5 Steps to Crush Your Goals Today
And End Your Day Feeling Accomplished
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have superhuman self-discipline while most of us struggle to stick to our goals? Hint: They don’t have exceptional power, nor were they born with more self-control than the rest of us.
Here is the good news: self-discipline is an acquired skill. Nobody is born with it. It takes time to build it, but without it, goals remain forever out of reach.
Motivation vs. Self-Discipline
Imagine that it is the end of the day and you are slouched on the couch. You scroll on autopilot through endless cat videos (we all did that) when you see an ad for a gym membership.
On the spur of the moment, you sign up, determined that this time it will be different. You will lose those pesky extra pounds. You will get the abs of your dreams.
This is motivation. It is the spark that gets you moving in the direction of your goals.
Motivation is great to set things in motion, but without self-discipline, you will celebrate yet another “Quitter’s Day.”
Yes, there is an unofficial day for those who quit their resolutions every year. It is the second Friday in January.
Fortunately, you can learn how to hone your self-discipline just like you learn any other skill.
Lessons from the Stoics
They were probably the first life coaches in human history, and they left us many valuable lessons. The principles they taught are still valid today:
- Focus on what you can control
- Act rationally
- Face difficulties with calmness
- Live in the present moment
- Be detached from outcomes
In the words of Marcus Aurelius:
“We should discipline ourselves in small things, and from these progress to things of greater value.”
By applying these timeless principles, you can become more resilient and navigate life’s obstacles with grace and resilience.
Here are some practical tips to help you cultivate self-discipline.
Start Small, Think Big
You need to set a clearly defined goal. How else will you know that you arrived? Think about what it is you want to achieve.
- Do you want to write a novel?
- Learn a new language?
- Get a raise?
Write down your goal in as much detail as you can and keep it in a place where you can easily see it every day. This is especially important on those days when you’d rather binge on Netflix than work towards your goal.
Then set smaller goals along the way. Think of these as stepping stones on the way to the big, lofty goal. Start by writing 500 words a day, learning 10 new words, walking 10,000 steps.
Create a Routine and Stick to It
You are now on the road you mapped for yourself, and maintaining consistency is crucial. Just like brushing your teeth in the morning, self-discipline has to become an essential part of your life.
You have to establish a routine and stick with it. Here are some suggestions.
- Have dedicated time during the day when you will work undisturbed on your goal.
- Block the time in your calendar.
- Let everybody know you will not be disturbed. Hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door.
By sticking to your schedule, a new habit will form, and new habits lead to self-discipline.
Eliminate Temptations and Distractions
The next step is to make it easy for yourself to maintain discipline and stick to your schedule. Remove distractions from reach — they are the enemy of self-discipline. Social media, email notifications, TV shows — they all claim your attention at any moment, derailing you from your goals.
Take a moment and identify your triggers, then either eliminate them or set clear boundaries.
- Silence your phone and put it in another room.
- Turn off the TV until you have completed your work.
- Set a schedule for checking emails and stick to it.
- Clean the fridge and remove unhealthy snacks. Replace them with healthy ones.
- Use apps to block access when you work.
Willpower tends to diminish later in the day. By eliminating the triggers, you won’t have to rely as much on an already dwindling willpower.
Pause and Reflect
Reflection is another essential ingredient to achieve self-discipline. Taking time to review where you are on your path to your goal allows you to:
- Make sure you are following your plan.
- Make adjustments if something unpredictable happens.
- Celebrate your accomplishments.
BONUS — Do the difficult tasks first
Map out what are the tasks that you do not like doing. What are the things that you know you must do and yet you always find excuses to not do them?
Do you find yourself postponing exercise until it is too late in the day? Do you avoid calling the editor, the accountant, the supplier because you cannot imagine having yet another business conversation with them?
Whatever it is that you do not like doing, do it first. The feeling the accomplishment and the boost this will give to your motivation is priceless.
Self-discipline is about progress, not perfection. It is about showing up every day, even on those days when you don’t feel like it, and making small steps in the direction of your goals. These small steps add up over time and lead you to your goals.
