1. Remove Temptations:
- Out of sight, Out of mind! Removing all temptations and distractions from your environment is a crucial first step when working to improve your self-discipline.
2. Don't wait for it to "feel right"
- Improving your self discipline means changing up your normal routine, which can be uncomfortable and awkward. When a behavior becomes a habit, we stop using our decision-making skills and instead functions on auto-pilot. Therefore, breaking a bad habit and building a new habit not only requires us to make active decisions, it will feel wrong.
3. Reward yourself
- Self discipline does not mean your new regimen needs to be entirely drill sergeant-like in execution. In fact, giving yourself zero wiggle room often leads to failures, disappointments and giving into your old ways. While practicing, set up mini rewards for yourself when you successfully stay committed to your discipline.
4. Forgive yourself and move forward
- Instituting a new way of thinking won't always go according to plan. You will have ups and downs, fabulous successes, and flat our failures. The key is to keep moving forward. When you have a setback, acknowledge what caused it and move on. It is easy to get wrapped up in guilt, anger, frustration, or self-pity. Instead, use the hiccups in your plan as learning experiences for the future. Forgive yourself and get back on the saddle ASAP. The longer you are off your game, the harder it is to keep going in a positive direction.
- Out of sight, Out of mind! Removing all temptations and distractions from your environment is a crucial first step when working to improve your self-discipline.
2. Don't wait for it to "feel right"
- Improving your self discipline means changing up your normal routine, which can be uncomfortable and awkward. When a behavior becomes a habit, we stop using our decision-making skills and instead functions on auto-pilot. Therefore, breaking a bad habit and building a new habit not only requires us to make active decisions, it will feel wrong.
3. Reward yourself
- Self discipline does not mean your new regimen needs to be entirely drill sergeant-like in execution. In fact, giving yourself zero wiggle room often leads to failures, disappointments and giving into your old ways. While practicing, set up mini rewards for yourself when you successfully stay committed to your discipline.
4. Forgive yourself and move forward
- Instituting a new way of thinking won't always go according to plan. You will have ups and downs, fabulous successes, and flat our failures. The key is to keep moving forward. When you have a setback, acknowledge what caused it and move on. It is easy to get wrapped up in guilt, anger, frustration, or self-pity. Instead, use the hiccups in your plan as learning experiences for the future. Forgive yourself and get back on the saddle ASAP. The longer you are off your game, the harder it is to keep going in a positive direction.