If you conquer yourself,
then you conquer the world
-Paul Cohelo
Waking up at 4:30 in the morning to make breakfast, get the kiddos ready for school/daycare, and get myself ready was the weekly routine, all in an hour-and-a-half period. Then off to my full-time job, and in the evenings, I would attend school full-time to earn my MBA.
We were allowed one hour to go to the gym during work, and guess what? I did that too!
On most days, I’d get home around 10:30 pm. I had to juggle picking up the kids from daycare, preparing dinner if I didn’t have leftovers from the night before, getting the kiddos ready for school the next day, and studying/doing homework assigned for the week.
Oh, and by the way, I’m a bit anal-retentive. I perform poorly in chaos, so my house must be in order if I’m going to get anything done.
By the time night came, I was winning if I made it to bed by 2 am. Getting a whole night’s rest was outside my reach!
How can someone like me achieve so much, so consistently?
And how can you and I accomplish as much in our personal lives and careers is the question! Part of the answer lies in self-discipline. Pushing ourselves on our best intentions and goals
is self-discipline, even when we don’t like it.
Having self-discipline is almost the same as delayed gratification!
This is why self-discipline is so necessary. This short read will examine self-discipline, why it is valid, techniques to build it, and how to use it to your advantage.
What is self-discipline?
Self-discipline is taking action and following through with goals despite any distractions, temptations, and hardships. It is a skill that requires practice and dedication to master, but it can help you achieve your goals and develop a more prosperous and fulfilling life.
Why should you consider it? Simple……
The importance of self-discipline can be seen in all aspects of life, from academics and careers to relationships and health. Staying focused on your goals and remaining motivated will help you progress consistently.
Now understand…
Self-discipline is different from self-motivation or willpower.
I heard someone say that willpower is like a rubber band. Once it is stretched out to its max, it snaps right back.
And then there is the all-time Motivation everyone likes to resort to, which only takes you so far because, at its very core, it is only a desire, and we can all agree that having desire is not the problem; it is the doing that causes problems. It reminds me of a quote by Zig Ziglar; it made me laugh to this day because it’s so true!
“People often say Motivation doesn’t last.
Neither does bathing—that’s why we recommend it daily.”
Zig Ziglar.
While Motivation and willpower contribute to it, so does persistence in following through on your intentions and hard work. Other benefits include managing stress, resisting unhealthy temptations, and developing better habits.
Fundamentally speaking, self-discipline is about taking responsibility for your life and decisions leading you to greater freedom and satisfaction.
Why should you work on self-discipline?
The answer is simple: it is helpful in many areas of our lives.
Your ability to push yourself to do high-quality work when you don’t feel like it and remaining professional with your clients when you are ready to throw in the towel is all part of self-discipline.
Sticking to your goals, remaining focused, and embracing the process despite what others might see as unbeatable odds is to be envied. Just imagine what your life will look like!
As you develop self-discipline, you will massively improve your learning experience and enhance your performance. Have you heard the saying that talent will only get you so far? This is because talent isn’t enough, and it will only get you so far; discipline will always take you further!
Your grit, determination, and discipline will be the pillars of your success and accomplishments. These qualities will give you a leg up and help you achieve your goals in every situation.
How do I build Self-Discipline?
Remember, Self-discipline is like a muscle. The more you work on and use it, the stronger it will become.
Here are some self-discipline tips:
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! Break the goal into smaller tasks and
set a timeline for each task. This will help you stay motivated and organized.
Make sure your goal is SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound –
and break the goal down into smaller sub-goals where possible.
Make a plan of action and stick to it.
Once you have chosen your goal, list the reasons why you want to achieve it. A great exercise is to reframe your goal positively. For example, instead of saying you want to exercise thrice
weekly to lose weight. You may want to say, “I want to exercise to feel better and have more
energy!
Reward yourself for accomplishing each task to keep yourself motivated.
Pay attention to your feelings, and your self-discipline grows and strengthens. This will help you stay on track and give you a sense of accomplishment. Yes, treat yourself to the spa, take
yourself out to dinner, buy those pants you wanted, etc.
Remove distractions from your environment so you can focus on the task.
Identifying your obstacles is critical. Now you can brainstorm and come up with strategies to overcome each one.
Avoid procrastinating and find ways to stay focused and on task.
The only way to beat procrastination is to DO IT NOW! That’s it. Practice this discipline, and you will be great on your way to freedom.
Take breaks when you need them to avoid burnout.
I can’t harp on this enough! Breaks are so helpful! They give you time to regroup and allow you to become more creative!
Stay organized and prioritize tasks to ensure you tackle the most important things first.
I remember the story about the rock, pebbles, and sand.
The analogy here is that if you start by settling sand into the jar, you will need more space for rocks or pebbles. This holds with the things you let into your life also. If you spend all your time on small and insignificant things, you will run out of time for essential items.
Create a schedule and stick to it.
Here, you can use List-to-do items, prioritize tasks, Note deadlines, Identify recurring events,
Order items by time, priority, or deadline, and stay flexible.
Make sure you are getting enough rest and taking care of yourself.
Rest is critical! Let me be straightforward here. If you don’t rest, you don’t improve. Let that sink in!
So, let’s recap!
Using self-discipline to your advantage can help you unlock your full potential and reach your goals. It can help you become more organized and productive in your day-to-day life, and it can also help you develop better habits and relationships.
Moreover, you will become more effective and successful; it will help you manage stress and make better decisions.
Remember: Self-discipline can help you stay focused and motivated, even when faced with complex tasks or challenging situations.
In the end, isn’t that what we are trying to achieve? If so, please do not let your reasons and excuses rob you of your success. Too often, I hear the proverbial, “I have other priorities, life happens, and they do! I’m not saying it doesn’t happen. I want to evoke a greater commitment to improving your self-discipline rather than looking for reasons why you aren’t where you want to be.
Self-discipline is a powerful skill that can help you take control of your life and reach your goals.
If you struggle with this area in your life, I can help. Book your complimentary discovery call!
Yours truly,
