Self-Discipline: Investing in your future self

What does self-discipline mean to you?

According to Google, it means "the ability to control your feelings and overcome your weaknesses; the ability to stick to what you believe is right even when it's hard.”

For me, it's simply about showing up for yourself, over and over and over again.

Self-discipline is powerful because it builds up over time. It's like saving money – the more you put in, the more you get out. But a lot of people give up just before they start seeing the benefits because being disciplined often means waiting a while for results. Take exercise, for example, many quit when they don't see changes right away. But if they kept going a little longer, they'd likely start seeing progress, which would help motivate them to keep going.

So, how can you make sure you stay disciplined even before you start seeing results and actually turn your intentions into actions?

Here are some practical tips to help you cultivate discipline in your daily life:

Tip #1: Rely on discipline, not just motivation

Embarking on any journey, whether it's weight loss or starting a business, requires a shift in mindset from relying solely on motivation to being driven by discipline. When faced with setbacks like unexpected weight gain or a slow week in sales, it's discipline that propels us forward, knowing that consistent effort yields results over time.

Action Steps:

• Set clear goals to maintain focus and then display them in a place where you'll see them often
• Stay accountable by tracking progress and sharing goals with a trusted partner or accountability buddy
• Identify your "why" to understand the importance of showing up for yourself every day

Tip #2: Focus on one new habit at a time

Taking a gradual approach to habit change is critical. By focusing on one new habit at a time, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and actually set yourself up for sustainable progress. Starting small allows you to build momentum by gradually adding new behaviors as you become comfortable. This incremental approach paves the way for lasting change and personal growth.

Action Steps:

• Start by reflecting on your goals and priorities. You should consider areas of your life where improvement is needed or desired.
• Consider your current routines and behaviors, identifying any patterns or habits that may be hindering your progress or holding you back
• Use a reflective exercise to identify potential habits that you might want to focus on. As an example, I recommend an exercise I do with my clients that involves categorizing habits into five categories: "Start Doing," "Do More Of," "Keep Doing," "Do Less Of," and "Stop Doing"

Tip #3: Set daily “reps” for focus and progress

As you hone in on your chosen habit, determining your ideal daily "reps" becomes instrumental. Whether it's making a set number of sales calls or hitting a targeted number of steps, establishing these daily benchmarks transforms aspirations into actionable habits. By integrating your daily “reps” seamlessly into your routine will help ensure you make steady progress towards your goals.

Action Steps:

• Customize your daily targets to suit your goals and abilities by ensuring they are both challenging and sustainable
• Keep track of your daily reps in a habit tracker, bullet journal, or spreadsheet to monitor progress and maintain accountability
• Be flexible and adjust your targets as needed

Now that you have a better idea of how to harness discipline to unlock your next level, you can apply it to enhance any area of your life. Take my experience for example: I initially focused on improving my health, but the positive effects rippled into other aspects of my life as well.

My last piece of advice is that it's okay to cut yourself some slack sometimes. Life happens, and setbacks are normal. Just get back on track when you can, and keep moving forward. After all, it's about creating a lifestyle, not following a trend.

So, what small daily habit will you start to boost your self-discipline? Whatever it is, make sure you fully commit to it, and you'll be amazed at the results.