People think they can start a new routine that will change their lives but don’t recognise half the struggle is developing the right mindset to stick with it over the long term.
Like New Year's Resolutions, these exciting new routines start off feeling amazing, giving you a new sense of progress and purpose but over time you find reasons why you might want to stop and do something else.
This is the difference between those who have discipline and those who don't. When times get tough and doubt creeps in, those with discipline prevail because they know no other choice.
We start to desire short-term pleasures over long-term growth and success. Disciplined minds know to stick with long-term growth and success
“Talent is nothing without dedication and discipline, and dedication and discipline is a talent in itself.” - Luke Campbell
Choice:
Having discipline means sacrifice. You have to focus on yourself and what you want. The most disciplined can justify why they are doing something over the short, medium and long term.
The most disciplined don't give themselves a choice, they have to stick to the routine or idea because they need to see it to the end.
You have the choice to make each day, do I want to do this activity again and continue my progress or will I let it slip and pick it up another day?
Discipline comes from continued practice and developing a mindset that short-term pleasures can come once all the other jobs are done.
We all have choices to make and these come with sacrifices in other parts of our lives. The question is, are you willing to make the sacrifice needed to see the changes you want in your life?
Over the last couple of years, I have set challenges for myself to try and develop my levels of discipline. These have been based around New Year's Resolutions where I have set a creative task to focus on for the year which I challenged myself to complete and show up each day or week to do so.
From each challenge I dealt with all the usual doubts of wondering ‘Why I am doing this?’ and thinking ‘There are better things I could be doing with my time’, but the one thought that always prevailed was ‘I’m doing this to prove to myself that I can.’
I’d chosen to challenge myself and if I’d given up then I’d given up on myself.
In a world where everyone is looking out for themselves, you can't give up on yourself because no one else is coming to save you.
So, from what I've learnt so far from improving my discipline, here are some of the things I learnt that helped me stick to my challenges and routines.
Start Small and Build Big
Don’t be too ambitious with what you want to achieve early on in a routine. Failure happens when you overcomplicate a routine and try to achieve too much too soon.
Understand that successful routines last longer because they are easy to start and finish but remember you can add to or ramp up the difficulty as you move forward to keep the challenge alive.
Routines are about turning up so make it easy to turn up and produce an outcome. Make sure you don't unnecessarily put obstacles in your way.
Time Slots
Initially allocating a time in the day or week to do this routine will help you stick to it because you can plan your time around it as you are getting used to showing up.
Consistency in the early days is vital and so doing the routine at the same time each day helps you fall into a rhythm. This can change once the routine becomes a natural habit and something you can’t miss but until it feels like that, the rigidity in time is essential.
Alongside this, knowing how long it will take will also benefit you because you can plan your time around it and make sure you don't miss out on the other plans in your day.
Knowing Your ‘Why’
Knowing why you are doing something gives you no excuse to stop. If your ‘why’ is strong enough then you have no reason for weakness and giving up.
Your ‘why’ should give you the motivation to want more from yourself and should be your strongest urge to move forward.
Your ‘why’ defines your progress and is personal to you. It gives you the belief that better is possible if you can achieve your goals.
Make sure you enjoy it
Having a successful routine has to bring fulfilment. Each day you do your routine you should feel proud, like it's a big job accomplished when it’s done.
The routine needs to be fun and feel progressive for you. it should not feel like a chore because that's when you'll find a reason to stop.
Maintaining a routine over a long period requires you to enjoy the process and the time you spend doing it.
Track your progress
When you can see the progress you will find more motivation.
Progress is small over the short term but can be life-changing over the long term.
Tracking your data and seeing where you have got to is a hugely motivating thing and shouldn't be underestimated, even if it’s just tracking the amount of time you have shown up for it.
Progress breeds more discipline and the ability to see it will just strengthen your commitment to your goals.
Remember: Discipline is an art conquered by those most willing to sacrifice.
There are so many distractions from short-term pleasures that only those with a true desire for more will achieve their dreams.
I am Will Flindall, host of the Valley of Outlaws Podcast where I speak to those who have decided to take control of their life and follow a passion or instinct.
If you feel like you could be getting more from your life, then maybe one of the conversations I’ve had with the Outlaws might help you kickstart a change.
Peace x
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