The Keys to Unlocking Self-Discipline

What do you first think of when you hear the word “self-discipline?” For most people, there are often a lot of misconceptions that come to mind. The misconception takes the form of:

• The synonymous grouping of self-control and self-discipline
• The belief that you’re simply born with it
• Endless Pain and suffering

Self-discipline is a much broader term than you would expect. It’s the ability to problem solve and commit yourself to your tasks. Self-control on the other hand, is abstaining from your desires. You aren’t born with it either. It’s a habit that you develop through time. It also never stops developing! While there will be suffering and sacrifices, self-discipline isn’t sustainable if it’s attached to negative emotions.

You can’t simply gain it through will power and motivation. Those are the enemies of productivity. If you are trying to commit yourself to something, it has to have purpose and meaning. For example, during the beginning of the pandemic I tried reteaching myself French and it was awful.

Everyday I would force myself to read a chapter of a book and write journal reflections – only in French. I lasted less than two weeks. It’s not like I didn’t have the desire to learn French. I truly wanted to. The problem was that I expected myself to just wake up excited about it! 

When you are trying to build a habit through self-discipline you need to break it down. Here is an easy three-fold pattern you can refer to when setting new goals.

1. Perfect the art of showing up 

Showing up only requires you to come and do the bare minimum. Change out of those pajamas, comb your hair, and sit at your desk. It sounds simple to commit yourself to do something routinely everyday. It might even be easy for the first day, week, or even month, but think about it in the long-term. Will it be as simple if you were to keep this up for a year, or even 10? 

No, it won’t be. These small actions begin to build up. Starting is always the most difficult, and some days it simply feels like you can’t. During those moments, promise yourself to only do whichever task you need to do for five minutes. You most likely will already be in the flow of things before you notice.  If not, you can stop. Instead, try working five minutes on a different task and come back to that one later.

2. Set up checkpoints 

Set goals for what you need to achieve for the day, the following week, and then the month. Doing this allows you to get a clear perspective of where you are heading. 

I find that this works best for my courses. If I have a quiz due in four days, I break down my studying in two days. I always leave one day for a recap, and one day to do the quiz. This works best for me because it allows my brain to consume the information, and I’m consistently looking over the material. 

3. Take breaks

Something I’m guilty of is not taking the time to recharge. It has always been wired in my brain that hard work equals success. I believe in that, but there should also be a great emphasis on working on yourself.

If you get the feeling that you need to take a step back, do so. A concentrated mind is indefinitely more effective than a distracted one. Be wary of why you are taking a break. Is it to distract yourself, or to succumb to a distraction?

There is a difference between being distracted because of your environment and needing to take a break. Don’t take a break if your mind is wandering because you just saw a notification. Doing this rewards passive behaviour. If you find that you lack discipline when it comes to staying focus try the Pomodoro method.

The Pomodoro method is a well-known study habit. You set a timer for 25 minutes, then relax for 5 minutes. When you choose to take a break, walk around, and then return to your desk. Don’t stay sitting down in your study area. This sends confusing signals to your brain as it starts associating your studying area with leisure.

It’s completely customizable for you how you wish to break up the time. Explore what works best for each task. For example, when I am taking notes, I don’t look at the time. I complete the lesson before taking a break so it doesn’t disrupt my flow.

Life will present you with problems that you need to push through. Inspiration and motivation will become your enemies during these times. When you feel burnt-out reflect on why you are working on a task. Remind yourself of how this objective will get you closer to your goals.

Overall, self-discipline is not something you develop overnight. You can’t simply wake up one morning deciding to give up everything. Not every day will be a good day, because life is unpredictable! As M. Scott Peck said, “If we know exactly where we’re going, exactly how to get there, and exactly what we’ll see along the way, we won’t learn anything.”