Sexy Word of the Week - Self-Discipline

Let’s look at a dictionary meaning for self-discipline.

Discipline and training of oneself, usually for improvement: eg Acquiring the habit of promptness requires self-discipline.

I think my favorite version is from the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

the ability to make you do things that should be done.

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In a nutshell, self-discipline is what got me out of bed at 4.30 this morning to write this post.

I’m the first to admit I don’t have this self-discipline thing mastered yet (to be honest, I’m not sure anyone 100% does. I think it’s more a case of we all have our moments!)

I’m always working on improving my self-discipline. Sometimes I’m ahead, sometimes behind, but I am always trying to improve.

So what is self-discipline exactly and how does it impact our lives?

It’s the glue that holds your dreams, goals, to-do list, and bucket list together.

It’s how we get stuff done!

Self-discipline is how we take amazing holidays, build our dream home, be great parents, and get promotions. It’s how we move forward in life.

It is an essential ingredient in how successful we are.

Self-discipline can be tricky. In certain areas of our lives, many of us have tonnes of self-discipline, whereas in other areas we suck!

Sometimes we have an abundance of self-discipline, and at other times we feel drained of every ounce of get-up-and-go, and nothing seems to be able to make us do the things that should be done.

Here are a few ideas that have helped me increase my self-discipline.

Pick your priorities

Don’t try to be Superman and do everything. Pick your priorities.

I will give you an example. I have dirty dishes in my sink. I have time to write this blog post or wash up, but not both.

The blog is more important, so here I am blogging. Don’t run yourself ragged trying to do everything. You will exhaust yourself, and that’s when your self-discipline is most likely to disappear.

One book I found helpful that looks at both your self-discipline and habits is Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin. Gretchen plans to have you create better habits that in turn help your self-discipline. When the two work together, they can be extremely powerful.

Improve on your personal best

One thing self-discipline loves is seeing results.

Don’t compare yourself to other people because it can be demotivating. Work to improve on your personal best and watch your self-discipline increase.

Find something that you like doing

If you are going to flex your self-discipline muscles, start with something you love.

It’s much harder to force yourself to do things that you hate. Once you flex your self-discipline muscle, you might even find doing things you dislike slightly easier.

Repetition helps build self-discipline

Let’s use exercise as an example. Do you think you will have more self-discipline to go for a jog if you have been going once a fortnight or if you have been going every day for a week?

Go for the repetition. Be consistent.

Related post – How to Have More Self-Discipline

Work on your habits

If you want to weave more self-discipline into your life, take a serious look at some of your day-to-day habits and see where they can be improved or changed to benefit you.

Related content on habits –

Where possible, make self-discipline enjoyable!

Sometimes doing a task might not feel enjoyable, but the sense of achievement and joy we feel after it’s completed makes it enjoyable. If you can’t quite manage to make self-discipline enjoyable, make sure you plan lots of fun in your downtime.

Self-discipline is the difference between having a great life and letting life pass you by. Which one will you choose?

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The Importance of Self-Discipline