We all want to be successful, don't we? Although, people will have very different definitions of success, I bet there's a component that's critical to achieving it - discipline.
Discipline is one of the ingredients that exist in any recipe to attaining worthwhile results.
Discipline is the foundation upon which we build anything meaningful in life. It is the ability to control our actions, thoughts and emotions in order to achieve a desired outcome.
Without discipline, we get sidetracked, procrastinate and fall short of our goals. A lot of work and research has been done by people smarter than me on this subject. Some contemporary books on discipline include:
Discipline Is Destiny - Ryan Holiday
Discipline equals freedom - Jocko Willink
No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline – Brian Tracy
Discipline creates habits, habits are what we do regularly, and day by day, what we do is who is become.
One of the most important aspects of discipline in personal life is time management. I like to think of time management as decision management. Being able to plan your day, identify priorities and stick to a schedule can be incredibly helpful to accomplish more in less time. Basic example: if you want to start exercising regularly, setting a specific time each day for a workout and sticking to it, even on days when you don't feel like it, will help you build discipline and make exercise a habit.
Discipline is also essential at work. For example, in order to meet deadlines and complete projects on time, it is important to have a system in place to manage tasks and stay organized. This includes setting specific goals, creating a plan of action and following through on it. Additionally, it is important to stay focused and not get sidetracked by unimportant tasks or distractions. Author Cal Newport has written fantastic books on this topic - check out Deep Work and Digital Minimalism.
Discipline also plays a key role in developing mental toughness and resilience. It takes discipline to stay calm and focused in the face of adversity, to keep moving forward when things get tough, and to bounce back from setbacks. For example, if you are an entrepreneur, it takes discipline to keep going when things don’t go as planned and to stay motivated when faced with rejection or failure.
To wrap it up, here are 5 tips for improving personal discipline:
Set specific and measurable goals: Having clear and specific goals will help you stay focused and motivated.
Create a schedule: Planning your day and sticking to a schedule can help you stay on track and accomplish more in less time.
Eliminate distractions: Identify and eliminate sources of distraction, such as social media, email and unnecessary notifications.
Take small steps: Building discipline takes time, so start with small steps and gradually increase your level of commitment.
Reward yourself: Reward yourself for making progress and hitting milestones. This will keep you motivated and help you maintain discipline.
Finally, let me highlight that working with a coach is also a great way to boost your accountability and discipline. You perform differently when you have someone in your corner, who not only cheers you on, but helps you appreciate things from different perspective and pushes you to do your best.
Stay focused, stay motivated, and stay disciplined!