? Nevermind…
The point is that sometimes starting is the hardest step. So get on it for 10 MINUTES!
This is all! I hope you enjoyed MY tips for building self discipline.
Feel free to share your tips or any comments below!!!
I like #3. That’s what I do when I’m running and I’m low on energy or not really feeling my legs. I’ll go for a small goal and then try to keep building on that. If I ran for ten minutes I can do five more and then five more. Before I know it my mind overcame my body and I’m doing things I never thought I could. ??
Yes!!! 🙂 Exactly. Keep it up!