Cultivate Self-Discipline NOW.
DON’T Be Controlled, TAKE Control.
So, Why Cultivate Self-Discipline?
Self-Discipline is what separates every successful people from everyone who gave up.
Successful people may not have all woken up early, trained or eaten healthily. However, they all have one thing in common… They were all disciplined. They found something and stuck at it.
Lang Lang kept at the piano, for Kobe it was basketball, and Tyson chose boxing.
The thing about most people isn’t that they are not disciplined because everyone is disciplined. It’s what they choose to be disciplined at.
I watched a video by Kyd Works (@kydworks on Instagram) and he was asked by the host of ‘The Encore Podcast’ (@encore.pod on Instagram) a question which changed my whole perspective on self-discipline. Here’s the conversation -
Encore: “Why is it so hard to stay disciplined?”
Kyd: “It’s not. They [are] maintaining [their] 9–5’s right?… They [are] maintaining their Netflix schedule right?… They might have a date night that they might do every week… I could keep going down the list of human experiences that we make cyclical. Is that not Discipline?… But what did you choose to give your discipline to?”
I’ve cut it short, but the message remains the same. Everyone CAN be disciplined. It’s just they give their discipline to meaningless things.
They got too comfortable chasing comfort and not comfortable enough chasing their dreams.
When I didn’t have self-discipline I found myself procrastinating and giving in to distractions constantly.
After continual trial and error, I can say I’ve cultivated self-discipline, although I still have a long way to go.
It’s helped me maintain my habits, goals and most importantly overcome challenges.
Self-discipline is NOT a talent gifted to a select few, it’s a skill learned which can be cultivated by the masses…
1. Set Clear Goals.
The first set to using cultivating self-discipline is knowing when and where to use it.
Figure out what you want to do. Set clear goals for what you want to achieve and ask yourself; do you have habits you want to build? A routine you want to get into? Or maybe a one-off achievement?
If yes, then this is where your discipline will be used.
In my previous article on setting goals I set out a clear method to achieve objectives that I will explain briefly here:
The best way to set goals is to 1) have a big achievement written out clearly, 2) make a list of all the tasks and objectives you need to complete to get there then 3) work through this list one task at a time.
You may not have every step figured out, and that’s fine. Just figure out the next 2–3 steps and work from there. Build momentum.
You may also have bad habits you want to break, use the same method.
When we have clear goals we know what to aim for. You’re not just firing shots in the dark anymore. You have a target now.
2. Daily Routine
Another way to cultivate self-discipline is to develop a daily routine as having a routine can help make daily tasks easier.
You know what you have to do instead of just aimlessly wandering between tasks, you can just execute and take allocated breaks.
First, establish what tasks you want to do. Make a list of everything you want to do in the morning and do the same for the evening.
This will create some structure in your day.
Second, start implementing the routine one habit at a time and work through the list.
Routines remove procrastination, they make discipline easier.
Yes, you may have had a hectic day but as long as you follow the steps in the morning and the evening you’ll be ok.
Nothing slows us down as long as we follow our routine.
This brings us to our next point…
3. Habits
Building healthy habits and breaking old ones ONLY happens through discipline.
The more self-discipline you have the more you can maintain the good habits and stop yourself from doing the bad habits.
Things can make this easier, like the routines we spoke about previously or help from an external source like a friend or family member, but ultimately it is up to you to perform.
To some, it may sound intimidating, but we are our habits. The only way people build careers is through habits.
A musician gets good at an instrument through the habit of practice. The same for a writer.
In an article that I wrote a couple of years ago, I listed the 4 step method I used to implement any habit:
1. Establish the habit(s) that you want to add to your routine.
2. Make the habits small.
3. Find a way to fit them into your routine.
4. Grow the habits.
Don’t charge headfirst at the habit, start small and use discipline to stay consistent.
They aren’t always something you WANT to do, but doing something you HAVE to do.
4. Surround Yourself with Supportive People
Having a supportive group of friends/ family can help you to stay disciplined. Knowing that you have people watching and checking up on you will keep you going.
You don’t want to have to tell people you have given up. It can be embarrassing, ESPECIALLY if it’s something you honestly want to do. Trustworthy people will accountable, the trouble is finding friends and family that you can talk to about real issues (such as habits, career etc.).
As mentioned in my previous article, ‘Develop a Growth Mindset’, not everyone will want what’s best for you. Some friends are temporary.
“Some people only talk to you to talk about you”
Surround yourself with good like-minded individuals. People who encourage and inspire you.
5. Self-care & Rewards
Rewards can be a powerful motivator, knowing what you are working towards at the end of a campaign is what keeps you trucking.
Rewards are not something you should see as negative.
We as a society have built such a toxic culture around work that we forget to take care of ourselves and enjoy life.
We’re told to wake up early & go to sleep late, don’t have breaks and “if it’s not about money, I don’t want to hear about it”.
Having rewards and knowing we CAN take a break at points in the future is what keeps us wanting to do the work.
Would you still go to your job if you didn’t get paid, weren’t allowed to take lunch breaks and had to work 16 hours a day?
No, you wouldn’t. You would quit.
Treat your side hustles and your skills like your REAL job.
Show up on time, do the work, take breaks, and enjoy the rewards.
Take
This might mean treating yourself or taking time off to relax, just don’t get too comfortable that you lose the very discipline you are trying to cultivate.
6. Eliminate distractions.
Distractions are the obstacle stopping you from performing.
Even with self-discipline, they can still cause problems.
Here’s a perfect example:
You may set out to complete a task with all the best intentions. You may have a deadline, time scale and an allocated time set for when the task will be performed, suddenly you get a notification on your phone; a message from a friend, a phone call, an email…
As soon as you pick up the phone the plan is ruined, and you’re back in the same loop; scrolling/texting and next thing you know 1 hour has gone by.
Sound familiar?
You’re giving away the precious time you set. The best thing to do is to eliminate the distractions at the source.
Turn the phone off and put it in another room. If you just put it in a draw or on silent then you’ll get tempted to check it.
If it’s nearby or easy to access then temptation will creep in.
Make distractions hard to come across by removing them altogether.
7. Continuously Educate Yourself.
The last step that I will leave you with is educating yourself.
Continue to do what you are doing. By reading this article you’ve already started.
Keep reading, researching, and listening. It’s how we progress.
Find out new methods for how to do things (like getting disciplined).
Look into alternative points of view, attend seminars, and learn new skills.
Keep yourself on your toes.
Learning will help you stay motivated and focused as it will give you brand new information to use at YOUR disposal, to put towards YOUR goals.
New ideas give you new goals to work towards.
Self-discipline is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. It requires adapting, acting, progressing, and learning.
Thank you for taking the time to read my article. If you found it helpful and think someone else could find it helpful too, please share it and 👏🏽👏🏽.
A writer mainly on self-development. I occasionally write on personal experiences, interest and other topics too. If you are interested in self-development, then please read some of my other articles (linked below). Enjoy.
