The practice of self–discipline involves the deferment of immediate gratification for the sake of long–term goals. It is the ability to control one‘s own emotions and impulses and to act in accordance with a set of rules or values.1. Eliminate temptation.
Removing all temptations and distractions from your environment is a crucial first step when working to improve your self-discipline. If you are trying to control your eating better, toss the junk food. Self-control is often easiest when abiding by the old saying, “out of sight, out of mind.”
If you want to improve your focus while working, turn off your cell phone and remove the clutter from your desk. If you’re having trouble, download the SelfControl app on your computer to block distraction websites – Facebook, Youtube, even email – for a set period.
Set yourself up for success by ditching the bad influences.
2. Eat regularly and healthily.
Studies have shown that low blood sugar lowers your resolve. When you’re hungry, your ability to concentrate suffers as your brain is not functioning to its highest potential. Hunger makes it difficult to focus on the tasks at hand, not to mention making you grumpy and pessimistic, which leads to having a weakened sense of self-control in all areas of our life – diet, exercise, work, and relationships.
To keep things on track, ensure you always have enough energy throughout the day with healthy foods. Eating regularly and healthy will ensure that your head is always focused on the goals, and allow your brain to focus on your goals and priorities instead of on your growling stomach.
3. Don’t wait until it “feels right”.
Improving your self-discipline means changing your routine, which can be uncomfortable and awkward. Charles Duhigg, the author of The Power of Habit, explains that habit behaviours are traced to a part of the brain called the basal ganglia – a portion of the brain associated with emotions, patterns, and memories. Decisions, on the other hand, are made in the prefrontal cortex, a completely different area.
So when a behaviour becomes a habit, we stop using our decision-making skills and use automatic functions instead. Therefore, to break bad habits and practice good habits requires us to decide to take action, which will “feel wrong”.
Our brain will follow our habits and resist what it is programmed to do. What is the solution here? Accepting this conflict, and acknowledging that it will take time for the new regime to come to you until you feel that what you are doing is good, is natural. Stay consistent, and you will have good habits.
4. Schedule breaks and treats, and reward yourself.
Self-discipline does not mean your new regimen needs to be entirely cold turkey, hardcore, or drill sergeant-like in execution. Being too strict can lead to frustration, failure, and a return to old habits. So also harmonise change; plan some breaks so it can feel less challenging to follow. Self-discipline can be rigid sometimes, so remember to reward your effort.
5. Forgive yourself and move forward.
New thoughts and habits will always not go according to your plan; there will be great successes and catastrophic failures. The key is to keep moving forward. Whenever facing an obstacle, acknowledge what caused it and move on. Feelings like guilt, anger, and disappointment will forever be just emotions; they will never help build self-discipline. Instead, use these difficulties to improve discipline and experience for the future. Forgive yourself and get back on track as soon as possible. The longer you’re off your game, the harder it is to keep going in a positive direction.
