How and Why to Improve Your Self-Discipline

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Self-discipline is critical for success, but it is something that you have to develop because it does not come naturally. Those who wish to achieve a higher level of self-development and performance need to first work toward self-discipline. This allows you to control your impulses, desires, emotions and behaviors. You strive for long-term satisfaction instead of instant gratification. This allows you to create and achieve goals that are more meaningful for a higher level of fulfillment and satisfaction.

Knowing how to develop better self-discipline is important. There are a ways to do this that are actually fun and they are small changes so that you do not feel overwhelmed by change.

Take Baby Steps

It is important to take things slow and know that developing self-discipline is a process. Start with small steps and master each one before moving onto the next. If you bite off more than you can chew, you can experience a setback that reduces your motivation to keep going.

Turn Good Behaviors Into Routines

Routines are one of the best ways to improve your self-discipline. However, you want to create a routine that is both healthy and productive. For example, if you have a habit for eating raw vegetables several times throughout the week, make this a routine. Incorporate a few servings of raw vegetables into your daily life. You can eat them as is or make juice with them. The most important part is that it becomes a routine. You can do the same thing with activities like exercise, writing out a productive daily schedule or tidying up your house. All of these are positive behaviors that will lead to better things.

Know What Motivates You

Everyone has something that motivates them and you need to identify these. You can use your motivators to stay on track and resist temptations as they come along. Some people are motivated by buying things that they enjoy. You can use this to your advantage to meet your self-discipline goals. For example, once you reach a goal, reward yourself with something that you have been wanting to buy for a while. Just make sure that you do not make the purchase until you have completely achieved your goal.

Get Inspired

There are people in your life who inspire you and you should strive to mimic their positive behaviors. This will help you to develop self-discipline because you will see how others are using it to create a better life. This person can be someone that you know or even a celebrity or professional athlete that you have always looked up to. The key is to use their life and their self-discipline as a way to motivate yourself to develop greater self-discipline and be greater.

Say 'No' When it is Necessary

There are times when you have to say "no" to your impulses, feelings and urges. Say "no" to dessert most nights of the week and to leaving your work until the next morning. It is important to follow through so that you develop the self-discipline you need over time. As you push through and continue to meet your goals, you will find that this becomes easier as time goes on. You can use this approach for all aspects of your life that you find hard to finish when you get started. This can also help you to finish old projects that you set to the side years ago and have been meaning to finally complete.

Get Involved in Sports

One of the best ways to improve your self-discipline is to get involved in sports. Sports require training and working on improving your fitness, both of which mean that you need a lot of self-discipline. Even if you do not have a lot of self-discipline now, you will find that you will start to develop it as you continue to engage in sports. Another option is to learn how to play a musical instrument if sports are not your thing.

When you have self-discipline, you have greater control over your life and everything that happens in it. This includes everything from career success to your health. You are able to efficiently complete goals and maintain your emotions so that you are at a low risk for stress. Those with good self-discipline also have control over their finances, are more productive and have a much higher tolerance for negative emotions and frustration. 

- Rosemary Kitchen

Resources

Sasson, R. (2015). Willpower and Self-Discipline Guidance and Exercises. Retrieved on March 29, 2015 from http://www.successconsciousness.com/willpower-self-discipline.html