Learn self-discipline: tips and exercises for more self-control

Self-discipline is a crucial factor for a successful life. You can read here how you can learn discipline and manage to achieve your goals with willpower and perseverance.

To be successful in life, you don’t need above-average intelligence or talent, but above all self-discipline.

In the 1960s and 1970s, personality researcher Walter Mischel conducted the marshmallow test and was able to prove that people are more successful in the long term if they have themselves well under control. In fact, the children who were better able to control themselves as four-year-olds were more self-confident, more social, better at dealing with setbacks, and even superior in academic performance 14 years later.

Self-discipline has a rather dusty image and seems like a tough battle with your inner weaker self. But the truth is, it allows you to stay focused and achieve your goals. The best thing about it is: you can learn discipline and integrate it into your everyday life step by step. Here you can find out how to do it.

Why self-discipline is good

You always need self-discipline when you have to do unpleasant tasks or want to work towards goals. If you would rather relax on your couch in the evening than go to the gym, you need self-discipline to pull yourself together.

Self-discipline is about controlling your own behavior, resisting temptations, and overcoming obstacles. When you are self-disciplined, you can deal with setbacks better and are more motivated to work for and realize your needs in the long term.

Self-discipline is a kind of engine that drives you – even in tough phases – to implement your goals. It doesn’t really matter whether your desire is to do this year’s tax return, train for a marathon or build your own business.

By the way, you can recognize a lack of self-discipline when you constantly find reasons why something doesn’t work instead of just trying. Subconsciously, fear of failure can often play a role. The alternative is to take the path of least resistance and not change anything. But this is also frustrating in the long term.

You need self-discipline in these situations:

• If you want to establish new (healthier) habits. This includes, for example, quitting smoking, eating healthier or reducing your sugar consumption.
• Many people have to overcome themselves, especially to exercise. Self-discipline is required when, for example, you are preparing for a marathon or building muscles.
• It also requires willpower and perseverance if you want to give up your secure job and become self-employed. In addition to the daily challenges, you have to acquire new knowledge and spend free time building your own business.
• But even everyday little things can sometimes require a lot of discipline from us: cleaning the apartment, calling grandma or clearing out the basement.

Luckily, there are ways you can learn self-discipline so you can accomplish all of your tasks, projects, and goals.

Learn discipline: start small

As tedious as some projects are, the good thing is that you can train the necessary self-discipline like a muscle. If you practice regularly, you can integrate discipline and self-control into your everyday life and establish new, good habits.

• Before you start practicing self-control, become aware of what goals you want to achieve. Start with the one you’re most passionate about. For example, you might want to take part in a half marathon within the next six months, but you’re actually really loathe to exercise.
• Initially, you can start with very small activities that bring out your inner weaker self. They don’t have to have anything to do with your big goal yet. Every day, resolve to tackle an unpleasant task. Make a note the evening before that you want to wash the car or repot the plants, for example. This will prevent you from forgetting the task. When you complete the task, even if it’s small, you feel good afterwards. In this way, you learn to face challenges and experience your first successes.

Are you ready to tackle a big goal? Then first break it down into smaller steps: Think about three things every day that you can do to get closer to your goal. For the half marathon example, these things would come into question:

1. Ask a friend if he or she would like to train with you.
2. Find a suitable route for your first run.
3. Put your running shoes next to the trash can. If you have to take out the trash, go for a short run of a few minutes.

How to achieve your goals with self-discipline

Achieving big goals requires discipline and perseverance, because at the beginning success seems to be unattainable. With these tricks you will get closer to your goals step by step:

• Find the right time for you. Everyone ticks differently and is effective and productive at different times. While some people are already full of energy in the morning, others don’t really get going until the afternoon. Take your own biorhythm into account if you want to work on your goals. For example, maybe you are one of those people who really wake up when you do sports. Or maybe you need some physical balance after a day in the office. See what works best for you, because that way it’s easier to stick with it.

• Develop a routine. It’s hard to say how long it takes people to establish a new habit. But if – to stick with the sports example – you bring yourself to run for several weeks, it will become easier and easier over time. At some point you lace up your running shoes without giving it much thought.

• Avoid temptations if they diminish your successes or catapult you back into old habits. If you want to lose weight, avoid fast food. If you want to lie on the couch after work but want to run the half marathon in a few months, position your shoes right by the front door. The couch is at least as comfortable after running.

• Motivate yourself. Regularly remind yourself how it feels when you have realized your plan. To do this, close your eyes and take ten minutes to visualize your goal. Think about what you see, what you hear, and how it feels. This exercise is incredibly powerful. Self-discipline is much easier if you know why you are doing the effort.

• Treat yourself to rewards when you have worked on your goals in a disciplined manner or, for example, have successfully completed your training week. Make sure that the rewards are not the motivation. Otherwise you’ll give in as soon as the rewards stop.

Self-discipline doesn’t mean that you have to be more efficient, more productive and better every day. You can’t do that physically or mentally in the long run. Pay attention to the subtle difference between your inner bastard, which is looking for excuses, and your body, which is asking for a break.

Self-discipline: Yes, but right!

It is particularly important that you set your priorities correctly at all times. And your first priority should be yourself and your holistic well-being. Self-discipline is important to be successful. But there is only a thin line between discipline and doggedness.

Therefore, make sure that you always feel comfortable, that you do not neglect other people and things and that you do not overwhelm yourself. Fun and spontaneity shouldn’t be neglected even if you work diligently on your goals.

Of course you can set yourself high goals. But be kind to yourself if you don’t live up to your high standards or the project is still out of your league. Admitting that you can’t do something shows just as much greatness as achieving a goal.

Read more on Techzle\.com:

• Burnout symptoms: You should take these signs seriously
• Achieve goals: With these strategies you can do it
• Learning self-love: tips and exercises for the beloved self

Edited by Paula Boslau

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