Self-discipline can be summarized in one sentence – “It’s choosing between what you want now and what you want most. In order to succeed in your business in any endeavor in life, self-discipline is of utmost importance.
There will be temptations that beset you at every turn. There will be days when every bone in your body tells you to skip that workout or take a break from work. Are you going to give in to them?
Self-discipline is about not letting these temptations and limiting thoughts deter you from doing what you need to do. It will keep you on track and when you’re feeling like binge eating or slacking off in front of the couch, self-discipline will make you rein in your thoughts and give you the grim determination to do what’s right for you to achieve your goals.
If you looked at any of the most successful people, you realize that they sacrificed a lot to get to where they were. Their compliance rate was high. If they needed to do ten things, they’d do all ten. Not nine. Not seven.
All ten.
That’s self-discipline. You want to be like them and this article will give you a few tips that will help you stay focused and control your mind. Once you learn to respect yourself and your efforts, your life will change tremendously.
Remove Temptations
Do NOT tempt yourself. Far too many people overestimate their will power. If you’re on diet, empty your fridge of all processed foods and junk food. Only keep healthy foods inside.
If you ever have food cravings in the middle of the night, you won’t have anything unhealthy to binge on. You’ll be much more likely to stay on track with your diet.
The same applies to your work. Do not log into Facebook or turn on the TV just to have background noise. You will end up distracted and lose precious time that could have been better used to build your business.
Remind Yourself Why
In a second’s decision your destiny is made. Whenever you are faced with a temptation, ask yourself why you started on your goals. What are you hoping to achieve?
Then ask yourself if you action is going to help or hurt you. If you were to do this every single time you are about to do something you know you shouldn’t, you will have much more self-discipline.
Reward Yourself
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Reward yourself when you stay on track. If you’re on a diet, and you watch your calories successfully for a week, treat yourself to a movie or buy something to reward your efforts.
Do not buy cake and gorge yourself though. Don’t reward yourself with food. You’re not a household pet. Your rewards should not detract you from your goals.
Roll With the Punches
It’s inevitable to slip up now and then. If you eat something you shouldn’t or you go to the pub with friends when you should have been working on your online business, that’s a slip up.
Acknowledge it and tell yourself you won’t repeat your mistake. Realign yourself with your goal and keep moving forward. Do not toss your entire diet just because you slipped up once.
Action Cures Inertia
No matter how ‘not in the mood’ you are in, always do something small that gets you started. Don’t feel like hitting the treadmill for 30 minutes? Just do 5 minutes then. Once you get up and start doing it, you’ll probably complete all 30 minutes.
The key is to overcome your inertia. This is the biggest obstacle to progress. A rolling stone gathers no moss. Momentum is your best friend. Keep it going even if it means doing less than you’re supposed to. You’ll do your best once you start.
Now that you are armed with these 5 tips, do apply them and you will see rewards. Always remember that self-discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments and if you don’t rule your mind, it will rule you.
“With self-discipline most anything is possible.” – Theodore Roosevelt