Developing self-discipline is no easy task. It’s easy to blame entertainment, especially in this digital world where social media is everywhere and plans like the Contour TV package is a part of our daily lives. But there is more to it. This is why psychologists have spent years researching the mental state of people, their upbringing, and life circumstances to learn why people struggle with it so much.
For times when you feel like you don’t have control over certain aspects of your life, you actually do. You don’t know just yet. Nobody is born with self-discipline. It’s a quality that you develop and nurture. Once you develop this quality, it gives you the ability to stay focused and achieve your short-term and long-term goals.
Let’s show you some ways to cultivate self-discipline and gain some control in your life:
1: Get Rid of Temptations Slowly and Steadily
You can dramatically boost your self-discipline by simply removing the most powerful temptations from your environment.
Want to cut down on your drinking? Get rid of the liquor. Want to get more done at work? Turn off social media notifications. In other words, remove everything distracting, prioritize and do what you intend to do. Removing temptations may not come easy so don’t be too hard on yourself. Do one thing at a time.
2: Give Yourself a Deadline
Sometimes, the things we want to overwhelm us and we have a hard time making progress. To tackle such a situation, divide the task into smaller chunks, create a goal, and give yourself a deadline.
3: Have an Accountability Partner
Giving yourself a deadline didn’t work for you? no problem. Call a friend, and ask them if they can become your accountability partner. It’s like having your own fitness coach or a personal trainer to stay on top of your fitness goals.
When you hold someone accountable, you engage the power of social expectation. This forces you to get stuff done. And if you don’t, be prepared to get bashed by your accountability partner.
4: Don’t Go Against the Grain
Often, we end up beating ourselves up for something we are not wired to do!
Perhaps you’re attempting to be serious about something that doesn’t fit your personality. Why are you pressuring yourself to try to finish that project week in advance if you always wait until the last minute to do it? It’s probably best to set a time immediately before the deadline if that is how your brain is wired to do it.
Do not waste your willpower on things that you are not wired to do, things that are not important, or things that can be delegated to a more talented person.
5: Don’t Beat Yourself Up
Change is not easy. Developing new habits is hard. The human brain is wired for familiarity. When it’s forced to do something new, the brain makes you fight against it. this is normal and will take some time to overcome.
Go easy on yourself. Don’t allow setbacks like these to make you give up on the bigger picture. Don’t be frustrated that you missed a deadline or a goal. Try harder next time! Forgive yourself and move forward.
6: Ask for Help When You Need It
Have a hard time disciplining yourself? Well, you are not alone. Ask for help from your relatives, friends, and even strangers on the internet. Form a support group by reaching out to people in your life and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance.
Many people avoid this because they feel ashamed of their lack of discipline. They are afraid to be vulnerable. Opening yourself up to someone can actually help. You will feel heard and supported. This might be all you need to move forward.
7: Push Yourself into Discomfort
One of the major reasons why we struggle with self-discipline is because we run away from uncomfortable situations. We prefer doing the things we are familiar with like using your app to get support instead of calling the Cox customer care number to sort out your trouble. Instead of facing the uncomfortable projects/goals, we procrastinate or distract ourselves with stuff like video games, or social media.
You are simply running from your problems. If you don’t push yourself into discomfort, you won’t achieve much in life. Do it one task at a time and see how it feels. Soon, you will be able to handle discomfort.
Conclusion
Self-discipline takes practice to cultivate and master. Your level of self-discipline won’t be perfect every day. Don’t worry, the thing that really matters is showing up every day and being ready to give it a try.
So, are you ready to make some changes in your life?
