5 Ways To Achieve Self-Discipline

To be successful, you have to be disciplined

You see a plate with scrumptious donuts on the table. You reach out for one and eat it. After you finish eating it, you want more. Will you resist the temptation or grab another one?

That will depend on how self-disciplined you are.

We’ve all been in situations where we fall into our desires and temptations. Instead of pushing ahead, we trip and fall and realize we were not strong enough. Like athletes train their bodies to be stronger, you can train your mind.

Self-discipline is the ability to focus on a task or goal to achieve the desired result.

We all struggle with self-discipline. Discipline is all about achieving more control over what you do. The more control you have over your behaviors and actions, the more disciplined you will be. The actions you take will create the desired results.

If you just ate a donut and can’t help but reach for another one, you need the right amount of self-discipline to say “no.” Because you know eating another one isn’t healthy for you. In the same way, you can withhold the temptation of binge-watching shows on Netflix and focus on productive work instead.

It all starts with your mind.

“Without self-discipline, success is impossible, period.”

Lou Holtz

Here are 5 ways to become more self-disciplined.

Eliminate distractions

We all have weaknesses, but the key is to know what they are and not let them interfere with our work.

For example, if you’re prone to distractions, you first need to identify what they are. This way you can eliminate them before you start working on anything.

Distractions can be simple, such as being hooked to your phone, being obsessed with social media, etc. If you can’t help but look at your phone often, just turn it off. Or you can leave it in one room and work in another. Also, resist wasting your time on social media while you work.

Your family or friends may interrupt your work, especially when all of you are doing things in the same house. In that case, you need to create a quiet environment around your work area or find another quiet place to work.

Staying disciplined may require you to change your work hours and change the environment in which you work. I know when I write, I may be distracted by my kids, so I try to write mostly in the morning and in the evening. I always write at my best when there are no distractions from anything or anybody.

I also know that focusing on one single task for too long can numb my brain, so I take short breaks in my work.

Do what is uncomfortable

It’s easier to fall back to what’s comfortable, especially when you’re just starting out doing something. Our brain is wired to do easier things first and hold off on more difficult ones.

But self-discipline isn’t built on comfort. By seeking comfort you are holding yourself back from achieving your goals. You have to force yourself to tackle what is uncomfortable.

“The comfort zone is the great enemy to creativity; moving beyond it necessitates intuition, which in turn configures new perspectives and conquers fears.” – Dan Stevens

By evading the uncomfortable, you’re also running away from reality. If you don’t train your mind to embrace what’s uncomfortable, then you’ll never grow in self-discipline. You’ll always procrastinate and fall back to your original habits.

To change that, push yourself into an uncomfortable zone. Don’t be afraid and focus on the most difficult tasks first. Then gradually slide down towards easier ones. Once you break down that barrier, you’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to do what’s not comfortable.

In the end, knowing that you’ve achieved a particular goal or task will give you the much-needed comfort.

“Self-discipline is that mental state of commitment, which gets you performing an activity regardless of your feelings.”

Anonymous

Set clear and realistic goals

You may have a lack of motivation because you don’t know where to start. Not having clear goals and actionable steps to take will put you in a state of inaction.

It’s not enough to know what you want to do — you also have to know where to start. Not knowing where to start will make you not want to do anything.

One way to get out of the vicious cycle is to start setting goals for yourself. They don’t have to be huge goals. For instance, if you’re trying to organize your paperwork, tackle it a bit at a time. This way, it doesn’t feel like drudgery. You can do one pile today, then move on to the next pile tomorrow.

If you’re trying to lose weight, don’t go on a crash diet — you’ll only pack on more pounds in the end. Instead, set up a realistic goal of losing one or two pounds a week by following a healthy diet.

Sending out 100 pitch e-mails to clients a day seems like a lot, but if you limit it to 20, then it becomes doable.

Stick to healthy habits and avoid bad habits

Healthy habits drive productivity and push us beyond our limits. They can range from healthy eating, exercising, mindful habits, and a clean, well-organized workspace.

Your willpower depends on how strong you are physically and mentally. If you’re caught up in bad habits of eating unhealthy foods, being a couch potato, and watching TV all day, they'll be no room for your self-discipline to grow.

You should embrace a healthy lifestyle and engage in healthy habits to grow in discipline. Eat right, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep every day. You’ll be so much more motivated to work. And you’ll be so much more disciplined.

Reward yourself

Who doesn’t want to receive praise for having accomplished something?

There is a reason teachers often reward children in school — tangible and intangible rewards help solidify behavior and motivate you to engage in the same behavior again.

After you complete a goal, even a small one, reward yourself. Give yourself a big pat on the back. Remind yourself how proud you feel about getting the work done. Simple words of encouragement will help you to move on to your next goal.

You can also reward yourself with mindful things like taking a long relaxing nature walk, enjoying a bath with candles, a movie at home, or even as something as enjoying your special treat with a cup of coffee.

The way I reward myself for meeting my writing goals is by enjoying more time outdoors. If I want to reward myself at home, I’ll allow myself to read, scroll through social media feeds for a set amount of time, and catch up with my friends.

The Bottom Line

To achieve anything in life, you need to have discipline. Five ways to achieve it are by:

• Eliminating distractions
• Doing what’s uncomfortable
• Setting clear and realistic goals
• Avoiding bad habits
• Rewarding yourself

The more you learn how to be disciplined, the more you’ll enjoy being disciplined.

“I think self-discipline is something, it’s like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.”

Daniel Goldstein