Essay on Self Discipline for Students and Children

500+ words essay on self discipline.

Self-discipline means self-control, which gives you inner strength and a way to control yourself, actions, and reactions. It is one of the most important and useful skills to achieve success and everyone should possess this quality. Self-discipline comes naturally to some people. And some people can achieve it with some effort. The effort made is worth it as it changes life for the better. It just means exercising self- control. A person who stays in control has the ability to take charge of his/her actions and reactions.

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Tips to Achieve Self-discipline

  • Set your goals: – The first step towards leading a disciplined life is to set goals. Goals give you a clear idea about what needs to be achieved. One must always set a timeline for your goals. This serves as a driving force and motivates you to work hard. It is a good idea to set both short term and long term goals and create a well thought out plan to achieve them.
  • Do meditation:- Meditation is one of the best ways to channel our energy in the right direction. It helps maintain focus, acquaints us with our inner self and furthers better self- control. It is the stepping stone for a disciplined life. Meditating for half an hour every day can help in inculcating self-discipline.
  • Set a Routine:- Those who set a routine and follow it daily lead a more disciplined life. It is suggested to list all the tasks that you require accomplishing in a given day. Write them in the order of their priority, set a timeline for each and act accordingly. This is a good way to lead an organized and disciplined life.
  • Stay away from distractions :- In this technology-driven world, there are numerous things that can distract us and take charge of our lives. Our mobile phones, television, and chatting apps are some of the new age things that are a big hindrance in practicing self-discipline. No matter how determined we are to study, work or sleep on time, we tend to get distracted at the beep of our phone. Social media platforms, chatting apps and web series are extremely addictive and hamper work. In order to practice self-discipline, it is important to stay away from these distractions. Put your phone on silent or keep it at a distance when you sit to study or work. Similarly, just put your phone away at bedtime and instead pick a book to read.
  • Reward yourself :- Reward yourself for every goal you achieve. This will motivate you to work harder to achieve more. This is a good way to trick your brain to inculcate self-discipline.
  • Take proper sleep :- You can inculcate self-discipline only when you are well-rested. So, it is essential to sleep for eight hours each night. Maintaining a good sleep cycle is also essential. This means that you should try sleeping and waking up at the same time each day. A power nap during the afternoon can help further.
  • Stay Positive : – Many people want to inculcate self-discipline but are unable to because they somehow believe that it is difficult to achieve. They feel that it is too much to ask for and that they shall not be able to practice it. This is the wrong approach. You can achieve anything in life if you stay positive and believe in yourself. So, you should stay positive. It is a pre-requisite for inculcating self-discipline.

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Self Discipline Benefits and Importance

Self-discipline helps you to overcome the bad habits by meditating regularly. It gives you the ability not to give up after failure and setbacks, develop self-control, provide the ability to resist distractions, helps you to motivate yourself until you accomplish your goals.

Achieving self-discipline may be difficult but in order to lead a healthy personal and professional life, it is very important. A self-disciplined person makes optimum use of the time. Hence, he can achieve more and do more work as compared to a person who is not self-disciplined. We should, therefore, make some efforts to achieve it.

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What is self-discipline (a definition), why is self-discipline important.

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Examples of Self-Discipline

  • Healthy habits. Having the self-discipline to get enough sleep, eat nutritious food, and avoid bad habits , such as smoking, have great benefits for your mental health and physical health.
  • Work. Self-discipline is important for work and career because it keeps you focused on reaching your goals, whether they are big or small.
  • Money management. Making wise financial decisions includes being self-disciplined with money.
  • Emotion regulation. When you learn self-discipline, you make an effort to express your emotions in healthy ways and learn coping mechanisms for stressful situations or disappointments .
  • Time management. Probably one of the hardest things to do in our society is apply self-discipline to time management . But learning how to manage your time wisely can have positive benefits for your personal and professional life.

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How to Develop Self-Discipline

  • Be aware. Every day you make decisions about how you live: what to eat, when to go to bed, or whether you should send that passive-aggressive text. We can avoid temptations or give in to them. For example, people often say that you should not go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. Why? Because you are more likely to buy less healthy snacks  or other high-calorie foods (Tal & Wansick, 2013). You could practice self-discipline by not buying junk food when you’re hungry, or you could practice it by not even going to the store when you’re hungry. The goal is to be aware of what works for you and implement those strategies regularly to create positive changes in your life.
  • Figure out your “Why.” Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, highlights that “Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how.'" When you find your “why,” or the reason why you want to do something, you can remind yourself of these reasons when things get difficult. This helps us sustain self-discipline even under duress.
  • Develop a plan. If you don’t know where you’re going, it might be easier to get sidetracked. If this sounds like you, you can create an a clear action plan to follow on a daily or weekly basis until you reach your goal. Whether you want to increase good habits and reduce bad habits or learn a new skill, creating a clear plan will help you get to whatever your definition of success is. 
  • Start small. The famous quote says: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one single step.” Now that you have a plan, take a step. Start small. Don’t try to do everything in one week, as this can lead you to feel overwhelmed and might even cause you to abandon your plan.
  • Remove temptations. Removing temptations can significantly impact the likelihood that you’ll reach a successful outcome. In psychology, there is a theory called “ego depletion,” which highlights that willpower is a limited resource, and we only have a finite “reservoir” of mental resources to resist temptations. Every day, you use your willpower to resist temptations until the “reservoir” runs out (Baumeister et al., 1998). For example, if you’re resisting drinking three cups of coffee before lunch and then you stop yourself from getting mad at a coworker, and then you hold back from eating pre-dinner cookies, by the time the day is over, you might have fewer resources to resist other temptations. So, you might want to remove temptations around the house (or on your phone) if you’d like to increase good habits and set yourself up for success.
  • Try time-blocking. The Pomodoro technique, very popular among busy students, says that you should break up your work time like this: work uninterrupted for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break—each of these is a Pomodoro. After four Pomodoros, you can take a longer break of 20 minutes. This technique works because the session is long enough to get some work done, but not too long that you feel overwhelmed.

Self-Discipline Insights From Marcus Aurelius and Stoicism

Video: how to build self-discipline.

Tips for Self-Discipline

  • Keep going. Success is never linear or easy. It’s important to learn how to tolerate discomfort and learn from your mistakes. Just because you made a mistake does not mean you’re a failure or you can’t be successful—it just shows you an area of self-growth that can be used to your advantage. If necessary, adjust your plan, identify what needs improvement, and keep going.
  • Say positive and use motivating words. Repeating positive affirmations might help you stay optimistic and remind you why it’s important to do what you planned to do. Some affirmation examples include: “I have the discipline to accomplish my goals” or “I do what needs to be done, even when I don’t feel like doing it.”

Motivational Videos for Self-Discipline

Video: self-discipline.

Affirmations for Self-Discipline

  • “I am disciplined and determined to accomplish my goals.”
  • “I am in control of my behavior and thoughts.”
  • “I enjoy being self-disciplined.”
  • “Today will be a productive day.”
  • “Self-discipline is self-love , and I love myself.”
  • “Today, I will break bad habits.”
  • “I enjoy working toward my goals.”
  • “I know what I need to do today to reach my goals.”
  • “I’m freeing myself from all destructive doubt and fear. ”
  • “Each and every day, I am getting closer to achieving my goals.”

Yoga for Self-Discipline

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Self-Discipline Quotes

  • ​ “Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.” – Lao Tzu
  • “With self-discipline, almost anything is possible.” – Theodore Roosevelt  
  • “Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” – Abraham Lincoln
  • “We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret and disappointment.” – Jim Rohn
  • “We don’t have to be smarter than the rest; we have to be more disciplined than the rest.” – Warren Buffett
  • “In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves… self-discipline with all of them came first.” – Harry S. Truman
  • “The first and best victory is to conquer self.” – Plato 
  • “You can never conquer the mountain. You can only conquer yourself.” – Jim Whittaker 
  • “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle 
  • “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn
  • “I think self-discipline is something; it’s like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.” – Daniel Goldstein
  • “I can’t always control my thoughts but I can choose how I respond to them.” – David Cuschieri

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Articles Related to  Self-Discipline

  • ​Self-Motivation: Definition, Examples, and Tips
  • Life Goals: Definition, Examples, & Strategies for Setting Personal Goals
  • Strengths & Weaknesses: Definition, Meaning, and 50+ Examples
  • ​ Priorities: Definition, Lists, & Tips​
  • Self-Management: Definition, Skills & Strategies ​

Books Related to Self-Discipline

  • Mindful Self-Discipline: Living with Purpose and Achieving Your Goals in a World of Distractions  by  Giovanni Dienstmann ​
  • Mindset: The New Psychology of Success  by   Carol S. Dweck
  • Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones  by  James Clear
  • Mastery  by  Robert Greene
  • No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline  by  Brian Tracy
  • Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance  by  Angela Duckworth
  • Meditations  by  Marcus Aurelius
  • Rewire: Change Your Brain to Break Bad Habits, Overcome Addictions, Conquer Self-Destructive Behavior  by  Richard O'Connor
  • The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It  by  Kelly McGonigal
  • The Power of Habit : Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change  by  Charles Duhigg

Final Thoughts on Self-Discipline

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  • de la Fuente, J., Paoloni, P., Kauffman, D., Yilmaz Soylu, M., Sander, P., & Zapata, L. (2020). Big Five, Self-Regulation, and Coping Strategies as Predictors of Achievement Emotions in Undergraduate Students . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(10), 3602.
  • Duckworth, A. L., & Seligman, M. E. (2005). Self-discipline outdoes IQ in predicting academic performance of adolescents. Psychological science , 16 (12), 939-944.
  • Duckworth, A. L., & Seligman, M. E. (2006). Self-discipline gives girls the edge: gender in self-discipline, grades, and achievement test scores . Journal of educational psychology, 98(1), 198.
  • Kochanska, G., Coy, K. C., & Murray, K. T. (2001). The development of self‐regulation in the first four years of life . Child development, 72(4), 1091-1111. ​  Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy .
  • Tal, A., & Wansink, B. (2013). Fattening fasting: hungry grocery shoppers buy more calories, not more food . JAMA internal medicine, 173(12), 1146-1148.
  • Zimmerman, B. J., and Kitsantas, A. (2014). Comparing Students' Self-Discipline and Self-Regulation Measures and Their Prediction of Academic Achievement . Contemp. Educ. Psychol. 39 (2), 145–155. ​

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How Self Discipline Can Improve Your Whole Life

Most people think of self discipline as something that is only useful in a professional setting. The truth is, though, that better self discipline can improve every aspect of your life. Here are some of the ways that self discipline can help you live a happier and more productive life.

Self discipline is something that many people need to work on. It is all about learning to control yourself and make good decisions. When you have self discipline, you are less likely to give in to temptation or make impulsive decisions.

You can learn and practice self discipline in a number of ways. One way to do this is by setting yourself small goals and then working towards them. Another way to work on self discipline is by using a journal or planner to keep track of your goals and progress. You can also try meditation or mindfulness exercises to help you focus and be in the moment. Some people find that working with a discipline coach helps them get started and keep them on track with improving self discipline.

Some people only exercise self discipline in the parts of their lives they deem as necessities – such as turning up to work on time and getting the job done. But self discipline is a skill that can be applied to every aspect of life. And the rewards can be immense. Here’s how self discipline can improve different aspects of your life.

It Will Help You Reach Your Full Potential

When you have self discipline, you are able to push yourself to achieve things you never thought possible. You set high standards for yourself and then work hard to meet them. This can lead to personal and professional success. It can also help you feel proud of yourself and your accomplishments. Ultimately, it can help you be the best you can be in all aspects of your life.

It Will Help You Achieve Your Goals

Self discipline can help you achieve both short-term and long-term goals. When you have self discipline, you are more likely to stick to your goals and see them through to the end. This is because you are less likely to get sidetracked or give up when things get tough. Whether you want to lose weight, start a business, or save for a house, self discipline can help you achieve your goals.

It Will Help You Be More Productive

Self discipline can help you get more done in less time. When you have self discipline, you are less likely to procrastinate or waste time on things that are not important. This means you can use your time more effectively and get more done. This can lead to greater productivity at work, at home, and in your personal life.

It Will Help You Be Healthier

Self discipline can also help you live a healthier life. When you have self discipline, you are more likely to make healthy choices and stick to them. This means you will be less likely to overeat, smoke, or engage in other unhealthy behaviors. It can also mean you are more likely to exercise regularly and get enough sleep. All of these things can lead to better physical and mental health.

It Will Help You Reduce Stress

Self discipline can also help you reduce stress. When you have self discipline, you are less likely to worry about things that are out of your control. This means you will be less likely to stress about things that you cannot change. This can lead to a reduction in anxiety and a feeling of calmness.

It Will Improve Your Relationships

Self discipline can also help improve your relationships. When you have self discipline, you are less likely to say or do things that you will later regret. This means you are more likely to communicate effectively and resolve conflict in a healthy way. This can lead to stronger and more meaningful relationships. Better relationships could be with your partner, your family members, friends and even your work colleagues.

It Will Help You Succeed At Work Or In Business

Self discipline can also help you succeed at work or in business. When you have self discipline, you are more likely to meet deadlines, stay organized, and follow through with your commitments. This can lead to more success in your career or business. It can also mean you are more likely to get promoted or receive raises and bonuses.

It Will Help You Save Money And Achieve Financial Security

Self discipline can also help you save money. When you have self discipline, you are less likely to make impulse purchases or spend money on things you don’t need. This means you can put more money into savings and investments. It means you’re more likely to make informed decisions about your purchases, and drive money towards things that make sense in the medium to long term, such as investing in your home. This can lead to greater financial security in the future.

It Will Help You Be Happier

Last but not least, self discipline can help you be happier. When you have self discipline, you are less likely to dwell on negative thoughts or engage in self-destructive behaviors. This means you will be more likely to focus on the positive and enjoy your life. This can lead to a greater sense of happiness and wellbeing.

So, as you can see, self discipline can improve your whole life. If you want to be more successful, productive, and happy, then start working on your self discipline today.

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Self-Discipline: The Key to Unlocking Your Full Potential

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Discipline has long been considered a valuable quality in our society. From early childhood we are taught to follow rules, adhere to schedules and meet external expectations. Discipline, when enforced, can certainly help maintain order and structure. But there is another form of discipline that is often overlooked but has incredible power: self-discipline.

Let’s explore the differences between discipline and self-discipline.

The difference between discipline and self-discipline

Discipline, as we commonly understand it, means following rules and regulations set by others. This often means following the expectations that others place on us. It can be both positive, involving rewards for compliance, and negative, involving punishments for non-compliance.

Self-discipline, on the other hand, is an entirely different matter. It is an inner quality driven by your own values, goals and ambitions. It is the ability to control your own behavior, make responsible choices, and be committed to your path forward toward your own goals, even when there are no external consequences.

Self-discipline is based on self-control, willpower, and the ability to resist temptation or distraction. That is, do what is good for yourself.

Why self-discipline is more important than discipline

  • Your own intrinsic motivation Self-discipline is rooted in what really matters to you. It is driven by your desires, not someone else’s. When you are motivated, you are more likely to put in the effort required to achieve your goals.
  • Long-term success External discipline may ensure short-term compliance, but it often wanes when the external pressure is removed. However, self-discipline is maintained in the long run because it is rooted in one’s own will to achieve something. It is the secret to achieving lasting success.
  • Freedom and self-determination Self-discipline empowers you to make choices that align with your values. It gives you the freedom to design your life, rather than being limited by someone else’s rules.
  • Resilience In the face of challenges, self-discipline keeps you going. It helps you persevere when the going gets tough because you’re not just following orders; you strive for a meaningful purpose.

Cultivate your self-discipline

Now that we understand the power of self-discipline, how can we cultivate it?

  • Set clear goals Define what is really important to you. Set clear, achievable goals that align with your values ​​and desires. Feel free to write them down and look at them often so that they are in your mind and align with where you want to go.
  • Create a routine Establish daily routines and habits that support your goals. Tie a small behavioral change to something you already do, for example as part of your morning routine. Deeply understanding the meaning of consistency is often the key to building self-discipline.
  • Practice self-control Learn to understand your impulses and avoid distractions. This may mean saying no to short-term gratification in favor of long-term rewards. Feel how you feel about having been able to resist in order to turn the behavior of abstaining into something that feels good.
  • Maintain responsibility Share your goals with a friend or mentor who can help keep you accountable if you feel it will help. Accountability can strengthen your commitment.
  • Learn from setbacks Don’t be discouraged by occasional failures. Instead, treat them as opportunities to learn and grow stronger. Accepting setbacks and quickly rebounding is key to staying resilient.

While discipline has its benefits in maintaining some sort of order, self-discipline is the true key to unlocking your full potential. It is the inner drive that propels you toward your goals and sustains your efforts through thick and thin.

By cultivating self-discipline, you get to decide and shape your own life and the freedom to pursue your passions.

So distinguish between discipline and self-discipline and let the latter be your guiding force on the path to success and fulfillment.

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How to Be More Disciplined

Ariane Resnick, CNC is a mental health writer, certified nutritionist, and wellness author who advocates for accessibility and inclusivity.

essay on self discipline meaning

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Self-discipline is the ability to control your behavior in a way that leads you to be more productive and/or have better habits. It is proven to lead to increased success. Learning self-control and discipline early in life is helpful for decades to come, but it is never too late to learn how to improve your self-discipline so that your future can be a better one.

If you've experienced frustration around having a lack of attention span , not achieving goals , or not knowing what to do with your life , you may be struggling with self-discipline. It takes some time to become more disciplined, but it's worthwhile!

How to Improve Your Discipline

Wondering where to begin? Let's break down how to become more self-disciplined step by step. You'll begin by discerning how you work best—and worst—and by the time you get to the final step, you should see significant improvement in your level of self-discipline.

For this process, you might want to use a journal to write out your answers to questions and to keep track of your progress as you go.

Discern How You Struggle—And How You Strive

Figuring out what does and does not work for you is key to understanding how to be more self-disciplined. Some people thrive when working around others, while some do better working alone. Some people are motivated by rewards, while others prefer consequences to keep them in line. That's called "carrot versus stick." Answer the following questions for yourself so that you can become clued in about what you need in order to succeed at self-discipline:

  • Does being around other people distract me or help me concentrate?
  • Do I feel more productive performing tasks inside or outside?
  • Does the idea of a reward for a job well done motivate me?
  • Does the idea of taking away a privilege or treat for not following through on a job motivate me?
  • Do I like to think about big picture goals or visualize small steps?
  • What do I see as my biggest blockages from being more disciplined?
  • What stops me from achieving my goals?

Once you've answered these questions, you should have a clearer idea about the right approach for you and your needs. next, you want to understand why discipline is important to you.

Know Your "Why"

We all have ideas that motivate us, but it's easy to lose touch with them. This is the opportunity for you to get in touch with your "why." Your "why" is your reason for wanting to achieve self-discipline. Do you want to make lots of money? Help humanity? Save animals? Explore your big life goals on a broad scale so that you get back in touch with why self-discipline will benefit you, and why you need it.

Clarify Your Goals of All Sizes

Now that you understand why self-discipline is important to you, what exactly do you want to achieve? Note big large and small goals: This can include everything from big steps in your career to small daily habits like taking walks more often. People who write down their goals are more likely to achieve them. The act of writing down your goals can also help you to get excited about them.

Be sure to include small goals that you can accomplish easily with discipline, rather than only large goals that take a long time to achieve.

Once you have clarified your goals, write down some preliminary habits you can use to achieve them. For example, if you want to go for a walk daily you could set an alarm for a certain time. if you want to make sure you get more work done, you could choose times of day to review your progress. Set small, regular reminders to keep you on track about your goals.

Find Accountability

Sharing your goals with someone you respect is directly correlated to a better chance of achieving them. Some people may share this with a mentor, but even telling a friend whom you have respect or admiration for will work.

It can be a simple as letting your friend know that you have decided to work on your self-discipline in general, or you can share some of your goals with them. The act of sharing about your journey will help you commit to it more strongly, in addition to improving your chances of succeeding.

Remove Distractions

You can't get distracted by something that isn't there, so the best way to handle distractions before you begin trying to be more disciplined is to remove them. If you pause working or studying to watch tv, put the remote in a different room.

If you tend to drop what you're doing to look at your phone, give it to a family member for a few hours at a time. If you eat a lot of junk food and you want to stop, don't keep it in your house. This step sets you up to succeed, instead of fail.

Start Small

Don't begin your daily work with self-discipline by trying to achieve something huge. This will take too much time to keep you on track and motivated. Instead, work on daily, weekly, and monthly goals. Acknowledge every day when you do what you set out to do, and know that it is moving you in the right direction.

Building new habits takes time. Every day that you do something, you are one step closer to it being a habit, and after awhile, it will become much easier and more second nature to you.

Forgive and Reward

Because we are all human, perfection isn't possible. We all make mistakes, and that's ok! When you behave in a way that isn't aligned with your quest to become more disciplined, forgive yourself . Review why and where things went wrong, and if possible, change your environment so that it doesn't happen again.

Even if you're more motivated by consequence than by rewards in general, it's important to acknowledge your milestones. Reward yourself in a way that involves self-care , because you deserve it and because it will help you stay on track. As much as it can be easy to let the little accomplishments slide, it's important to keep track of them and reward them because when you add them up, they become big accomplishments.

Review and Expand Your Goals

Every so often, you'll want to review you progress and your goals. Goals change over time, so you want to keep an open mind about what yours were previously and how they may have shifted since you first noted them. Additionally, stepping back from your situation allows you to view just how much you've accomplished!

Look back on how you've succeeded with your self-discipline, as well as areas where you still need to improve, and plan out the steps to take to continue on your path. Initially, you might want to do this once a week. As you become more and more adept at discipline, though, you can do it progressively less often.

Practice, Practice, Practice

You can only win if you don't give up! Self-discipline can take some people their entire lives to master, so don't be down on yourself if it's slow going at first. Keep at it, and if your goals all feel too big, make up some very easy small ones so that you can experience the feeling of success.

The more you practice self-discipline, the easier it will become. Eventually, you won't have to practice it at all. It will become a natural habit, and your days of feeling undisciplined will be far in the past.

Benefits of Being More Disciplined

There are many benefits to achieving a stronger level of self-discipline. These are some of the most common ones.

  • More control : Having self-discipline enables you to have more control over your own life. You're taking charge and improving yourself to be the best you possible, and this can lead to an increased self of control.
  • No more procrastinating : exercising self-discipline means that you're taking action. This means you aren't spending as much time procrastinating. In turn, you can get more done, and spend less time stressing over getting things done.
  • More satisfaction : increasing your self-discipline means you get more done, and that in turn means that you may end up more satisfied with what you do.
  • Goals get met : rather than just thinking about your dreams, you're living them! Self-discipline lets you do whatever is needed to accomplish your goals.

A Word From Verywell

If you're still feeling uninspired to begin improving your self-discipline even though you want to, you might be having an issue with motivation. Learn about what to do when you're having difficulties motivating, and how to overcome that.

Muraven M. Building self-control strength: practicing self-control leads to improved self-control performance. J Exp Soc Psychol. 2010 Mar 1;46(2):465–8. doi:10.1016%2Fj.jesp.2009.12.011

Lifelong impact of early self-control [Internet]. American Scientist. 2017

Share your goals – but be careful whom you tell [Internet]. Share your goals – but be careful whom you tell.

By Ariane Resnick, CNC Ariane Resnick, CNC is a mental health writer, certified nutritionist, and wellness author who advocates for accessibility and inclusivity.

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Essay on Self Discipline

Students are often asked to write an essay on Self Discipline in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Self Discipline

Introduction.

Self-discipline is the ability to control one’s feelings and overcome weaknesses. It’s about making choices that lead to healthy, productive behaviors.

Importance of Self-Discipline

Self-discipline is crucial for success. It helps us focus on our goals, resist temptations, and persist in the face of adversity.

Building Self-Discipline

Building self-discipline requires practice. Start small, create routines, and gradually take on bigger challenges.

Benefits of Self-Discipline

Self-discipline leads to improved focus, better health, and achievement of goals. It also fosters resilience and self-confidence.

In conclusion, self-discipline is a vital skill that everyone should cultivate for a successful and fulfilling life.

Also check:

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250 Words Essay on Self Discipline

Self-discipline, an essential attribute for personal and professional success, refers to the ability to control one’s emotions, behavior, and desires, aligning them with set goals. It is a skill that enables individuals to overcome impulses, procrastinate less, and stay focused on their objectives.

The Importance of Self-Discipline

Self-discipline is a cornerstone of personal development and self-improvement. It fosters resilience, enabling individuals to endure hardships and persevere in the face of challenges. Furthermore, it promotes time management, allowing for the prioritization of tasks according to their importance and urgency. This leads to increased productivity and efficiency.

Self-Discipline and Success

The correlation between self-discipline and success is well-established. Those with high self-discipline tend to perform better academically and professionally. They are also more likely to maintain a healthy lifestyle, manage stress effectively, and demonstrate higher levels of happiness.

Developing Self-Discipline

Developing self-discipline requires consistent effort and practice. It starts with setting clear, achievable goals, followed by creating a plan to reach them. Regular self-reflection is crucial to assess progress and make necessary adjustments. Moreover, cultivating a positive mindset can significantly enhance one’s self-discipline.

In conclusion, self-discipline is a vital skill that significantly impacts personal and professional life. It is a key determinant of success and can be cultivated through consistent effort, goal setting, and self-reflection. Thus, it is imperative for college students to understand its importance and work towards enhancing their self-discipline.

500 Words Essay on Self Discipline

Introduction to self-discipline.

Self-discipline, an essential characteristic for personal and professional success, is the ability to control one’s feelings and overcome weaknesses. It involves acting according to what you think instead of how you feel in the moment. It’s a sign of inner strength and control of oneself and one’s actions.

Self-discipline is of paramount importance for achieving goals. It is the backbone of successful people who manage to excel in their fields. It is the driving force that compels individuals to resist negative impulses and distractions. Self-discipline is the key to consistency and continuity in any endeavor, be it academic, personal, or professional. It helps in maintaining focus, thus enabling individuals to make constructive decisions that lead to positive outcomes.

Self-Discipline and Time Management

Time management and self-discipline are intertwined. Effective time management necessitates self-discipline, and conversely, self-discipline aids in the efficient use of time. When one practices self-discipline, they can better allocate their time, prioritizing tasks based on their importance and deadlines. This results in improved productivity and efficiency.

Self-Discipline and Emotional Control

Self-discipline also plays a crucial role in emotional control. It helps individuals manage their emotions, preventing them from taking impulsive actions that could have negative consequences. By practicing self-discipline, individuals can make rational decisions rather than emotional ones, leading to better outcomes in both personal and professional life.

Building self-discipline is a gradual process that requires patience and perseverance. It begins with setting clear goals and establishing a plan to achieve them. It requires consistent practice and the willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate sleep are also integral in fostering self-discipline as they enhance mental strength and focus.

Challenges and Solutions

The path to self-discipline is fraught with challenges. Procrastination, lack of motivation, and distractions are common obstacles. However, these can be overcome by developing a strong will, maintaining a positive mindset, and implementing effective strategies like time-blocking, goal-setting, and mindfulness.

In conclusion, self-discipline is a vital skill that significantly contributes to success in various life aspects. It enhances focus, aids in time management, and helps control emotions. Despite the challenges encountered in its cultivation, with determination and the right strategies, one can successfully develop and strengthen their self-discipline.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

  • Essay on Value of Discipline
  • Essay on Cyber Crime
  • Essay on Christmas Celebration in School

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

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The Disciplined Rebel

Why Self-Discipline is Important (11 Key Reasons)

Have you ever wondered why self-discipline is important?

This article is going to help answer that question. I am going to go over:

  • WHAT self-discipline is
  • Why self-discipline can be CHALLENGING
  • Why self-discipline is IMPORTANT

Including providing 11 huge reasons WHY self-discipline is IMPORTANT, and can transform your life!

What Self-Discipline Is

Here is the definition of self-discipline according to a few sources:

“The ability to make yourself do things when you should, even if you do not want to do them.” ( Cambridge Dictionary )

“Discipline and training of oneself, usually for improvement.” ( Dictionary.com )

“The ability to control one’s feelings and overcome one’s weaknesses; the ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it.” ( Oxford Dictionary )

“The ability to make yourself do things that should be done.” ( Merriam-Webster )

Common Themes Across Definitions

Although the definitions vary a bit, a few key themes emerge.

Self-discipline is about…

  • Controlling yourself
  • Making yourself do things
  • Self-improvement

The Meaning of Self-Discipline

Here is a definition which ties all these themes together:

Self-discipline is about learning to control yourself so you can work towards your goals, even when no one is forcing you to do so.

Why Self-Discipline Can Be Challenging

Why is it that self-discipline can be challenging for a lot of people?

Controlling Yourself is the Hard Part

The “controlling yourself” aspect is the big challenge.

You often know what you need to do to achieve a goal. (Or at least you have the capacity to learn the knowledge and skills which are required).

But despite knowing what you need to get done, consistently working towards your goals without procrastinating or getting distracted can be difficult.

Imagine if you were a character in a video game, and you were controlling yourself. Self-discipline wouldn’t be an issue.

You simply would click a button and you would do whatever you needed to get done.

  • Make your video game self take a programming course
  • Make your video game self apply for fancy tech jobs with super high salaries
  • Don’t let your video game self get discouraged and sit in pajamas all day re-watching all The Lord of the Rings movies
  • Make your video game self stick to a diet
  • Make your video game self exercise
  • Don’t let your video game self give up and binge on Doritos and ice cream until four in the morning

Just imagine how successful your actual self would be if you treated yourself the way you would treat your video game self?

The problem is, in real life, there are a few challenges that you don’t have in the video game scenario.

Real-Life Challenges to Being Self-Disciplined

  • Needing to mentally and/or physically exert yourself
  • Dealing with emotions , such as worry, doubt, or fear
  • Conflicting priorities that make it difficult to determine what to focus on
  • Having a vague sense of what you need to do, but not knowing the specific steps involved or how to get started
  • Being impacted by tough life events or going through bad ruts that make self-discipline even harder

These are enormous obstacles, but are possible to overcome.

11 Reasons Why Self-Discipline is Important

Although self-discipline can be hard, it is worth developing, because it is capable of transforming your life in monumental ways.

Here are 11 reasons why self-discipline is important to develop.

Why Self-Discipline is Important – Reason #1: Self-Discipline Helps You Achieve Your Goals

One of the biggest reasons to learn self-discipline, is that it will help you follow through with your goals.

Although there are some things you can get done without self-discipline, most goals require self-discipline to accomplish.

For most things in life, no one is going to be there to force you to follow through with those things every step of the way.

When you are a kid, you can get by without self-discipline because your parents and teachers tell you to do things.

But at some point, you need self-discipline to get things done.

The amazing thing about self-discipline, is once you build it, you can use it to accomplish any goal you want.

Whether that is:

  • Getting in better shape
  • Advancing your career
  • Forming stronger connections with people
  • Starting a business
  • Learning an instrument
  • Writing a book

Or whatever else you dream of doing.

Why Self-Discipline is Important – Reason #2: Self-Discipline Benefits Your Future Self

There is a theory called Present Bias which states that most of the time we do things to benefit our Present Selves, and we discount the effects our actions have on our Future Selves.

For example, you eat a cookie because it tastes good in the moment.

Even though you know that in the future too many cookies can negatively impact your health.

Self-discipline gives you the power of delayed gratification . Which means you can resist short-term rewards in favor of long-term benefits.

And the best thing about self-discipline is you don’t ALWAYS have to delay gratification.

Your Present Self matters too.

But self-discipline puts you in charge. So you have the ability to do things which are hard in the moment, but benefit your Future Self.

Why Self-Discipline is Important – Reason #3: Self-Discipline Involves Forming Good Habits

Habits can be extremely powerful.

Habits are about getting things so ingrained into your routine that you consistently do them without giving them a second thought.

A big part of self-discipline involves forming good habits that enable you to stick with your goals for the long-run.

Why Self-Discipline is Important – Reason #4: Self-Discipline Helps You Break Bad Habits

On the flip side of good habits, are bad habits.

Examples include:

  • Maintaining a bad sleep schedule
  • Wasting more time than you want to on the internet or social media
  • Eating too much junk food

Keep in mind, some bad habits are very personal and what is bad for one person might not be bad for another.

For example, I know people who spend large periods of the day playing video games and are perfectly happy.

But there are other people who want to reduce how much time they devote to video games , so they have more time for other stuff.

Whatever you consider you bad habits, self-discipline will help you control them – by either reducing the amount of time you spend on them or eliminating them entirely.

Side note, here are a few resources on how to break bad habits you may find helpful:

  • Moderating Behavior —> Using The Who What When Where Why Method : A full, in-depth guide on how to control bad habits, which you get if you signup for my newsletter (for free).
  • How to Cure Your Phone Addiction : Figure out how to BREAK your phone addiction using several POWERFUL strategies which have helped me cure my own phone addiction.

Why Self-Discipline is Important – Reason #5: Self-Discipline Helps You Stop Procrastinating

Another reason why self-discipline is important, is that it helps you stop procrastinating.

Procrastination is the act of putting something off that you need or want to get done.

Self-discipline helps you reduce the amount of time you spend procrastinating, and helps you get started with the things you have been postponing.

Side note – Here is an article with more information on how to stop procrastinating .

Why Self-Discipline is Important – Reason #6: The Spillover Effect

The Spillover Effect is the idea that sometimes progress in one area (even if really small) can lead to a series of exponential breakthroughs in other areas of your life.

This effect is really strong when it comes to self-discipline.

Since as you build self-discipline in one area of your life, you often start seeing positive changes in other areas of your life as well.

For example, I used to have zero self-discipline in all aspects of life. Work, school, exercise. You name it.

But I finally had a breakthrough when it came to working out.

Not only was that amazing in its own right, but once I found out how to be disciplined when it came to working out, it started becoming easier to get disciplined in OTHER areas of my life as well.

My discipline in exercise eventually led me to be more disciplined in a ton of other areas.

  • And finances

Plus, it boosted my confidence which helped my self-esteem and social life.

Sometimes all it takes is becoming self-disciplined in ONE area of your life to spark a SERIES of positive life changes.

Side note – If you are interested in more on exercise, check out my article on how to stick to a workout schedule .

Why Self-Discipline is Important – Reason #7: Self-Discipline Gives You Confidence

As you start to build self-discipline, you will start to gain confidence in yourself.

There are two reasons for this.

First, as you get more self-disciplined, you will start making progress towards your goals, which will give you a sense of accomplishment.

Second, you will start to create a positive feedback loop, which looks like this:

  • Achieving more goals —> Increased confidence
  • Increased confidence —> Achieving more goals
  • The initial goals you accomplish increase your confidence and belief in yourself.
  • Which make it easier to accomplish even more goals.
  • Which then leads to even more confidence.

Why Self-Discipline is Important – Reason #8: Self-Discipline Improves Your Time Management Skills

Time management is about regulating how much time you spend on specific goals or tasks, in order to accomplish your goals in the most efficient manner possible.

Learning self-discipline and time management go hand-in-hand, as a big part of self-discipline is figuring out how to manage your time effectively.

Self-discipline involves learning how to allocate your time to different goals, and how to execute them as efficiently and productively as you can.

Why Self-Discipline is Important – Reason #9: Self-Discipline Allows You to Follow Through with Your Great Ideas

Have you ever had a brilliant idea, but then never did anything with it?

We’ve all had those ideas we regret never following through on.

Self-discipline will help you make your ideas a reality.

I’m not saying they are going to all work out. But at the very least, with self-discipline, you will give them a shot.

For instance:

  • If you have a business idea, self-discipline will help you do what you need to do to start that business.
  • If you have an idea for a novel, self-discipline will help you write your story.

Whatever your great idea is, self-discipline will help you execute it – and not just keep telling yourself you are going to get to it “eventually.”

Why Self-Discipline is Important – Reason #10: Self-Discipline is Important Because it is Within Your Sphere of Influence

There are so many things in life which are outside of our control:

  • Where you are born
  • Who your family is
  • How tall or short you are

But self-discipline is one of the few things that is within your sphere of influence. And that makes it all the more important to develop.

Why Self-Discipline is Important – Reason #11: Self-Discipline Can Help You Find Your Sense of Purpose

As you build self-discipline, you will start making progress towards your goals.

And as you progress, some of those goals may send you in a direction you couldn’t have even imagined your life would go in.

You may discover a career you want to pursue. A hobby you are passionate about. Or even a person you fall in love with.

You don’t necessarily have to have one single sense of purpose.

But as self-discipline opens up new doors through a continued process of self-improvement and self-discovery, you may find layers of meaning somewhere along your journey.

Free “Why Self-Discipline is Important” Cheat Sheet

Click here to get a free PDF cheat sheet for this article when you sign up for The Disciplined Rebel Newsletter!

The newsletter is all about how to build self-discipline . You will get also get access to other great newsletter-only resources as well.

How to Build Self-Discipline

So now that you’ve learned why self-discipline is important, the next step is to figure out how to build it!

Check here to learn how to build self-discipline

This article contains some of my best resources on how to build self-discipline.

PS: You may be interested in this article/video on why self-discipline is difficult and how to make it easier.

What is Self-Discipline — and why you cannot ignore it

Self-discipline is as old as mankind.

The Stoics were big on not getting carried away by thoughts and feelings, and often called it the “discipline of assent”. The Buddhist monks treated it as the holy grail. The Bible tells us that the whole fall of humanity is due to a failure of self-control: someone traded eternity in the Garden of Eden for an apple. 

A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering. The Dalai Lama

Self-discipline is one of my favorite topics, and the subject for my second book (published in 2021). This virtue is one of the superpowers of meditation practice, and is also essential for the third pillar of meditation (Transformation).

In this article, we will focus on the definition of self-discipline—the true meaning and power of this virtue—so that you can appreciate why it matters so much.

One Word, Many Virtues

 In a nutshell, here is how I define this essential skill: 

Self-discipline is your ability to live in accordance with your higher goals and values moment after moment, overcoming internal and external obstacles. It is your power to commit to what is meaningful to you, and let that guide the way you think, the choices you make, and the actions you take—until you bring your goal to fruition.  

The definition above may look simple, but it is dense. Let’s now unpack its many layers. 

“ Live in accordance ” means your capacity to choose what is in your best interest. It is choosing yourself, and respecting that choice. It’s acting in harmony with your goals, not your moods; your decisions, not your emotions; your aspirations, not your desires. It is to have the courage to sacrifice a lower bliss for a higher bliss. 

Goals and values are the things you want to achieve. Examples: living more healthily, writing a book, stopping alcohol intake, meditating every morning, becoming a great guitar player, being the best mom you can be, building wealth, improving your skills, etc. It is playing the long game, letting go of the illusion of quick gains and overnight success.  

Internal obstacles are things like procrastination, losing motivation, limiting beliefs, self-doubt, laziness, bad habits, etc.  

External obstacles are things like distractions, instant gratification, failures and challenges in your way.  

“Let that guide” means that self-discipline brings clarity to your life. It functions as a compass for every decision—a compass with the north of your choice.  

“Until fruition” , and not “for as long as you feel like it”. Self-discipline doesn’t ask how you are feeling today. It asks, “How will you live today?” and “What choice is true to your true self?” 

There are many aspects to this skill. Each of these aspects is normally considered a separate virtue, but they are all connected. If we look at self-discipline from the lens of what it does for you, we can see that it allows you to: 

  • Focus on what is most meaningful, despite distractions and shiny objects. Spend your time/energy on what adds value to your life. ( Focus )
  • Do what you need to do, regardless of how you feel in the moment, or the obstacles on your way. ( Willpower )
  • Stop yourself from doing what you know is not good for you, and coach yourself to do what is good for you. ( Self-control )
  • Bypass excuses, procrastination, fears, and doubts. Stay on track with your goals, even when motivation is not there. ( Determination )
  • Keep your promises to yourself (resolutions) and to others (commitments). ( Integrity )
  • Live up to your own values, standards, and rules. Match your thoughts and actions to the person you aspire to be. ( Authenticity )
  • Show up as your best self in your life, relationships, and work. ( Generosity )
  • Do what you know you need to do to get the results you want in the different areas of life. Focus on what you can control. ( Responsibility )
  • Live more purposefully, and less impulsively, by considering the long-term consequences of each choice you make. ( Vision )
  • Get back up each time you fall, knowing that you are in it for the long-term and will eventually make it. ( Perseverance, Resilience )
  • Stick to your plan even when things are not working out, and finish what you start. ( Grit )
  • Organize your life, thoughts and actions in the pursuit of meaningful goals. That makes you unified and whole. ( Integration )
  • Truly learn . The word discipline and the word disciple have the same root. ( Growth )
  • Not be swayed by the emotions and impulses in the moment. ( Centeredness )
  • Take your skills and knowledge to the next level, and grow as a person. ( Excellence ) 
  • Make decisions that your future self will thank you for. ( Self-love )
  • Take actions according to the person you aspired to become (future), not the person you were conditioned to be (past). ( Alignment )

As it may be clear by now, self-discipline has an external aspect, and an internal aspect.

The external aspect is your ability to build and keep good habits, drop bad habits, and act in accordance with your goals. 

The internal aspect is that which makes the external aspect possible: self-mastery. It’s our ability to harmonize the different elements of our internal world—our thoughts, emotions, impulses and goals. It means that you have the power to choose which of the conflicting voices inside of you gets to run the show. Without this we have no control over ourselves or our lives.  

Self-Discipline as Personal Power

David Eagleman, the author of Incognito – The Secret Lives of the Brain , argues that our behavior is simply the result of the many battles between short-term and long-term desires in our brain. If that is the case, then self-discipline is your ability to choose the part of you that should win the battles that matter.

Self-discipline is your core personal power. It’s the source of all other powers. 

Every time you exercise this power, you strengthen it. And you have the satisfaction of knowing that you are doing your best. Do this day after day, expressing the best there is in you, and you live with the peace of mind of having no regrets—no “what ifs” or “should have beens” roaming around your brain. 

On the other hand, every time you say no to your goals, you leak part of your power. This happens whenever you lose sight of what is important to you, and get carried away by the distractions and temptations of instant gratification.  

It happens whenever you say, “I don’t feel like it” or “I’ll start next week” or “let me make an exception just this time” or “this doesn’t really count”. 

You are fooling yourself.

And every time you do that, you’re giving away part of your soul, and feeling powerless. The day soon comes when you begin to feel that your decisions don’t matter anymore—since they are not respected even by you. This can easily lead to feelings of victimhood, depression, and regret. 

Instead, honor your personal power. Cultivate it. Exercise it wisely. 

Self-discipline is a form of self-regulation, self-control or self-mastery—it is the benevolent exercise of power within yourself. Like a good king/queen leading the country to a happier, desired future. 

This exercise of personal power (self-discipline) is good for you. It leads to happiness, not repression. 

Research shows that people with better self-control eat more healthily, exercise more, sleep better, drink less alcohol, smoke fewer cigarettes, achieve higher grades at university, have more peaceful relationships, are more financially secure, and enjoy stronger physical and mental health. They have higher self-esteem, better interpersonal skills, and more optimal emotional responses. ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 )

Honoring and cultivating your personal power also results in you being more satisfied with yourself, more confident in your capacity, and more influential in society. A person with strong self-discipline exudes a natural sense of authority, respect, and trust. 

If we don’t have that then we cannot stand out; we must fit in. Or, in the words of the thinker who is known to deliver his philosophy with a hammer : “He who cannot command himself must obey.” (Friedrich Nietzsche)

Consider the different aspects of your personality as citizens living inside your kingdom. Each with different desires, fears, and agendas. There are conflicting interests for sure. Then ask yourself: What does your kingdom look like? Are most citizens harmoniously working towards a mutual goal, or are they fighting themselves? Is there a wise and benevolent ruler sitting on the throne, or a clueless buffoon?  

Self-Discipline as Personal Harmony

A gentler way to look at self-discipline is to see it as a way of harmonizing yourself and creating positive rhythm in your life. Rhythm is a form of discipline and order: it is things happening always the same way, orderly and reliable. 

Rhythm is all around us. 

Our body has its own rhythms, such as the circadian rhythm. We can think of it as the routine of the body, its natural self-discipline. When the body rhythms are respected and maintained, we experience physical health, vitality, and well-being. Break them, and you start facing all sorts of problems. 

Music is rhythm. Every note, every pause needs to be exactly in the correct place—not one second before, not one second later. Otherwise there is no harmony. It’s a very strict discipline; if you break it, there is chaos. It doesn’t sound good, and it won’t get any replays.  

Beauty is also rhythm—a form of visual discipline that values harmony, symmetry and balanced movement. There is even discipline and form shaping the creative flow of ideas in a poem; without it, it’s expressiveness and power is diminished. 

Discipline already exists in many things around us. In driving, it ensures safety. In medicine, it ensures health and saves lives. In programming, it ensures an app or website that works and doesn’t make you pull your hair out. 

Consider for a moment that the different aspects of your personality—with its different desires, fears, and agendas—are instruments in an orchestra. Then ask yourself: What does your music sound like? Are all instruments harmoniously coordinated to create a masterpiece, or is your life out of tune? 

Self-discipline is the maestro. Make sure she/he is the one running the show.   

Self-Discipline in Your Brain

One useful model to understand how we operate in the world is the triune brain model, developed by the neuroscientist Paul D. MacLean. He proposes that there are three layers in our brain.  

The oldest part of the brain is the Reptilian Brain, also known as the primal brain or lizard brain. It’s mostly concerned with threats and survival, and it responds to the environment based on fear and aggression. Most of the times when we respond impulsively in our modern life, and later regret the consequences, we are operating from this primitive brain. 

When Sarah panics when she needs to speak in public, or when Mark gets irritated by a rude comment from his son and lashes out, it is the primal brain that is running the show. Unless you really need to tap into this brain for your physical survival, living from the reptilian consciousness usually leads to regret.

The second layer is the Limbic System , also known as “mammalian brain” or “emotional brain”. It is responsible for our emotions, coordination of movement, likes and dislikes, pleasure and pain. When we forget about our resolutions and instead go for the instant gratification of eating that cookie, this is the part of the brain that is speaking the loudest. 

When Andrew finds hard to say no to drinking soda, or can’t stop aimlessly browsing the internet or social media, it is this layer of the brain that is running the show. The same is true for Sarah, who wants to start running outdoors three times a week but is held back by shame, since she worries that people will negatively judge her for being somewhat overweight.

The third layer, is the Neocortex , or rational brain. It is responsible for language, planning, self-regulation, awareness, rational thinking and decision-making, among other things. This is the most evolved and newest part of the brain—it’s often what we consider to be the noblest part of us. 

Self-discipline, willpower and self-awareness are all functions of the rational brain, the prefrontal cortex (part of the Neocortex).

It is this part of your brain that can differentiate between conflicting thoughts, determine good and bad, consider future consequences of current activities, work toward a chosen goal, and control your emotions and impulses. In our orchestra metaphor, the prefrontal cortex is the master conductor—the maestro .  

The practice of self-discipline, therefore, is an exercise in human evolution. It is consciously developing our rational brain, so that it is no longer overpowered by the reptilian brain and the emotional brain. It is really about outgrowing our inner reptile, our animal nature, and functioning more as a fully mature human being. Or at least having the option to do so, for the things that truly matter for us. 

All the practices of meditation help you strengthen your prefrontal cortex and keep it online more often. It’s not about killing the inner reptile or the mammal; they are valuable parts of ourselves. It’s only about making sure that they know their place, and are following the maestro.   

Summary & Next Steps

Self-discipline contains, in itself, many virtues. Things like focus, willpower, determination, integrity, vision, resilience, alignment, optimism and excellence. I’ve summarized it thus: 

It is to know your core values and aspirations, and live inside out from them. This includes setting the right habits and routines (external aspect), as well as mastering your thoughts, emotions, and impulses (internal aspect).

It can be seen as your core personal power (the king/queen), that needs to be cultivated and exercised. And it can also be seen as personal harmony (the maestro), the art of coordinating all the elements in your life to create a masterpiece.  

Finally, we explored self-discipline as a function of the most evolved part of our brain, the prefrontal cortex . The practice of this skill, then, is an exercise in outgrowing the more impulsive parts of our nature so that we have real freedom and agency in our lives.  

The rewards of this virtue are endless. And it’s something you can develop —you don’t need to be born with it. Once you do, it’s all about exercising it wisely. 

Wisely because, just like any form of power, self-discipline is value-neutral. It can be used for “good” or for “bad”. Just like language can be used to express deep ideas, declare love, or start a war, self-discipline is simply the power to make things happen. Choosing the right goals to pursue is not in the domain of discipline but in that of wisdom (a topic for another essay).

Going Deeper

To learn more about this topic, check out my new book, Mindful Self-Discipline .

Do you appreciate the power of self-discipline and know what it can do for you? Do you want my one-on-one support as your coach/mentor to develop willpower and self-discipline in all areas of your life? Let’s book a discovery call and see if we can work together.

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Essay on Importance of Self Discipline | Value & Importance in Life

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Read below an Essay on Self discipline, its needs, importance, value and worth in personal, students life, and career life. It adds how to learn self discipline in one’s personal and student life with need and value of self discipline in student life at school.

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Essay on Self Discipline | Meaning, Importance, Impact & Influence in our Lives | Short Essay & Paragraph

S elf-discipline is an art of exercising maximum control over one’s life, the choices one makes and the decisions one takes in one’s life. Self-discipline is characterized by an individual working perfectly on already set goals or agendas to achieve success.

Meaning & Importance of Self Discipline

A self-disciplined person has the ability to do rightly at the right time, planning and acting according to his set goals. Therefore, self-discipline can be defined by having an ability by an individual by which he or she acts as per his conscience, knowledge, and experience to achieve maximum desired goals.

Discipline has a great value in human lives. In fact, discipline is the reason behind the success of many individuals in this world. There are two types of discipline. The part of the discipline that is more related to one’s nature. It is learned internally.

Whereas, the other type of discipline is more related to one’s behavior. It is learned externally. This type of discipline is learned with one’s interaction with other like-minded fellows. Nevertheless, the discipline of both types is extremely important in today’s life.

Importance of Self Discipline in Our Lives

Discipline is very much important in every walk of our life. In our schools, colleges, universities, in offices or even at battlefields, we can’t have success and desired outcomes without applying discipline to our lives. Discipline helps us in many ways. Firstly, discipline helps us to strategize our goals. It helps us to differentiate and prioritize important tasks of our daily lives.

We learn the better use of time with the help of discipline. A disciplined man knows how to prioritize his goals and make an effective policy to achieve the desired goals. We learn to make planning before acting upon anything. Therefore, discipline helps us, firstly, to set preferences and make planning for every goal in our life.

Secondly, discipline helps us to track the pace of progress over any given task. By giving exact time to each and every task we are in a better position to understand the true challenges of any task. It helps to redirect and refocus our attention on any given task.  As it is said that effective planning multiplies your chances of success.

Lastly, discipline helps us to learn from our mistakes. It helps us to stand up again after every failure for a great effort to success. It is because of the disciplined approach that we become able to be strong, fearless, motivated and committed for the completion of our tasks.

A self-disciplined man knows where does he actually stand. He is able to figure out every issue successfully. With self-discipline, proper planning and timely execution of planning we can become successful in the face of every challenge.

Related Post: Speech on Punctuality  

Discipline is the core of everything in this universe. We observe that everything is working correctly as per planning in this universe. The sunrise and sunset, the exchange of seasons, the fall of nights and days, life and death, etc all are working on a perfect discipline. That’s to say, there are a lot of examples of discipline in our nature.

Therefore, the value, worth, and importance of discipline in our lives can never be denied. It is very important for boys, girls, students, and people from all walks of life. We should adopt the habit of self-discipline in our lives. Only this way, we can become successful in our lives.

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how to be more self-disciplined

how to be more self-disciplined

Introduction Self-discipline is an essential component of success in life. It is the ability to resist temptations, overcome procrastination, and work hard towards achieving your long-term goals. However, self-discipline is not something that comes naturally to everyone. It requires a lot of effort, commitment, and dedication. In this article, we will explore six important strategies for improving your level of self-discipline.

Defining Self-Discipline and Motivation Before we delve into the strategies, it is essential to understand what self-discipline and motivation are. Self-discipline is about taking action in spite of how you feel and living life by design, not by default. It is the ability to act in accordance with your thoughts, not your feelings. On the other hand, motivation is your overall level of desire to do something.

Table of Contents

Focus on Identity, not Goals

The first strategy for improving self-discipline is to focus on the identity you want to embody, not just the goals you want to achieve. This mindset shift can be transformative in building your self-discipline. According to Robert Cialdini’s book Influence, humans feel a natural compulsion to act consistently with their past decisions. Once you have embraced a change in your identity, you will find yourself acting in alignment with that change.

Focus on Identity, not Goals

  • When it comes to building self-discipline, many people focus on setting goals and tracking progress toward those goals. However, according to research and experts in the field, focusing on identity, rather than goals, can be a more effective way to build self-discipline.
  • The idea behind this strategy is to identify the type of person you want to be and the values you want to embody, rather than just setting specific goals. When you focus on your identity, you create a deeper motivation for change and make it easier to stick to your commitments.

For example, instead of setting a goal to lose 10 pounds, you could focus on becoming a healthier person who prioritizes exercise and healthy eating habits. This shift in identity can help you make healthier choices consistently and stay motivated to maintain those habits, even beyond reaching a specific weight loss goal.

Another example could be in the workplace. Instead of setting a goal to increase sales by 10%, you could focus on becoming a more effective salesperson who prioritizes customer relationships and excellent service. This shift in identity can help you focus on the right activities and behaviors to build lasting relationships with customers, which can ultimately lead to increased sales.

  • To make this strategy work, it’s essential to define the identity you want to embody and commit to it. This could involve creating a personal mission statement or values statement that reflects the person you want to become. You can also use positive affirmations and visualization exercises to reinforce this identity and stay motivated.
  • It’s important to note that this strategy does not mean abandoning goals altogether. Goals can still be a useful tool for tracking progress and providing direction. However, when you focus on your identity, you create a deeper motivation for change and make it easier to stay committed to your goals.
  • Focusing on identity provides a long-term perspective and helps to create lasting changes.
  • It can be a powerful motivator in building self-discipline.
  • It encourages a positive self-image, which can lead to improved self-esteem and confidence.
  • It may take time to internalize the new identity fully.
  • It requires a lot of self-reflection and introspection.
  • It may be challenging to identify the identity you want to embody.

Create a Routine

Creating a routine is an effective way of building self-discipline. When you have a set routine, it becomes easier to stick to it. This strategy involves identifying the activities you need to do regularly and creating a schedule for them. Having a routine helps to reduce decision fatigue and allows you to focus your energy on more important tasks.

Create a Routine

Creating a routine is like building a framework for your day-to-day life. It helps you manage your time and prioritize your tasks so that you can achieve your goals. Here are some examples of how creating a routine can help build self-discipline:

  • Morning Routine: Many successful people have a morning routine that sets the tone for the rest of their day. For example, you might start your day with meditation, exercise, or journaling. By starting your day with a positive habit, you’ll feel more energized and motivated to tackle the rest of your tasks.
  • Work Routine: If you work from home or have a flexible schedule, it can be challenging to stay on track. Creating a work routine can help you manage your time and stay focused on your tasks. For example, you might schedule your most important work tasks for the morning when you’re most productive, and reserve afternoons for less demanding tasks.
  • Study Routine: If you’re a student, creating a study routine can help you stay on top of your coursework and avoid procrastination. For example, you might set aside a specific time each day for studying and schedule breaks to recharge your energy. By creating a routine, you’ll be less likely to cram for exams or fall behind on assignments.
  • Exercise Routine: Regular exercise is important for both physical and mental health. Creating an exercise routine can help you stay committed to your fitness goals. For example, you might schedule a daily workout or reserve specific days for different types of exercise, such as cardio, strength training, or yoga.
  • Bedtime Routine: Getting enough sleep is essential for overall well-being. Creating a bedtime routine can help you wind down and prepare for a restful night’s sleep. For example, you might turn off electronic devices an hour before bedtime, read a book, or practice relaxation techniques.
  • It provides structure and organization to your day.
  • It reduces procrastination by creating a sense of urgency.
  • It helps to establish good habits.
  • It can become monotonous and boring.
  • It may not be feasible for people with unpredictable schedules.
  • It may require a lot of effort to establish a routine initially.

Set Realistic Goals

Setting realistic goals is another strategy for improving self-discipline. When you set achievable goals, it becomes easier to stay motivated and focused. Unrealistic goals can be demotivating and lead to procrastination.

Set Realistic Goals

Setting realistic goals is a fundamental strategy that can help you improve your self-discipline. Goals provide direction and purpose, and they help you to focus your efforts on the things that matter most. However, it is important to set realistic goals that are achievable within a given timeframe.

  • Unrealistic goals can be demotivating and lead to procrastination. When you set goals that are too ambitious or outside of your control, it can create a sense of overwhelm and helpless. This can lead to a lack of motivation and ultimately result in giving up on the goal altogether. Therefore, setting realistic goals is key to maintaining motivation and achieving success.
  • To set realistic goals, start by defining what you want to achieve. Be specific and clear about what you want to accomplish, and make sure that your goals are measurable. For example, rather than setting a vague goal like “lose weight,” set a specific goal such as “lose 10 pounds in the next 3 months.”
  • Next, consider your resources and limitations. Be honest with yourself about what is realistically achievable given your current circumstances. Consider factors such as time, finances, and other obligations that may impact your ability to achieve your goals. This will help you to set goals that are challenging yet achievable.
  • It’s also important to break down larger goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. This can help to make your goals feel less overwhelming and more achievable. For example, if your goal is to run a marathon, you can break it down into smaller goals such as running a 5K or 10K first.
  • Once you have set your goals, it’s important to track your progress. This can help you to stay motivated and identify any areas where you may need to adjust your approach. You can track your progress using a journal, planner, or app.

It’s also important to celebrate your successes along the way. Acknowledge your achievements and reward yourself for a job well done. This can help to reinforce positive behaviors and keep you motivated to continue working towards your goals.

  • It provides a sense of accomplishment when you achieve your goals.
  • It helps to break down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
  • It can increase motivation and focus.
  • Setting overly realistic goals can lead to complacency.
  • Unrealistic goals can be demotivating and lead to procrastination.
  • It may be challenging to determine what is realistic for you.

Practice Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness is a technique that can help to improve self-discipline. Mindfulness involves being present at the moment and focusing on your thoughts and feelings without judgment. It helps to reduce stress and anxiety, which can be barriers to self-discipline.

Practice Mindfulness

  • Practicing mindfulness is a powerful technique that can help to improve self-discipline. Mindfulness involves being present at the moment, focusing on your thoughts and feelings without judgment, and cultivating a sense of awareness and acceptance. This technique has been shown to be effective in reducing stress and anxiety, which can be major barriers to self-discipline.
  • When we are stressed or anxious, our ability to focus and make sound decisions can be compromised. We may become overwhelmed by our emotions, and find it difficult to resist temptation or stay on track with our goals. By practicing mindfulness, we can learn to manage our stress and anxiety, and cultivate a greater sense of self-awareness and self-control.
  • One of the key benefits of mindfulness is that it helps to quiet the mind and reduce distractions. When we practice mindfulness, we learn to focus our attention on the present moment, rather than getting caught up in worries or regrets about the past or future. This can help us to stay focused on our goals and priorities, and avoid getting sidetracked by distractions or temptations.
  • Mindfulness can also help us to cultivate greater self-awareness, which is a key component of self-discipline. When we are mindful, we are more attuned to our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and we can learn to identify patterns and triggers that may be hindering our self-discipline. This can help us to make more intentional choices and to develop strategies for managing our impulses and staying on track with our goals.
  • To practice mindfulness, you can start by setting aside a few minutes each day to focus on your breath and observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment. You can do this by sitting quietly, closing your eyes, and bringing your attention to your breath. As thoughts arise, simply observe them without judgment or attachment, and then return your focus to your breath.
  • As you become more comfortable with mindfulness, you can incorporate it into other aspects of your daily life. For example, you can practice mindful eating by paying attention to the taste, texture, and aroma of your food, and savoring each bite. You can also practice mindful movements, such as yoga or tai chi, which can help to cultivate a sense of relaxation and focus.
  • It helps to reduce stress and anxiety.
  • It increases self-awareness, which can help to identify and manage distractions.
  • It can improve overall well-being.
  • It can be challenging to maintain a consistent mindfulness practice.
  • It may not be suitable for everyone.
  • It may take time to see significant results

Reward Yourself

Rewarding yourself can be a powerful motivator for building self-discipline. When you achieve a goal or complete a task, reward yourself with something you enjoy, such as a favorite treat or activity. This can reinforce positive behaviors and encourage you to continue working towards your goals.

Reward Yourself

  • Rewarding yourself is a strategy that can be highly effective in building self-discipline and motivating yourself to accomplish your goals. It is a powerful way to reinforce positive behaviors and encourage you to continue working towards your objectives. In this strategy, you reward yourself with something you enjoy, such as a favorite treat or activity, after you have achieved a goal or completed a task.
  • One of the reasons why rewarding yourself is so effective is that it activates the brain’s reward system. The reward system is a complex network of structures and neural pathways that are responsible for the experience of pleasure and motivation. When you reward yourself, you release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is associated with feelings of pleasure and reward. This creates a positive feedback loop, where your brain associates the behavior that led to the reward with pleasure, making it more likely that you will repeat the behavior in the future.
  • Another reason why rewarding yourself is effective is that it provides a sense of progress and accomplishment. When you set goals and work towards them, it can be easy to lose sight of the progress you are making. By rewarding yourself when you achieve a goal or complete a task, you create a tangible marker of your progress. This can help you stay motivated and focused on your goals.
  • It’s important to note that the rewards you choose should be in line with your goals and values. For example, if your goal is to get fit, rewarding yourself with a slice of cake every time you work out may not be the best choice. Instead, consider rewarding yourself with something that supports your fitness goals, such as a new workout outfit or a massage.

In addition, the rewards should be meaningful to you personally. A reward that is valuable to one person may not be as motivating to another. Some people may find that small, frequent rewards work best, while others may prefer larger, less frequent rewards. It’s important to experiment and find what works best for you.

  • It can be a powerful motivator for building self-discipline.
  • It can provide a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
  • It can make the process of building self-discipline more enjoyable.
  • If rewards are not balanced with discipline, it can lead to overindulgence.
  • It can be easy to lose sight of the long-term goal if you focus too much on the immediate reward.
  • It may not work for everyone, as some people may find that intrinsic motivation is more effective.

Overall, building self-discipline is a process that takes time and effort. By incorporating these strategies into your routine, you can improve your ability to stay focused, motivated, and achieve your goals. Remember, building self-discipline is a journey, not a destination, and it requires consistent effort and dedication.

Break Tasks into Smaller Steps

Breaking down a task into smaller, manageable steps can make it easier to accomplish and help maintain focus and motivation. It also provides a sense of progress as each step is completed, which can further boost motivation.

Break Tasks into Smaller Steps

  • Breaking tasks into smaller steps is an effective way to manage your workload and achieve your goals. When a task seems overwhelming, breaking it down into smaller steps can make it more manageable and less intimidating. This technique can be applied to almost any task, from daily chores to long-term projects.
  • By breaking tasks into smaller steps, you can also maintain focus and motivation. When you focus on completing one step at a time, you’re less likely to get distracted or discouraged by the enormity of the task. Instead, you can focus on making progress and celebrate your accomplishments as you complete each step.
  • In addition, breaking tasks into smaller steps can help you develop a sense of progress. As you complete each step, you can track your progress and see how far you’ve come. This sense of progress can be very motivating and help you stay on track as you work towards your goals.

To effectively break tasks into smaller steps, it’s important to first identify the main task or goal you want to achieve. Once you’ve identified the goal, you can start breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps.

For example, if your goal is to clean your entire house, you can break it down into smaller steps such as:

  • Start with one room
  • Make a list of tasks to complete in that room (e.g. dusting, vacuuming, mopping, organizing)
  • Complete each task on the list before moving on to the next room
  • Repeat the process for each room in the house

By breaking down the task into smaller steps, you can focus on completing one room at a time and feel a sense of accomplishment as you finish each room.

  • Breaking down tasks into smaller steps makes them less daunting and easier to manage.
  • It provides a sense of progress and accomplishment as each step is completed.
  • It can help maintain motivation and focus.
  • It can be time-consuming to break tasks down into smaller steps.
  • Some tasks may not be easily divisible into smaller steps.
  • It may require additional planning and organization.

Self-discipline is a critical skill that can be developed and improved over time. By implementing the strategies discussed, such as setting clear goals, creating routines, eliminating distractions, practicing mindfulness, and seeking accountability, individuals can improve their self-discipline and achieve their desired outcomes. It is important to note that self-discipline requires consistent effort and commitment, and setbacks are a normal part of the process. However, by staying focused, persistent, and adaptable, anyone can improve their self-discipline and reach their full potential.

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Self-Discipline: The art of reaching your goals

Self-Discipline: The art of reaching your goals

Discover the characteristics of self-disciplined individuals and the benefits it brings to productivity, motivation, decision-making, and well-being.

Jostle

Goals are important in any area of life, whether personal, academic, or career. For the purpose of this article, we’re going to talk about career goals and how motivation at work can help you reach them. But, as the title suggests, motivation often isn’t enough. Motivations can fade or change completely, and when that happens, self-discipline has to step up to the plate and keep you moving toward your goals—even when the going gets tough. Or especially when the going gets tough. 

Think of motivation as the energy that gets you started on the path to your goal and self-discipline as the superpower that helps you reach the goal.

What is self-discipline?

Self-discipline can be defined as the ability to control and manage your actions, thoughts, and behaviors in order to stay focused on your goals. They can help you make responsible choices even when faced with distractions or challenges. This typically involves setting priorities, resisting the temptation to do something else, and consistently working toward achieving the goal you set.

Merriam-Webster puts it this way. “Restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires.” 

Characteristics of self-disciplined individuals

Who around you is displaying motivation at work ? Can you spot employees who are motivated and self-disciplined? 

You can. Self-disciplined individuals typically exhibit the following characteristics:

  • Focus: They concentrate on their tasks and priorities while minimizing distractions and staying attentive to what they need to accomplish
  • Resilience: They’ll bounce back from failures and disappointments, and use setbacks as a learning experience that will help them to  adapt and grow
  • Responsibility: They take ownership of their actions and decisions, holding themselves accountable for any success or mistake
  • Organization: They’ll typically have orderly environments and routines that help support their goals, since reducing chaos can improve efficiency
  • Time management: Self-disciplined people will effectively manage their time, allocating it to tasks and activities that align with their priorities and goals 

The benefits of self-discipline

Now you know what self-discipline is, and you can spot people who display motivation at work plus the characteristics that point to self-discipline, what are the benefits? Can you benefit?

Anyone, in any area of their life, can benefit from self-discipline. Here are a few ways that your career can benefit. 

Improved productivity and time management skills

Those who practice self-discipline become more intentional about how they use their time and energy—they’re not as wasteful with it. This leads to better planning and organization, allowing them to prioritize tasks effectively and allocate sufficient time for important activities.

Thanks to cause-and-effect, better planning and organization result in improved productivity. You’re able to focus and prioritize on important tasks without getting distracted by things that aren’t as critical. Additionally, self-discipline helps you to resist procrastination and maintain a consistent work pace which will further enhance efficiency.

Better time management and productivity mean you can accomplish more in less time, leaving you with more time for other pursuits such as personal growth, leisure, or anything else.

Increased motivation and confidence

Increased motivation at work and confidence are significant benefits for those who are self-disciplined.

When you practice self-discipline, you develop a strong sense of control over your actions and choices. And even if your initial motivation fades or changes, that control can help you stick to your goal. Additionally, it helps to build confidence in your ability to overcome challenges and accomplish what you originally set out to do.

This spawns another benefit. When you’re consistently making progress toward your goals—thanks to self-discipline— you’ll experience something of a positive feedback loop. Each small success boosts your motivation at work, leading to a growing belief in your capabilities and enhancing your confidence in yourself.

The combination of motivation and confidence can be a powerful driving force that can help propel you forward, enabling you to tackle more ambitious goals and achieve even greater success in all areas of your life. And seeing the tangible results of hard work can push you even further. 

Better decision-making abilities

Self-discipline can help you develop the skill of making thoughtful and rational choices. This is typically due to the fact that self-discipline forces you to consider the long-term consequences of your actions and helps you align your decisions with your goals and values.

As you cultivate self-discipline, you become less impulsive and more deliberate in your decision-making process. This is advantageous since it helps you avoid hasty choices that you may regret later on. Thanks to a heightened awareness of your priorities, you’re better equipped to evaluate different options and make decisions that will align with your overall objectives.

Improved physical and mental health

Those who stay organized, set priorities, and manage their time effectively—all things that self-disciplined people do—experience lower levels of stress and anxiety . These practices help put you in control and reduce the sense of chaos that can lead to stress.

Additionally, reduced stress and anxiety leads to better sleep patterns which can enhance cognitive function.

Strategies for building self-discipline

Building self-discipline doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time and effort. But when you consider the benefits that we’ve already discussed, it’s time and effort that will be well spent.

To help you reach your goal, consider these strategies:

Set clear and specific goals. A clear goal provides you with a target to work towards. It gives you a sense of direction and purpose and helps you to stay focused and committed, even if you face challenges or discouragement. Since you know what you’re aiming for, it’s easier to channel your efforts.

Here’s a few tips:

  • Make your goal specific
  • Make it measurable
  • Only set achievable goals
  • Give yourself a deadline
  • Put your goal in writing

Establish a routine and stick to it. Routines give your day structure, reducing decision fatigue and making it easier for you to prioritize your tasks. When you’re dealing with habitual actions, you’re less likely to waste mental energy debating on whether or not to do them.

Here are some tips on establishing a routine:

  • Identify your priorities
  • Create a daily schedule
  • Start with small, manageable tasks
  • Assign fixed times for routine activities
  • Track your progress
  • Be flexible but accountable

Practicing mindfulness and self-awareness. Mindfulness and self-awareness help you to understand your thoughts, emotions, and impulses. For lack of a better analogy, think of it as something of a leash between a stimulus and your natural response. It gives you the time and the opportunity to make a conscience, disciplined choice rather than reacting impulsively.

Here are a few tips on how to practice mindfulness and self awareness:

  • Focus on your breathing
  • Reject negative and distracting thoughts
  • Practice meditation
  • Pause before reacting
  • Consider journaling your thoughts, feelings, and experiences
  • Acknowledged the things you’re grateful for
  • Reflect on your actions and choices

Avoid distractions and temptations. Take some time and identify the things that tend to divert your attention—anything that robs you of your focus. For example, if you work at your computer, do you find yourself constantly distracted or tempted by social media, video games, emails, or anything else? Because that would be bad—not that I’m speaking from experience, of course!

Here are a few strategies that should help you tackle the challenge:

  • Make sure your environment is distraction free
  • Use techniques like Pomodoro
  • Set clear boundaries and make sure others know when you’re focusing on important tasks
  • Only concentrate on one task at a time
  • Reward yourself for progress and accomplishments. Sometimes, being self-disciplined means doing things that you may not enjoy. Knowing there is a reward for seeing a task to its end can keep you motivated and focused—it’s not going to magically make you happy about your task, but you will be happy when it’s done.

Appropriate rewards will be unique to each individual, so choose something that will motivate you. 

Overcoming obstacles to self-discipline

Overcoming obstacles to self-discipline is crucial if you want to build a strong foundation of self-control and achievement. Becoming self-disciplined can be a challenge in itself. Learn not only how to identify the roadblocks but also how to get around them.

Here are some common challenges to self-discipline and some tips on what you can do to overcome them:

  • Procrastination: Try breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable steps 
  • Lack of Motivation: Determine the reason behind your goal and then visualize the end result, even if the end result is simply that your job is done
  • Lack of Structure: Set clear goals for yourself and establish routines and schedules that provide structure
  • Don’t Be Impulsive: Be mindful and take a pause before making quick decisions that could impact your long-term goals
  • Negative Self-Talk: Learn to challenge negative thoughts by replacing them with realistic perspectives
  • Fear of Failure: understand that failing is part of the learning process and focus on lessons learned, seeing them as opportunities for growth 
  • Burnout: Prioritize self-care, making sure you get adequate sleep, take regular breaks, and relax when necessary

What have we learned about motivation at work and self-discipline? 

When it comes to successfully achieving your goals, self-discipline is a critical ingredient. It will provide you with the consistent effort and focus needed to make progress even when your motivation begins to falter or challenges arise. With self-discipline, you’re able to prioritize tasks effectively and steer away from distractions. Instead, you’re able to concentrate on what really matters. It can empower you to overcome obstacles and setbacks and enable you to persist even when the going gets tough.

Ultimately, self-discipline can help you to transform your dreams into reality. It will help you to navigate the path toward your goals with dedication, resilience, and a strong purpose. Simply put, self-discipline can help you realize your potential and fulfill your ambitions.

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Self-Discipline

Persisting until you reach your goals.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

essay on self discipline meaning

"You can never conquer the mountain. You can only conquer yourself."– Jim Whittaker, American mountaineer and CEO

Marietta wakes up before dawn each morning to exercise. She works very efficiently in the office, ignoring distractions, and devoting all of her attention to high-value projects. In the evening, she attends a class online; she'll be graduating in a few months with her MBA.

How can people like Marietta achieve so much, so consistently? And how can we accomplish as much in our personal lives and careers? Part of the answer lies in self-discipline. This is what pushes us to deliver on our best intentions and goals, even when we don't feel like doing so. If we have self-discipline, we're able to put off short-term pleasure (or endure short-term inconvenience or discomfort) in the pursuit of long-term gain.

This is why self-discipline is so important. In this article, we'll examine what self-discipline actually is, we'll explore why it's useful, and we'll look at how to develop it.

A Definition of Self-Discipline

Self-discipline is the ability to push yourself forward, stay motivated, and take action, regardless of how you're feeling, physically or emotionally. You're showing it when you intentionally choose to pursue something better for yourself, and you do it in spite of factors such as distractions, hard work, or unfavorable odds.

Self-discipline is different from self-motivation or willpower. Motivation and willpower contribute to it, as do persistence, the ability to follow through on your intentions, and hard work.

The Benefits of Self-Discipline

Self-discipline can boost your well-being and outcomes in many different areas of your life. It can:

1. Help you to achieve goals. Self-discipline people are more likely to commit to, and reach, important long-term life goals.

2. Improve your mental health. People practicing self-discipline report higher levels of self-confidence, happiness and independence. Researchers have also found that self-discipline eases anxiety.

3. Benefit your physical health. People who demonstrate regular self-discipline often engage in healthy habits, and resist unhealthy ones.

4. Improve your relationships. Individuals with high self-discipline often experience stronger long-term relationships.

5. Make you more resilient. Self-discipline can enhance your ability to bounce back from adversity. The more resilient you are, the better control you have over impulses and delayed gratification.

6. Help you to feel happier. If you're more productive, the more creative and happy you are. The more we feel in control of the origin of our behavior, the better sense of well-being we have, and that makes us happy.

7. Improve learning and enhance performance. Studies have shown that students with a high degree of self-discipline retain more knowledge than those without self-discipline. Additionally, researchers discovered that students with strong self-discipline are more careful in their tasks, which improves their performance. [1]

Research has also shown that measuring a person's level of self-discipline is a more accurate predictor of success than measuring their IQ. [2]

How to Develop Self-Discipline

Self-discipline is like a muscle: the more you work on developing it and using it, the stronger it will become.

However, it's just as important not to start out with goals that are too ambitious. Instead, set small goals, and increase the level of challenge slowly over time. The more you practice, the better you'll become.

Follow these five steps to start developing your self-discipline:

1. Choose a Goal

Begin by choosing just one goal that you want to focus on to develop your self-discipline.

For instance, perhaps you want to start exercising every evening, or you want to read one leadership book a week to enhance your skills. You could even practice self-discipline on very small goals such as concentrating on a piece of work for an hour without checking your messages, or avoiding unhealthy food for one day.

Remember, starting small is the best way to start developing your self-discipline. As your discipline gets stronger, you can spread the focus to more areas of your life.

Make sure that the goal you set is SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound – and break the goal down into smaller sub-goals, where you can.

2. Find Your Motivation

Once you've chosen a goal, list the reasons why you want to achieve it. Try to express these reasons in a positive way.

So, instead of saying, "I want to exercise three times a week to lose weight," say "I want to exercise so that I have the energy to play with my kids and work successfully." Or, instead of saying, "I want to get this task off my To-Do List," say, "I want to do this task, so that I can meet my objectives, get praise from my boss, and feel satisfied with my day's work."

When you list the reasons why you want to achieve something, you'll find it much easier to get the job done.

Our article on Motivating Yourself has additional strategies for finding and developing your self-motivation.

3. Identify Obstacles

Now you need to identify the obstacles that you'll likely face when working toward your goal, and devise a strategy for overcoming each one.

For instance, imagine that your goal is to read one leadership book a week to enhance your skills. In the past, you've faced a number of obstacles in reaching this goal. For example, when you find a book you like, it's hard to find time each night to read. Between work, dinner and the kids, your time is taken up until late in the evening, and you get distracted by messages coming in while you're reading.

Once you've identified obstacles, come up with a strategy to overcome each one. In this example, you could do the following:

  • Instead of going to a bookstore, spend an hour looking at leadership books online. Find several that interest you, and that have good reviews. Order all of them at once, and download them to tablet so that you always have a book on hand to read.
  • Find more time in your day to focus on reading. Perhaps you could read during your lunch hour, or while you're waiting to pick your kids up from school.
  • Turn your phone off when you want to focus on reading.

Often our self-discipline crumbles because we haven't identified the obstacles that we'll face, and we haven't developed strategies to overcome them. When these obstacles show up, we're unprepared to deal with them, and this shakes our resolve. Don't skip this step!

4. Replace Old Habits

When we're developing self-discipline, we're often trying to break a bad habit and replace it with something more productive. However, if that habit is tied into a certain time of day or routine, breaking it can leave a hole. If we don't replace that habit with something else, then its absence becomes even more noticeable.

A good example is if you're trying to stop yourself shopping online when you take a break at work. This bad habit destroys your focus and attention, because you're likely to be online for 20-30 minutes each time.

Once you've resolved to stop, identify a new behavior that you can engage in when you need a quick break. Instead of online shopping, you could do some stretches in your office, get a cup of coffee, or take a quick walk outside. These behaviors will help to support your goal and strengthen your self-discipline, instead of leaving you with nothing to do on your break.

5. Monitor Your Progress

As you work on your self-discipline, pay attention to how you're feeling as it develops and strengthens. You might feel free, happy, proud, and energized.

Also, think about keeping a journal to write down your self-discipline goals and to track your progress. This reinforces the positive changes that you're implementing in your life, and gives you a record that you can look back on to see the progress that you've made.

Over time, your self-discipline will strengthen, and you'll be able to apply it to lots of other areas of your life.

More Tips for Self-Discipline

  • Try to avoid distractions when you begin to develop your self-discipline. Make it harder to engage in the activity you're trying to avoid.
  • It's important to reward yourself when you experience success. Celebrating your accomplishments will keep things fun, and strengthen your resolve to keep going.
  • Don't let a fear of failure or an occasional setback discourage you. All of us experience setbacks and failures – they're parts of life! Acknowledge that you slipped up, learn the lesson, and move on.

Frequently Asked Questions About Self-Discipline

Why is self-discipline important?

Self-discipline helps you to stay focused, meet deadlines, and maintain a strong work ethic. It enables you to resist distractions, adhere to company policies, and consistently produce high-quality results. This contributes to your own success and the overall productivity and success of the organization.

How do you explain self-discipline?

Self-discipline is the ability to control and regulate your own behavior, actions and decisions so you can achieve goals or keep to a set of principles, even in the face of temptations, distractions or challenges. It involves setting and maintaining a consistent standard of behavior, often driven by a strong sense of commitment and personal responsibility.

Why is self-discipline the key to success?

Self-discipline enables consistent effort, goal-setting, and the ability to overcome challenges. It helps individuals stay focused, make better decisions, and build the habits necessary for long-term achievement.

What are the effects of lack of self-discipline?

Lack of self-discipline can lead to a range of negative effects, including procrastination, missed opportunities, poor time management, underachievement, unhealthy habits, and a failure to reach your full potential. It can also result in reduced productivity and difficulties in both your personal and professional life

It's important to develop self-discipline in life. Self-discipline is what enables us to do high-quality work. It keeps us pursuing our goals through tough times. And it helps us to stay professional, even when we're not feeling great.

To develop self-discipline, follow these steps:

  • Choose a goal.
  • Find your motivation.
  • Identify obstacles.
  • Replace old habits.
  • Monitor your progress.

Self-discipline is an essential quality, and it's a key differentiator between people who are successful in life and those who aren't.

[1] Gong, Y, Rai, D, Beck, J.E, and Heffernan, N.T. (2009). 'Does Self-Discipline Impact Students' Knowledge and Learning?' Educational Data Mining , 2009. Available here .

[2] Seligman, M.E.P, and Duckworth, A.L. (2005). 'Self-Discipline Outdoes IQ in Predicting Academic Performance of Adolescents,' Psychological Science , Vol. 16, No. 12. Available here .

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Comments (2)

Heaven Leigh

Having self-discipline means you can proactively remove temptations and avoid self-sabotaging behaviors. Visualization is key to successful goal-setting. For one, you must think . https://catalyticministries.com/

Manon Seite

I found this article really interesting ! now im motivate to use self-discipline to reach my goal !

essay on self discipline meaning

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Essay on Self Discipline for Students and Children | PDF Download

Importance of Self Discipline Essay

In this article, we are providing an essay on Self-discipline, the Importance of self-discipline, How to develop Self Discipline, Quotes, and images. Students can go through this page for more information on self-discipline.

What is self-discipline?

The ability to control one’s feelings and overcome one’s weaknesses is defined as self-discipline. Self-discipline is one of the most important and useful skills everyone should possess. Self-discipline means self-control, the ability to avoid negativity which leads to negative consequences. A self-disciplined person is more punctual, spends more time and in what he or she does, and is more likely to take control and responsibility for his or her life. Such a person can achieve his goals more quickly.

Essay on Self Discipline for students and children

Self-discipline is self-control , which gives you inner strength and a way to control yourself, actions, and reactions. Self-discipline allows you to stay focused on your goals . It enables you to stay in control of yourself and of your reaction to any situation. Self-discipline becomes more powerful when combined with goal-setting, passion, and planning.

Importance of Self Discipline

Discipline helps in controlling our body, mind, and soul and to perform all our tasks properly. Discipline does not mean that you have to live a restricted lifestyle but it means that you have to do every task on time and in a systematic manner. Which gives more meaning and respect to your life. Therefore, self-discipline plays a crucial role in a person’s life.

How to develop self-discipline in life?

We should start learning discipline from the experiences of our parents. The following are some points to develop self-discipline.

Set a Goal 

Setting the desired goal helps students to focus upon the journey to a collection of set achievements. As your discipline gets stronger, you can spread the focus to more areas of your life. which means they allocate their resources and time more efficiently and can access motivation from the inspiring person during times when they may feel like giving up.

Find a role model of our life

After choosing your goal, fix a role model of your life. Who is inspiring you from the beginning Follow the way of the motivator to achieve success in life? as we grow, we may find someone else who better fits our situation and aspirations so we should replace some role models with new ones.

Try to find the challenges

Obstacles and challenges are part of what makes life interesting. This experience teaches a lot about how to overcome the situation. However, Practicing Self Discipline helps students to get many ideas on overcoming the challenges.

Always maintain positive thinking. Positive thinking leads a man to success. One who thinks that he can achieve the things will put his best to achieve success. Self-confidence, determination, perseverance, and hard work are the key factors of success.

Calculate your Progress

Calculate your progress before and after practicing self-discipline. If needed any improvements, try to improve by practicing self-discipline.

Self Discipline: Quotes

  •  “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn
  • “If you wish to be out front, then act as if you were behind.” – Lao Tzu
  • “We do today what they won’t, so tomorrow we can accomplish what they can’t.” – Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
  • “Winners embrace hard work. Moreover, They love the discipline of it, the trade-off they’re making to win.  Losers, on the other hand, see it as a punishment.  And that’s the difference.” –  Lou Holtz
  • “Discipline is the soul of an army.  It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.” – George Washington
  • “A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.” – Dalai Lama
  • “The successful person has the habit of doing the things failures don’t like to do. They don’t like doing them either necessarily. But their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose.” – E.M. Gray
  • “The only discipline that lasts is self-discipline.” – Bum Philips
  • “Discipline is the refining fire by which talent becomes ability.” – Roy L. Smith
  •   “With self-discipline, most anything is possible.” – Theodore Roosevelt
  • “If I want to be great I have to win the victory over myself…self-discipline.” – Harry S. Truman
  • “We must all suffer one of two things:  the pain of discipline or the pain of regret and disappointment.” – Jim Rohn
  • “I could only achieve success in my life through self-discipline, and I applied it until my wish and my will became one.” – Nikola Tesla
  • “Self-command is the main discipline.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Self Discipline: Images

Self Discipline Growth

Conclusion: At last, We hope that the provided Essay on Importance of Self Discipline for students and children helps students to prepare for an essay writing competition.

Dear Students and Children, you can download the Self Discipline Essay in the Hand Written Format by Clicking the Below Click Here Link.

Marty Nemko Ph.D.

How to Improve Self-Discipline

Author brian tracy offers suggestions—plus yes-ands and yes-buts..

Posted December 15, 2021 | Reviewed by Davia Sills

  • Some people do well to block out 15 minutes a day toward achieving an important goal that could otherwise be left undone.
  • A potent tool for growth: Meet regularly with a trusted person for a half-hour a week in which you discuss each other's goals.
  • Make it harder to do what you're trying to avoid.

 Geralt/Pixabay

Brian Tracy has written 80 self-help books with a core interest in self-discipline. He distills his advice on that in a video: 5 Hacks to Improve Self-Discipline This Year.

Here are those five tips plus my yes-ands and yes-buts.

1. Try time-blocking

"Set aside 15 minutes a day to work on your goal. Treat it as any appointment and show up on time…. After one month, you'll have spent seven hours on your goal."

The question is, how to motivate yourself to do it and stay with it? Might it help to write it in your daily calendar, say for just two days? That's not much of a commitment, yet perhaps enough time to help you decide whether it's worth calendaring it for at least one more day.

Or if your goal doesn't feel compelling enough to do even that, maybe you need a different goal. Perhaps something bigger, like a change-the-world goal. Or something smaller and more surely doable, like cleaning your home 15 minutes at a time, so you can feel better about yourself, thereby be more likely to accomplish other things, or so you feel okay about inviting someone over.

2. Get an accountability partner

"Someone who will check in with you periodically, and you can check in with them to help them with their goal. Many of us find it easier to let ourselves down than to let someone else down."

But what if you don't have a viable such partner? People often feel that way because they'd be embarrassed to ask someone. Might you not feel embarrassed if you frame it as, "We all like to grow, and I believe in co-mentoring. Because I respect you, what do you think of our trying a half-hour conversation in which we discuss an issue of yours, and then we discuss one of mine?" Here's more on co- coaching .

Still don't feel like asking someone? Then do you want to try sharing your goal with your social media followers? Just honestly report your progress or lack thereof.

3. Remove temptation

"Remove what will challenge your focus. If you're trying to lose weight, remove unhealthy foods from your home. If you're trying to cut spending, set aside a budget and put the rest in savings."

That can help, but you might more likely keep from buying that ice cream or spending beyond your budget if you create a mantra that reminds you of the key reason you want to achieve your goal. If it's weight loss, is it for your health, attractiveness , or to feel more comfortable in your clothes? If it's spending less, is it to avoid poverty, so you can live consistent with your professed environmentalist/non-materialistic values, or to stop your spouse from guilt -tripping you for overspending? If you want to stop your substance abuse , is it mainly to help your health, relationships, or work life? Try saying your mantra three times in the morning, again at lunch, and before you go to bed.

4. Have an aim, a purpose

That needn't be something earth-shaking—For you, something that big may not feel realistic . My typical client doesn't want to change the world but would be happy living in a decent home with a decent job, raising kids well, giving a little money or time to charity, and having some fun along the way.

So do you have one or more aims, large or small, that feel motivating enough for you to prioritize? If your goal is big, should you break it into baby steps? You might even draw a "thermometer" with the baby steps on the side, which you'd color it in each time you achieved one.

5. Eat that frog

"Tackle your ugliest tasks first. If your start your day with that, the rest will seem easier."

Here, I don't agree. One size doesn't fit all. Morning people who don't have more time-sensitive tasks to do might tackle a frog first. But other people might save their frogs for later in the day when it feels right.

The takeaway

Is there at least one idea here that you'd like to try?

I read this aloud on YouTube.

Marty Nemko Ph.D.

Marty Nemko, Ph.D ., is a career and personal coach based in Oakland, California, and the author of 10 books.

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Meaning of self-discipline in English

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  • anti-pleasure
  • ascetically
  • be in command (of yourself ) idiom
  • go steady on something idiom
  • golden mean
  • imperviously
  • mind over matter idiom
  • restrainedly
  • undignified
  • unsensational

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COMMENTS

  1. Essay on Self Discipline for Students and Children

    Self-discipline means self-control, which gives you inner strength and a way to control yourself, actions, and reactions. It is one of the most important and useful skills to achieve success and everyone should possess this quality. Self-discipline comes naturally to some people. And some people can achieve it with some effort.

  2. Self-Discipline: Definition, Tips, & How to Develop It

    Self-discipline is a beneficial skill that, luckily, can be learned. Learning self-discipline is likely to have positive impacts on many things, such as habits, money, work, and time management. To become better at it, start small but keep going—the more you practice, the better it gets.

  3. Importance of Self Discipline Essay

    Importance of Self Discipline Essay: Self-Discipline means having control over oneself; it provides self-control overreactions, actions, and oneself and boosts a person's inner strength. Self- Discipline is the most important skill a person should possess. ... Self-Discipline does not necessarily mean to live a controlled or restrictive ...

  4. Essay on Self Discipline: To Master Your Personal Growth

    Developing self-discipline requires intentional effort and practice. Here are step-by-step guidance and strategies to cultivate self-discipline: Define Clear Goals: Set goals that align with your values and aspirations by setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) targets. Break down bigger goals into smaller ...

  5. Self-Discipline

    Self-discipline is the power to manage a person's thoughts, emotions, or behavior in the face of temptation to achieve a specific goal. From this self-discipline definition, it is easy to see how ...

  6. How Self Discipline Can Improve Your Whole Life

    It Will Help You Achieve Your Goals. Self discipline can help you achieve both short-term and long-term goals. When you have self discipline, you are more likely to stick to your goals and see them through to the end. This is because you are less likely to get sidetracked or give up when things get tough. Whether you want to lose weight, start ...

  7. Self-Discipline: The Key to Unlocking Your Full Potential

    Establish daily routines and habits that support your goals. Tie a small behavioral change to something you already do, for example as part of your morning routine. Deeply understanding the meaning of consistency is often the key to building self-discipline. Learn to understand your impulses and avoid distractions.

  8. How to Be More Disciplined

    David Susman, PhD. 10'000 Hours/DigitalVision/Getty Images. Self-discipline is the ability to control your behavior in a way that leads you to be more productive and/or have better habits. It is proven to lead to increased success. Learning self-control and discipline early in life is helpful for decades to come, but it is never too late to ...

  9. Essay on Self Discipline

    Self-discipline is a cornerstone of personal development and self-improvement. It fosters resilience, enabling individuals to endure hardships and persevere in the face of challenges. Furthermore, it promotes time management, allowing for the prioritization of tasks according to their importance and urgency. This leads to increased productivity ...

  10. Why Self-Discipline is Important (11 Key Reasons)

    There are two reasons for this. First, as you get more self-disciplined, you will start making progress towards your goals, which will give you a sense of accomplishment. Second, you will start to create a positive feedback loop, which looks like this: Achieving more goals —> Increased confidence.

  11. What is Self-Discipline

    Self-discipline is a form of self-regulation, self-control or self-mastery—it is the benevolent exercise of power within yourself. Like a good king/queen leading the country to a happier, desired future. This exercise of personal power (self-discipline) is good for you. It leads to happiness, not repression.

  12. Essay on Importance of Self Discipline

    Essay on Self Discipline | Meaning, Importance, Impact & Influence in our Lives | Short Essay & Paragraph. S elf-discipline is an art of exercising maximum control over one's life, the choices one makes and the decisions one takes in one's life. Self-discipline is characterized by an individual working perfectly on already set goals or ...

  13. Transform Your Life with 6 Simple Self-Discipline strategy

    Setting realistic goals is another strategy for improving self-discipline. When you set achievable goals, it becomes easier to stay motivated and focused. Unrealistic goals can be demotivating and lead to procrastination. Setting realistic goals is a fundamental strategy that can help you improve your self-discipline.

  14. Self Discipline Essays

    Discipline, a term often associated with stringent rules and limitations, is in essenc, a potent force that fosters self-regulation, purposeful living, and personal growth. It forms the foundation for success across all life's spheres, including personal development, academic achievement, and societal harmony.

  15. Self-Discipline: The art of reaching your goals

    Additionally, self-discipline helps you to resist procrastination and maintain a consistent work pace which will further enhance efficiency. Better time management and productivity mean you can accomplish more in less time, leaving you with more time for other pursuits such as personal growth, leisure, or anything else.

  16. Self-Discipline

    A Definition of Self-Discipline. Self-discipline is the ability to push yourself forward, stay motivated, and take action, regardless of how you're feeling, physically or emotionally. You're showing it when you intentionally choose to pursue something better for yourself, and you do it in spite of factors such as distractions, hard work, or ...

  17. Essay on Self Discipline for Students and Children

    Self-discipline is self-control, which gives you inner strength and a way to control yourself, actions, and reactions. Self-discipline allows you to stay focused on your goals. It enables you to stay in control of yourself and of your reaction to any situation. Self-discipline becomes more powerful when combined with goal-setting, passion,

  18. (PDF) SELF-DISCIPLINE

    Self-discipline is currently defined as the. ability to regulate a nd correct oneself for self-improvement (University of the People, 2022; Collins Dictionary, n.d.; &, Merriam Webster Dictionary ...

  19. How to Improve Self-Discipline

    He distills his advice on that in a video: 5 Hacks to Improve Self-Discipline This Year. Here are those five tips plus my yes-ands and yes-buts. 1. Try time-blocking. "Set aside 15 minutes a day ...

  20. (PDF) Self-Discipline: An Important Concept, Advantageous to the

    responsibilities and in reinforcing self-discipline (10 Key Examples of Self-Discipline, 2019). Therefore, it can be stated that learning to forgive oneself and others is an important measure of ...

  21. SELF-DISCIPLINE definition

    SELF-DISCIPLINE meaning: 1. the ability to make yourself do things you know you should do even when you do not want to: 2…. Learn more.

  22. Discipline

    Discipline is used to "expend some effort" to do something one does not feel motivated to do. [28] Discipline is an action that completes, furthers, or solidifies a goal, not merely one's thoughts and feelings. An action conforms to a value. In other words, one allows values to determine their own choices.