Living in an environment full of diversions the development of self-discipline is the eventual way to success. If you desire better health, a promotion, or a richer life, the act of cultivating self-discipline is the key to keeping you heading in the right direction. But let’s be honest with ourselves — motivation does not always come in a silver platter. The American Psychological Association conducted a study that shows that about two in seven people suffer from procrastination, which inhibits productivity. In today’s post, we’re going to look at some practical tips on how to build self-discipline and maintain motivation when things get tough.
Why Self-Discipline Matters
Egotism entails determination, determination to see through difficulties, and follow through on another decision you made irrespective of the difficulty of the exercise ahead of you. Working motivation seems to lose its steam or get switched off while self-discipline focuses on the development of routines to make things run in a prescribed manner.
How to Build Self-Discipline
Set Clear Goals
The first principle in the development of self-discipline is to create sensible objectives. Fuzzy goals such as ‘I need to lose weight’ cannot be entertained. So, we need to remember to make them SMART goals, where we have Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals.
For example:
Instead of going to the gym and telling yourself, ‘I want to exercise more,’ go for it and say, ‘I will exercise for half an hour, five days a week.’ If you set targets that are very specific then you will have a clear plan of direction to follow hence you will not easily be distracted.
Create a Routine
Patience is the key to discipline if one has to develop that habit of self-discipline. Having to make conscious decisions all day results in decision fatigue therefore having a daily routine avoids these instances of procrastination.
Eliminate Distractions
Time wasters are the worst alliegies of discipline. In today’s environment, we are surrounded by notifications, emails, and social media attention grabs.
To eliminate distractions:
- This involves installing apps such as Forest or Freedom to lock you out of all the distracting websites that make you demotivated.
- Use the timer clock to work for twenty-five minutes and then take a break that lasts five minutes.
- Draw limits by designing an appropriate work area, which excludes all sorts of distractions.
Embrace Accountability
Accountability can do wonders, especially when it comes to using your self-discipline in the correct manner. Tell your plans to someone you know such as a friend, a family member, or even your role model who will be reminding you of what you set out to do.
ASTD reasons that it increases your chance of achieving those goals by 65% when you commit to someone else. But if you meet, let’s say, once a week to discuss your accomplishments, that percentage rises to 95%.
It may be helpful to find a support group for parents or even find someone with whom you can “be accountable” to ensure you stick to the plan.
Reward Progress
Whereas discipline requires you to diminish the attraction of immediate self-gratification rewarding yourself when you have achieved is likely to enhance motivation. It is one of the motivation techniques and helps to encourage the right norms you want to assume.
Real-World Example:
One of the most striking examples of temperance is Elon Musk, the head of Tesla and Space X. However, while running several companies, Musk keeps to a tight working schedule with his day divided into 5-minute fractions. It is with such discipline that he has helped in changing industries and delivering the most tremendous innovation.
Conclusion
Building self-discipline is a gradual process that requires consistency, focus, and resilience. While motivation may fluctuate, self-discipline ensures that you keep going, even on tough days. By setting clear goals, creating routines, eliminating distractions, and holding yourself accountable, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your dreams.