I know you are desperate to change your life. You tried multiple shortcuts and tips, but they didn’t last long.
Why is that?
It’s quite simple. You forget the fundamentals of success. Self-discipline is the key to success. And you should know how to improve self-discipline.
Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t become Mr universe four times by doing 1000 push-ups in a single day or a few months. He has improved his self-discipline to work out for several years, and he continues to work out in his 60s too.
How to Improve Self-discipline
Working every day is the only way to change your life. It isn’t easy, but it’s possible. These seven tips will improve your self-discipline regardless of your situation.
Let’s jump in.
1- Create a Schedule
Most people ignore the importance of planning ahead of the day. They sleepwalk throughout the day and regret it at night. Don’t be one of them.
Every day is a bonus you get, so spend it wisely by creating a proper schedule.
Writing down a Do-list is one of the best methods to schedule your work. This Do-list includes the activities you need to finish today itself. When you have a handful of tasks to do, you will be self-disciplined.
Use a physical diary or template for the do-list, which is also available in Google Sheets.
Criteria to follow while writing the do-list:
- Don’t write more than five activities in a day
- Write your do-list before the day itself. Starts, the night before the day
- Prioritize the tasks in the do-list according to urgency and importance
2- Tracking Down Your Habits
Now that you have the schedule, do you think you can keep up with that?
It is difficult; you will lose confidence after a few days. You need facts to convince your mind that you are on the right path. So track it down.
Tracking down the progress of your everyday achievements boosts your confidence. This strengthens your willpower.
Tracking down your habits will guide you in this self-discipline journey.
How do you track it?
You can use the traditional marking method down in the calendar or use these apps to track down.
- Streak
- Habitable
- Habitica
3- Destroy Your Procrastination
Procrastination is the big enemy of self-discipline. The process of postponing your important work later is called procrastination.
If you procrastinate, then the day will not be productive as you desired.
How can you overcome procrastination?
There are many methods available to overcome Procrastination.
- Creating a fake deadline
- Rewarding yourself
- Punishing yourself
- Break down the problematic tasks into smaller pieces
There is also another method that I do to overcome my procrastination.
If you decide to start any task, your mind always sends these two signals – now or later.
You tend to choose later.
I use the 5-second rule taught by Mel Robbins. I count from 5 to 1 and then immediately start to work on my do-list. It delays my urgency to choose later.
This countdown technique helps start your work instantly. Once you begin to work, then it is easy to beat Procrastination.
4- Use the Power of Why
You probably know willpower, but you have to understand Why Power.
The reason you give yourself to work towards your dream is called Why Power.
Find out the reasons why you want to achieve your goal or dream.
Setting out “why” for your goal will decrease the possibility of quitting.
Maintaining self-discipline through several years is difficult, as I said before, but it is possible through finding the why.
Ask questions like why do I need to be healthy? Why do I have to become rich? You have to find the right “Why” that inspires and motivates you.
It’s maybe proving your ability to the universe or a specific person. Choose your “Why” based on the value.
Strong reasons will make you stronger, and weak reasons will make you weaker.
Write down these whys and when quitting comes to your mind, read them.
5- Getting out of Your Comfort Zone
Getting out of the comfort zone is against human nature. Our brain is designed to choose comfort zones over changes to keep us away from danger.
That’s why, when you change into a new style of habits, you fail to persist.
Putting yourself often in the discomfort zone will boost your confidence and ability to persist.
Do this list of activities to show your mind, who is the boss?
- Take cold showers
- Do exercise to push your body beyond the limit
- Do what you’re afraid of, like public speaking, speaking to strangers, participating in competitions, etc.
- Say ‘No’ to processed foods
- Avoid wasting tonnes of time on social media
6- Change Your Environment
You need a constant reminder or guidance to improve your self-discipline. You need a mentor or a partner to encourage you, but not everyone will be surrounded by encouraging members.
Maybe you’re in a toxic environment of discouragement. This environment will have a bad influence on you.
Hang out with the people that you admire. This online world makes it easy to find such people. Follow these people and fill your environment with their quotes and posters.
Upload their quotes to your mobile and laptop wallpaper. Listen to them through YouTube videos and podcasts. Surround yourself with what motivates you.
7- Allocate Time for Entertainment
Yes, you read it right.
No one on this planet works every day in their career without entertaining themselves. You cannot avoid entertainment and work for several years. It doesn’t work like that.
Your mind needs some kind of entertainment to work consistently. Entertainment is essential to improve self-discipline.
Allocate a specific time duration for entertainment that makes your life happy and successful at the same time.
It also reduces the pressure when you’re working on your goal, but never let your entertainment disturb your work schedule.
This entertainment time is dedicated only to you. Don’t spend it on others. Do what you love to do and when time is over, come back again to your productive work.
The cycle of productivity and Entertainment is the real key to improve your self-discipline.
Final thoughts,
Self-discipline is a must to live joyful, fulfilling, and healthy life. The above-mentioned tips will help you keep on track. If you want to share any other self-discipline tip, please leave it in the comment section.
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