Self-discipline is a muscle. The more you use it, the more stronger it gets.
Show me a top performer and I’ll show you someone with a deep level of discipline. Think about all the anecdotes you hear about Kobe Bryant shooting hoops till 4 am: discipline. Or the commitment it takes for Seth Godin to write a blog post every single day for 10 years: discipline. Thomas Edison came back to the same idea 10,000 different times before of the sustainable light bulb worked: discipline.
These top performers are no different than you and I. They have figured out what they can be the best in the world at, and they’ve become infinitely self-disciplined in their fields. You and I will probably never play in the NBA, not my point. My point is that each of us can hack the potential that these masters have unlocked in our respective fields if we’re willing to go to work and get better each day.
Creating disciplined habits helps you stay rooted in positive routines. It’s no secret that positive routines lead to success. So without further ado, here are 5 ways to practice being more self-disciplined.
1.) Get Physical
Find something physical in which to get involved. Your body doesn’t always talk back, it’s your mind that requires the convincing. Starting with physical activities will help you learn to push through pain instead of giving up at the first sign of discomfort. Learn to tell your body to push harder and your mind will soon follow.
My most recent physical challenge was running a marathon. I set out to do something, told a bunch of people I was going to do it (this accountability is very helpful), and then I began to put a plan in place for myself. If I didn’t follow that training and diet regimen, I would have no chance to finish the race. The physical and mental endurance it requires to finish a marathon can only be built up through the months of training leading up the the race. In sticking with your training regimen, you will be forced to practice discipline.
2.) 30 Day Challenge
We can all take a lesson from my friend Becca. She practices being disciplined by regularly self-imposing 30-day challenges. For you, a challenge can be to “get up at 6:00 am every day for 30 days” or “no alcohol for 30 days” or anything that you’re not already practicing. Give yourself 30 days and stick to it! Don’t let yourself off the hook easy, remember it’s your mind that will talk back before your body.
When Becca is finished with these challenges, she rewards herself. Remember, self-discipline is a muscle. And in order to grow, your muscles need rest. This doesn’t mean ruin what you just worked at for 30 days (i.e. going on a bender after no alcohol for a month), rather give yourself a nice pat on the back to justify your actions. All discipline and no play can make you miserable. If you don’t finish the challenge, don’t indulge. That completely defeats the purpose and you don’t become any more disciplined than when you started
Added Bonus: If you are trying to create a new habit, give yourself a 70 day challenge instead. This article will give you some empirical evidence of how long it takes to form habits.
3.) Face A Fear
Do something you’re scared of. It might be something as wild as skydiving or it might be something as harmless as going to a meetup. It’s not about the activity, it’s what you do leading up to it. Put your mind to facing that fear by setting a date and time on which you’ll confront it. It shouldn’t be 16 years in the future, but it probably shouldn’t be in the next hour, either.
As the countdown clock ticks, you will begin to feel anxiety leading up to your confrontation. This is a normal part of the exercise, don’t panic. Expect your brain to make up excuses why you shouldn’t take on this challenge. When this happens, silence your mind and face the challenge head-on.
Ask a friend to be your accomplice, there’s rarely a need to go it alone. When you’ve held that spider or jumped out of that plane, you’ll have conquered a fear and you’ll have practiced your discipline muscle.
4.) Read Finish A Book
It’s no secret, I love to read. Reading stimulates your mind, brings ideas to the surface, gives you things to talk about, and helps you become a better communicator. Another way to practice discipline is to pick up a book on any subject in which you’re interested. If you’re a car guy, pick up a book about cars. If you’re into hair and makeup, I’m sure there are books on that subject too. Go to Amazon.com and find a book you think you’d like. If you’re not a regular reader, don’t pick out a 900 page novel, you’re only setting yourself up for failure. Pick something shorter that you know you can accomplish (set realistic goals) like a series of short stories or my ebook.
Now, think of something you love to do OR something you really want. Got it? Don’t let yourself have that thing until you finish the book. If it’s a type of food you love, throw it out till you finish the book. If it’s those new shoes you’ve been coveting, give money to a friend to go buy them with the explicit instructions of not allowing you to have them until you’ve finished the book.
You don’t have to read it in one sitting. But sit down for 5 minutes each day and work on your self-discipline. When the book is finished you’ll probably say something like, “That wasn’t so bad after all.”
5.) Make It A Competition
Notice that most of these practices involve other people helping you out. It’s OK to ask for help. Athletes have teams. Runners have training partners. Readers have book clubs. There’s nothing more rewarding than having your loved ones support you and give you encouragement when you need it most.
Except beating someone in a competition.
Take any one of these ideas and add a layer of competition. Ask your friend to run the marathon with you or make a bet with your neighbor about who will win a 30 day challenge. Adding that competitive edge will help motivate you to stay focused on the outcome more than you’ll ever be able to do on your own.
Discipline is a muscle. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Conversely, if you infuse discipline you can transform your life and accomplish things you never thought possible.
What are some ways in which you stay disciplined?
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