Deandre Upshaw is hard to miss. He stands 6-foot-6 tall, and at one time weighed 410 pounds at his heaviest. Although Upshaw has tons of self-confidence, his weight influenced how people interacted with him. So he decided to lose weight.
Upshaw lost 150 pounds in 365 days. When asked what his secret was to losing weight, he said he learned how to develop self-discipline.
Life does not come with a manual, but there is a cheat code – discipline. Keep reading to find how to build self-discipline to excel in life.
First, let us look at why self-discipline is an important skill.
Why Self-Discipline is Important
The late entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker Jim Rohn said it best. “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”
We all have something in life we want to achieve. Some people call them goals, while others call them resolutions or plans. Regardless of what you call it, excitement is what gets us to the starting line. Self-discipline, on the other hand, is the fuel that gets you to and across the finish line.
Self-discipline is more a learned skill than something you are born with or without. This article shares tips on how to develop self-discipline so you can excel in life.
Tips on How to Develop Self-Discipline
Set Intentional Goals
Setting intentional goals is the first step in learning how to develop self-discipline. Discipline for discipline’s sake of itself rarely works. So be clear and specific about what you want to achieve.
Once you decide on a goal, write it down. It helps create a vision in your mind of the future you want and helps you stay accountable. Also, studies show that you are more likely to achieve the goals you write down.
Find Your ‘WHY’
The next step in learning how to develop self-discipline is to find your ‘why.’
Developing self-discipline is possibly one of the hardest things you’ll ever do in your life. It will take every ounce of courage, focus, and energy you can muster to go after your goal. Do not make the mistake of relying on motivation. Not only is motivation fleeting, but it is also undependable.
So take some time to think about that deep down stirring that pushes you. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, ask yourself why that is important. When you have a clear sense of purpose, it will provide clarity, infuse you with passion, and keep you focused.
Take Small, Consistent Steps
Once you have your goal and your ‘why,’ it is time to take action.
Many people think about developing self-discipline as an event. Something you rush full steam ahead towards. However, when it comes to building self-discipline, progress trumps speed.
Goals can be overwhelming. Small, consistent steps allow you to get to the starting line. As Mark Twain said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
Small steps also help you to build momentum. Take a lesson from the river. A river can cut through rock, not because of its power but because of its consistency.
Measure and Track Your Progress
It takes a lot of time and energy to build self-discipline. Tracking your progress tells you if your efforts are working or if you need to make changes. Seeing your improvement is also a great way to keep the green-eyed monster of envy away.
Use simple and easy to access tools to get the most out of tracking your performance. Also, measure often and take decisive and immediate action when you are not making progress.
Run Your Race
It is natural to compare yourself to others as you work to develop self-discipline. Unfortunately, comparing yourself to others only hurts your progress. You are likely to judge yourself unfairly, which will cause you to become bitter and lose focus.
Learn to run your race. Do not worry about the next person’s pace or how many times they have been to the podium. Keep your focus on your lane and what you can control. Remember, victory does not belong to the swift, but those that keep on moving and pushing on.
If the temptation to compare proves too strong, measure yourself with the person you were yesterday. Each day, strive to be better than that person.
Optimize Your Environment
Author James Clear once said: “Imagine if your world — your home, your office, your gym, all of it — was crafted in a way that made the good behaviours easier and the bad behaviours harder. How often would you make healthy and productive choices if they were simply your default response to your environment? “
Self-discipline is often easier to achieve when you optimize your environment. So make anything that distracts you from your goal difficult to access. Also, make it easy to access any activities that move you closer to your goals.
For example, do not keep junk food at home if you’re trying to lose weight. On the other hand, do keep healthy snack options at home.
Build a Support System
Having a strong support system when working on your self-discipline is important. No matter how determined you are, you are going to have down days. Days when, despite your best efforts, nothing is working.
On those days, a great support system can be a source of motivation. Find people that you like, respect, and trust. These people may be close friends, relatives, or simply acquaintances. Allow them to hold you accountable to your goals.
Mindset
Finally, take charge of your mind.
Many people think that self-discipline is about punishment when the opposite is true. When you do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, you actually create freedom to do what you want to do at a later date.
As Jerry Rice said: “Today I will do what other’s won’t, so tomorrow I will do what others can’t.”
Conclusion
In life, you get what you accept and expect you are worthy. Use these tips to develop self-discipline so you can achieve what you want in life.
