Master Self Discipline: 5 Ways to Become Supremely Focused
The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.
Self-discipline is like an “easter bounty” — hard to swallow and digest. From kids to adults, it’s impossible to chomp and chew candies without getting our teeth hurt.
The path of self-discipline is not easy to walk. For most of us, self-discipline is a gold foiled candy wrapped in good intentions, productivity, and triumph. But to taste the flavor of self-discipline, one must be prepared to hurt and suffer.
Self-discipline is defined as:
“A bridge between goals and accomplishments. Or in other words consistency and self-discipline”— Jim Rohn.
- E.g., think about when you wanted to have a bulky body or woke up early at 4. You stopped after some time because you lacked consistency. I’ve been there too.
Research by bigthink.com demonstrates: People with higher levels of self-control are happier in both the short and long run. It was found that the people with the greatest levels of self-control avoid temptation rather than resist it at every turn.
In short, self-discipline helps us become the best version of ourselves. So I tapped into my arsenal of strategies: the tried-and-true principles I’ve used to ace self-discipline.
1. Tie the belt: start small.
- If you don’t DWYSYWD, you will lose the battle.
Hunting for my thesis project idea, one of my friends introduced me to a concept she’s been following… Do What You Say You Will Do. Backward, or forwards, it spells the same.
APA (American Psychological Association) believes intention plays a central role in starting a new habit and sticking to it. APA recommends telling your intentions to someone perceived to have a higher status than yourself or someone’s opinion you value.
When you say: “I have to do this,” you remove negative connotations from your statements. You might not realize it, but your brain scribes every word you say.
How to improve?
- First, make an intention
- Start small
- Set a goal of following a habit for 20–90 days
Charles Duhigg, the author of The Power of Habit, says: “The amount of time it takes to build a new habit will vary from person to person.”
For instance, eating oatmeal for breakfast may take days to adapt, while trying to exercise at 5 pm each evening may take much longer. Psychologist Gail Matthews suggests noting down the goals as it has 33% more effective results.
Listen: you might have setbacks in between, but that doesn’t have to stop you from rising back again. For starters, you can track your progress in a journal or an app.
Journaling will remind you how far you’ve come. The journey is small and easy when you pen it down.
2. Throw distractions out of the window.
I am a sketch artist. (!)
Always having cords of pencils, shades, and kneadable erasers on my desk frustrated me.
Each of us has different personalities: chefs, artists, writers, politicians, bathroom singers, etc. We wear *costumes of different habits* each time in need. But distraction usually stops us from becoming mindful and reminds us to switch places with personality each time.
I am a writer — and I don’t like having a (bowl of fruits) before me. It reminds me to cook and feed my stomach. Plenty of research has shown that distractions cause people to take longer to complete a task. Still, now a team of psychologists from George Mason University has found: Interruptions don’t just take up enough time. They also degrade the overall quality of people’s work. (sigh)
How to improve?
If you want to achieve a goal,
stop going against nature.
Remove temptations, difficulties, and problems that stop you from achieving a goal. If you miss going to the club on Friday night, start replacing bad habits with good ones.
This way, you’ll have a substitute, a good habit for each bad one.
- Clubbing — going to the gym
- Soft drinks — juices
- Urge to buy things — clean closet
- Sad, worn, tired — dance and sing
Start being your friend. I’ve known a lot of people indulging in self-care. The only purpose is to avoid external distractions and be happy in your own skin. Do what you like!
3. Smudge-proof the time.
Wendy Wood writes:
Continously doing something at the same time each day, helps to build a habit.
Mark your calendars, circle the start and end dates, and allot time for your tasks. Sync your calendars with notifications to remind you what needs to be done.
Your habits will soon become a part of your routine. Days will form into weeks and weeks into years. The habits you form will harden into a stick you can’t break.
Make SMART goals. Think about the results you want to achieve and take a closer dive into the deadline. Avoid overdoing it. Become more productive with the time you have instead.
How to improve?
James Clear says: YXou might tire yourself when you overdo your goals initially. Take it slow and crave that excitement in you. Stick to a perfect time, not a minute late or early.
Here are four elements you can add to make a perfect schedule:
- Fun
- Challenge
- Share it with friends
- Realistic
Now spread these goals on a sheet. For example, if you want to develop a workout habit, look for the time people (mostly) are in the gym. Take that time to visit, grab motivation, and return to enjoy the fun atmosphere.
Make goals full of fun & fame.
4. Put your goals where you can see them every day.
Top secret:
- If you put your goals away in a drawer, you’ll lose sight of them
- Goals need to be part of your Daily Life’s Pipeline
Remember when we hung Taylor Swift and Zayn Malik’s pictures spread over our closet? Of course, we didn’t make it like them, but we ultimately developed a soft spot for them — copied their attire, talked like them, and even behaved.
This happens when you put your goals in the place you see every time. Put your goals in a basket nearby or have them framed if they’re too large to fit in a basket. E.g: a bicycle, laptop, or even dumbells.
How to improve?
One of the most economic motivators of all the time is displaying — says lifeonfire.com.
If you want to become an avid book reader, place the book in the main spot of your home. Similarly, scatter motivational quotes inside your closet if you want to become persistent.
The best thing? You can remove them anytime you want. Change it or replace it. Increase your self-discipline when you see the same things every day until it becomes your *habit.*
Most likely, you’ll remember your goals each time you “look at the pointers.” Like jogging down a memory lane just by witnessing something.
Remember to associate the right objects/frames with the habits you’re trying to sustain. Such as:
- Resistance bands for fitness
- Pen and paper for writing
- Inch tape for weight loss
- Book for book reading
5. Practice, fail, start over.
Don’t: shake off the story that you have to grind yourself every day.
Do: put ($!#) space into your life and gradually build your habits.
Filter your goals, so you know what habits to root for. Most of the time, we make habits because we like how they sound. Focus deeply, search for the light within you, and see the goals that define you.
Don’t step on someone else goals. It will only take you farther away from your own self.
Never be afraid to start over. Learn the lesson your life teaches you and position them into your bag. Carry that bag and move on with your life.
How to improve?
Steve Harvey adds:
Ain’t no elevator to the top, not in the world of success, you get to take stairs.
Besides staying true to your purpose, there are things that we don’t know are good for us. That’s where meditation comes into play. Use your intuition, mind, and thoughts to pave the way. See what the universe is instructing you.
Don’t go against your true purpose. A lion does not fear, and a flower does not hunt.
Self-discipline is about committing to improve and picking yourself back up when you slip. That being said, determine one area of your life that you want to improve right now. [insert]
Into the Wild:
You already pulled off the greatest magic trick of all time by existing in the first place. Relax. Enjoy. The rest of life is already a bonus.
You’ll learn to get brave, combat challenges, and become smart with each passing time. With these 5 tips above, you’ll surely make a difference in your life.
There’s no secret sauce, just action!
(Hands down)
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