5 Proven Methods For Gaining

Self Discipline
There are many important qualities that can contribute to a persons achievements and happiness,
but there is only one that begets sustainable, long term success in all aspects of life self
discipline. Whether in terms of your diet, fitness, work ethic, or relationships, self discipline is
the number one trait needed to accomplish goals, lead a healthy lifestyle, and ultimately, to be
happy.
According to a !"# study by Wilhelm $offman, people with high self control are happier than
those without. The study discovered this is true because the self disciplined sub%ects were more
capable of dealing with goal conflicts. These people spent less time debating whether to indulge
in behaviors detrimental to their health, and were able to make positive decisions more easily.
The self disciplined did not allow their choices to be dictated by impulses or feelings. &nstead,
they made informed, rational decisions on a daily basis without feeling overly stressed or upset.
'espite what many may think, self discipline is a learned behavior. &t requires practice and
repetition in your day(to(day life. To improve your own self discipline, test out these ) proven
methods for gaining better control. This regimen will help you to establish good habits, break
bad ones, and improve your control by making simple changes to your everyday routine.
&mproved self discipline will allow you to live a freer live by helping you to make healthy
choices, not emotional ones. *ive it a shot. +our happiness will thank you for it.
1. Remove temptations. ,elf control is often easiest when abiding by the old saying, -out of
sight, out of mind.. /emoving all temptations and distractions from your environment is a
crucial first step when working to improve your self discipline. &f you are trying to have better
control of your eating, toss the %unk food. Ask your office intern to leave you off of the daily
lunch order email. &f you want to improve your focus while working, turn off your cell phone
and remove the clutter from your desk. &f youre really having trouble, download the ,elf0ontrol
app on your computer to block distraction websites 1acebook, +outube, even e(mail for a set
period of time. ,et yourself up for success by ditching the bad influences.
2. Eat regularl and healthil. ,tudies have shown that low blood sugar often weakens a
persons resolve. When youre hungry, your ability to concentrate suffers as your brain is not
functioning to its highest potential. $unger makes it difficult to focus on the tasks at hand, not to
mention making you grumpy and pessimistic. +ou are much more likely to have a weakened
sense of self control in all areas of our life diet, e2ercise, work, relationships3 you name it. &n
order to stay on track, make sure that you are well fueled throughout the day with healthy snacks
and meals every few hours. & personally make sure to always have some almonds or 4uscle 4ilk
on hand. These snacks ensure that & can get a dose of healthy protein and fats throughout the day
when needed. 5ating often regulates your blood sugar levels and improves your decision making
skills and concentration. Allow you brain to focus on your goals and priorities instead of on your
growling stomach.
!. Don"t #ait for it to $feel right.% &mproving your self discipline means changing up your
normal routine, which can be uncomfortable and awkward. 0harles 'uhigg, author of The
Power of Habit, e2plains that habit behaviors are traced to a part of the brain called the basal
ganglia a portion of the brain associated with emotions, patterns, and memories. 'ecisions, on
the other hand, are made in the prefrontal corte2, a completely different area. When a behavior
becomes habit, we stop using our decision(making skills and instead function 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. +our brain will resist the change in favor of what it has been
programmed to do. The solution6 5mbrace the wrong. Acknowledge that it will take a while for
your new regime to feel right or good or natural. 7eep chugging along. &t will happen.
&. Schedule 'rea(s) treats) and re#ards for ourself. ,elf discipline does not mean your new
regimen needs to be entirely cold turkey, hard core, or drill sergeant(like in e2ecution. &n fact,
giving yourself 8ero wiggle room often results in failures, disappointments, and giving into your
old ways. While practicing self control, schedule specific breaks, treats, and rewards for yourself.
'ieting6 'esignate ,aturday as ice cream sundae day. Trying to lose weight6 Treat yourself with
a fancy massage after a month of gym trips. Working on controlling your spending6 Allow
yourself a 9) splurge at the mall on ,unday. :;eave the credit cards at home, and bring cash
only<. ,elf discipline can be hard. /eward your effort.
5. Forgive ourself and move for#ard. &nstituting a new way of thinking wont always go
according to plan. +ou will have ups and downs, fabulous successes, and flat out failures. The
key is to keep moving forward. When you have a setback, acknowledge what caused it and move
on. &t is easy to get wrapped up in guilt, anger, or frustration, but these emotions will not help
build improve self discipline. &nstead, use the hiccups in your plan as learning e2periences for
the future. 1orgive yourself, and get back in the saddle A,A=. The longer youre off your game,
the harder it is to keep going in a positive direction.