7 Secrets for More Self-discipline That Will Make YOU More Content!
Keeping at it pays off a thousand times over. If you are one of those people who like to let their inner sloth win, we have good news for you. Self-discipline is not the pure torture or scourge of humanity that it sounds like. It is the key to success. Every one of your goals - big or small - needs a certain amount of perseverance. Very few things are accomplished in seconds, and if they are, they are not those fabled milestones that fill us with pride, joy and satisfaction. Developing a routine that keeps us persevering on the path to our dreams is essential to success. In this article, we're about to introduce you to 7 secrets that can reliably set you on the path to success if you let them.
Get to know yourself better.
There are countless gurus and lifestyle coaches trying to sell us their one true strategy to more discipline and output. Some preach total control over every minute of the day, while still others work with the laissez-faire principle. What works for person A, however, may not be the ideal for person B. Assuming you want to learn a new language or another skill, get to know yourself first before you get started. Are you a group person, or a lone wolf? Do you need a firm hand, or is pressure the last thing you need? Does the exchange with others spur you on, or do you automatically feel behind in comparison with them? No matter what it is that you need more discipline for, first look at exactly the person you are, the person you are sending on this exciting journey.
Your goal must be present every day.
If you're planning your next career move, you won't be able to avoid overtime and additional trainings. If you want to lose weight, you will have to work at it every day. If you want to quit smoking, there are 24 wonderfully challenging hours a day waiting for you to resist. No matter what goal you have in mind, working toward it must be a fixed part of your daily routine. Real achievers get up early, divide their day into meticulously planned components, and don't make too many exceptions to this rule, even on weekends. Self-discipline is in the smallest decisions. It's best to schedule fixed intervals of time dedicated to just this one thing. Guard these moments like your reason for being and don't let distractions or excuses sabotage your new success routine.
Your biggest enemy is you.
Now it's going to be unpleasant, unfortunately, but of course there will be people who want to throw you off your path. It's amazing how negatively our environment can react when we want to change. You can ignore these prophecies of doom. But it would be even better if you just keep your plans to yourself for the time being. Surprise then rather with results. The public enemy No. 1 on this rocky path, however, is ourselves. We are true masters in deceiving ourselves, feeding ourselves with excuses just so we don't have to leave our comfort zone. Never underestimate the power of self-sabotage, but never underestimate the power of self-discipline.
Make it easy on yourself.
The ticket to a regular life filled with a sense of accomplishment is consistency. If you think of self-discipline as a revival experience or a life-changing vision, you will be disappointed. It is much more unspectacular. We humans like it simple, at best always the same. We are creatures of habit, by the book. Make use of this peculiarity and make it your ally on the way to perseverance. Take a look at your everyday life, which routines already exist that prove to be purposeful and useful and which ones would you like to integrate additionally? More sports? Well, forget about the overpriced gym membership, including restrictive opening hours. Maybe forget about all outdoor sports to begin with, too, because the weather is a fickle team player that often likes to give us excuses. The key to discipline is simple, microscopic changes, but you must cherish them every day. It's unrealistic for you as a slacker to suddenly start exercising on the treadmill for 30 minutes every day, but taking the longer walk to work and then taking the stairs instead of the elevator will net you a quick rethink every day and you'll have integrated two mini fitness sessions into your daily routine, free of charge and with no time commitment. Increases are then possible at any time and welcome.
Remove temptation from your life.
If you want to lose weight or live healthier overall, your first path should lead you to the fridge or pantry. No, not for the last opulent last meal before the meager new lifestyle, but to get rid of all temptations. You know the triggers yourself best, the ones that will be your undoing time and time again. But it also verges on torture to want to eat healthier and be surrounded by chocolate, or other pleasure bombs. This kind of self-discipline really belongs in a military boot camp or in a soulless casting show in search of the next top model. Never make your life harder than it absolutely has to be. If you don't want to throw food away, donate it to a food bank or to your neighbors. If you want to quit smoking, remove the last pack, or give it away. If you want to be more productive and get more out of your days, turn off your smartphone, or even put it away for a period of time.
Stay flexible!
What worked well for you five or ten years ago doesn't necessarily still. Our bodies change and life out there changes, too. Pay attention to what routines felt better somehow in the past and don't quite work today. You may need a new motivation, a different workout routine, or generally to start thinking outside the box.
Don't forget the reward!
The principle of positive action reinforcement is the most promising motivation system of all. Every big goal is made up of many little ones. Anyway, it pays to divide your milestones into shorter stages. This takes the terror out of every big project and it suddenly seems doable. No matter how small your successes are, reward yourself for them. Want to live healthier? Celebrate every healthy meal and every exercise session as if they were Olympic gold. Every moment you make the right choices and act in accordance with your goal brings you one significant step closer to achieving it.
Today’s Conclusion
Self-management is self-love. It is important that you do not consider discipline and perseverance as punishments. Even if they sound like the gym classes of your school days, or like a trill squad in the armed forces. These terms are your friends if you let them be. The better you keep track of yourself and your life time, the more you get out of it on the bottom line. Empty miles and wasted hours or days will then be a thing of the past. Everything worth fighting for in life is hard, at least at first. The really good things never happen to us overnight. Value yourself highly enough to allow yourself the labor of love of a disciplined life. Those who love themselves take care of themselves, and self-love, as we all know, is the basis for any love we desire for our lives. That's it for today.