16 answers
Ashley
Student
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1
Question
Asked
1474 views
How do you train yourself to be more self-disciplined?
I day dream wayyyy too much. But because of it I'm super ambitious. #selfimprovement
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16 answers
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1616
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
No personal success, achievement, or goal, can be realized without self-discipline. It is singularly the most important attribute needed to achieve any type of personal excellence, athletic excellence, virtuosity in the arts, or otherwise outstanding performance.
START WITH BABY STEPS
No process takes place overnight. Just as it takes time to build muscle, so does it take time to develop self-discipline. The more you train and build it, the stronger you become. In exercise, if you try to do too much at once, you could injure yourself and have a setback. Likewise, take it one step at a time in building self-discipline. So, begin by making the decision to go forward and learning what it takes to get there.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU
You can begin by learning about yourself! Sometimes it is very difficult to fight off urges and cravings, so know the areas where your resistance is low and how to avoid those situations. If you also know that putting pressure on yourself does not work for you, then set yourself up in an environment that encourages the building of self-discipline rather than one that sabotages it. Remove the temptations and surround yourself with soothing and encouraging items such as motivating slogans and pictures of what you want to achieve. Your willpower can go up and down with your energy levels so play energetic music to perk you up, move around, laugh. Train yourself to enjoy what you are doing by being energized. This will make it easier to implement desirable and appropriate behaviors into your routine – which is really what self-discipline is all about.
CREAT NEW ROUTINES
Once you have decided what's important to you and which goals to strive for, establish a daily routine that will help you achieve them. Make it part of your daily routine and part of your self-discipline building. Likewise, get rid of some of your bad, self-defeating habits, whatever they may be. They can put you in a negative frame of mind and hinder your self-discipline. A poor attitude can also be a bad habit. Learn to say no to some of your feelings, impulses and urges. Train yourself to do what you know to be right, even if you don't feel like doing it. Skip dessert some evenings. Limit your TV watching. Resist the urge to yell at someone who has irritated you. Stop and think before you act. Think about consequences. When you practice self-restraint it helps you develop the habit of keeping other things under control.
VISUALIZE THE REWARDS
There is nothing more gratifying than accomplishing your goals. Practice the technique that high achievers and top athletes do. Project yourself in the future. Visualize your desired outcome. Feel how rewarding it is and the countless benefits you will enjoy. Remind yourself what it takes to get there. If we are to be masters of our own destiny, we must develop self-discipline and self-control. By focusing on long-term benefits instead of short-term discomfort, we can encourage ourselves to develop of self-discipline. Ultimately our health and happiness depend on it. 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 out 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, or frustration, but these emotions will not help build improve self discipline. Instead, use the hiccups in your plan as learning experiences for the future. Forgive yourself, and get back in the saddle ASAP. The longer you’re off your game, the harder it is to keep going in a positive direction.
START WITH BABY STEPS
No process takes place overnight. Just as it takes time to build muscle, so does it take time to develop self-discipline. The more you train and build it, the stronger you become. In exercise, if you try to do too much at once, you could injure yourself and have a setback. Likewise, take it one step at a time in building self-discipline. So, begin by making the decision to go forward and learning what it takes to get there.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU
You can begin by learning about yourself! Sometimes it is very difficult to fight off urges and cravings, so know the areas where your resistance is low and how to avoid those situations. If you also know that putting pressure on yourself does not work for you, then set yourself up in an environment that encourages the building of self-discipline rather than one that sabotages it. Remove the temptations and surround yourself with soothing and encouraging items such as motivating slogans and pictures of what you want to achieve. Your willpower can go up and down with your energy levels so play energetic music to perk you up, move around, laugh. Train yourself to enjoy what you are doing by being energized. This will make it easier to implement desirable and appropriate behaviors into your routine – which is really what self-discipline is all about.
CREAT NEW ROUTINES
Once you have decided what's important to you and which goals to strive for, establish a daily routine that will help you achieve them. Make it part of your daily routine and part of your self-discipline building. Likewise, get rid of some of your bad, self-defeating habits, whatever they may be. They can put you in a negative frame of mind and hinder your self-discipline. A poor attitude can also be a bad habit. Learn to say no to some of your feelings, impulses and urges. Train yourself to do what you know to be right, even if you don't feel like doing it. Skip dessert some evenings. Limit your TV watching. Resist the urge to yell at someone who has irritated you. Stop and think before you act. Think about consequences. When you practice self-restraint it helps you develop the habit of keeping other things under control.
VISUALIZE THE REWARDS
There is nothing more gratifying than accomplishing your goals. Practice the technique that high achievers and top athletes do. Project yourself in the future. Visualize your desired outcome. Feel how rewarding it is and the countless benefits you will enjoy. Remind yourself what it takes to get there. If we are to be masters of our own destiny, we must develop self-discipline and self-control. By focusing on long-term benefits instead of short-term discomfort, we can encourage ourselves to develop of self-discipline. Ultimately our health and happiness depend on it. 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 out 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, or frustration, but these emotions will not help build improve self discipline. Instead, use the hiccups in your plan as learning experiences for the future. Forgive yourself, and get back in the saddle ASAP. The longer you’re off your game, the harder it is to keep going in a positive direction.
Thank You Dexter for your Continued Support. “Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” ― H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Doc Frick
Viviana Reyes Borace
Finance and accounting
2
Answers
Panama City, Panama
Updated
Viviana’s Answer
Hello Ashley,
Discipline is an important element in our day-to-day responsibilities and there are tons of different answers for this, however I would say that what works for me doesn't necessarily work for you.
That being said, the first thing I would suggest is to get to know yourself, understand what motivates you and what are those areas/responsibilities that you tend to postpone. Recognizing those will help you be aware when you are unconsciously procrastinating.
After that, I would also suggest you not to be so hard on yourself, day dream is not a bad thing, being a dreamer is an amazing thing, it's the first step to make them real! Just try to organize your schedule in a way that works for you, to help you have breaks and some ME time!
Take care, hope this helps you and keep dreaming :)
Discipline is an important element in our day-to-day responsibilities and there are tons of different answers for this, however I would say that what works for me doesn't necessarily work for you.
That being said, the first thing I would suggest is to get to know yourself, understand what motivates you and what are those areas/responsibilities that you tend to postpone. Recognizing those will help you be aware when you are unconsciously procrastinating.
After that, I would also suggest you not to be so hard on yourself, day dream is not a bad thing, being a dreamer is an amazing thing, it's the first step to make them real! Just try to organize your schedule in a way that works for you, to help you have breaks and some ME time!
Take care, hope this helps you and keep dreaming :)
Gaurav Kumar
Network Engineer
3
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Gaurav’s Answer
I would say start with simple things. Identify the things/tasks you want to include in your daily routine, It can be reading, playing musical instruments, fitness anything based on your interest.
Normally, it takes 21 days to build a habit but with passing days motivation to keep doing the planned things go down. Make a 5 minutes rule for every task. Try to do that particular task for at-least 5 minutes in a day. It sounds easy and this way mind can be tricked to start that activity at-least. If you enjoy then can continue for longer time as well. Over time, by practicing this simple thing, those activities can be a part of daily routine.
Hope it helps,
Cheers,
Normally, it takes 21 days to build a habit but with passing days motivation to keep doing the planned things go down. Make a 5 minutes rule for every task. Try to do that particular task for at-least 5 minutes in a day. It sounds easy and this way mind can be tricked to start that activity at-least. If you enjoy then can continue for longer time as well. Over time, by practicing this simple thing, those activities can be a part of daily routine.
Hope it helps,
Cheers,
Margaret McGaharan
Analyst
26
Answers
Jacksonville, Florida
Updated
Margaret’s Answer
Disciplining the mind is a crucial key to staying on track and ultimately reaching success. Discipline is not something that just happens overnight. To start, try doing some nonacademic/career based activities which require one to not let their mind stray down a thousand different paths. Some activities like this include meditation and yoga. The discipline you'll develop from these activities will transfer to other aspects of your life including the academic/career based aspects.
Dexter Arver
Senior Manager, Web Applications
232
Answers
San Jose, California
Updated
Dexter’s Answer
Hi Ashley,
There are some really good answers here, and I just wanted to a add to the chorus. :)
As a day dreamer myself, I also used to wanted to be more disciplined, and while I'm still working on it, I think I'm much better at it. :) For me, what worked was being inspired and setting goals for myself, knowing that I could change and the only way to change way to change myself. When setting a goal, it's important to set a realistic goal that you can measure. So if you want to be better at memorization, let just say, you have to set realistic goals that you can measure yourself against (e.g. fully memorize 1 song every week).
While everyone knows that setting goals is important, the breakthrough for me was to set a goal, but to break it up into really small tasks, so that I could do something about this goal everyday. I mean, some people say that they don't have discipline, but they brush their teeth everyday (or do something on a regular basis).
For example, I wanted to lose weight 3 years back. After being inspired by the One Punch man anime (I know this is silly, but hey, inspirations come from everywhere), I started trying to 100 pushups, 100 situps, 100 squats, and run 10km everyday. Obviously, I was out of shape and couldn't do all of that, so I just started with 10 pushups, 10 situps, 10 squats and 1 mile jog everyday. I then built that up to a regular exercise routine, and after 3 years, it feels really weird if I don't exercise everyday (kind of like if you forget to brush your teeth).
Like many things in life, learning discipline just takes practice. And practice is made easy if the task is small and simple. So don't start trying to build a pyramid. Just start trying to move some stones around. After you figure yourself out, you can then start levying heavier and harder tasks on yourself as you see fit.
I wish you the best, and thank you for such a fun question!
--
Dexter
There are some really good answers here, and I just wanted to a add to the chorus. :)
As a day dreamer myself, I also used to wanted to be more disciplined, and while I'm still working on it, I think I'm much better at it. :) For me, what worked was being inspired and setting goals for myself, knowing that I could change and the only way to change way to change myself. When setting a goal, it's important to set a realistic goal that you can measure. So if you want to be better at memorization, let just say, you have to set realistic goals that you can measure yourself against (e.g. fully memorize 1 song every week).
While everyone knows that setting goals is important, the breakthrough for me was to set a goal, but to break it up into really small tasks, so that I could do something about this goal everyday. I mean, some people say that they don't have discipline, but they brush their teeth everyday (or do something on a regular basis).
For example, I wanted to lose weight 3 years back. After being inspired by the One Punch man anime (I know this is silly, but hey, inspirations come from everywhere), I started trying to 100 pushups, 100 situps, 100 squats, and run 10km everyday. Obviously, I was out of shape and couldn't do all of that, so I just started with 10 pushups, 10 situps, 10 squats and 1 mile jog everyday. I then built that up to a regular exercise routine, and after 3 years, it feels really weird if I don't exercise everyday (kind of like if you forget to brush your teeth).
Like many things in life, learning discipline just takes practice. And practice is made easy if the task is small and simple. So don't start trying to build a pyramid. Just start trying to move some stones around. After you figure yourself out, you can then start levying heavier and harder tasks on yourself as you see fit.
I wish you the best, and thank you for such a fun question!
--
Dexter
Mike Fix
Lead-System Engineer
14
Answers
Frisco, Texas
Updated
Mike’s Answer
Hello Ashley!
Routine, Routine, Routine! :) For me, it starts with a routine, which includes both an end-of -day (EOD) and a morning routine as it pertains to work and remaining disciplined.
For example, for my EOD (actually, throughout the entire day), I plan & schedule open-ended items for the next appropriate day. This allows me to focus on current tasks, and not worry about having to remember the next task for the next day. (e.g. schedule and finish a software installation for Wed from 11-1; schedule a project retrospective meeting for Thurs at 9; read an industry related article Friday at 8, etc). I use the Calendar software on my workstation as my 'task list' and guide for activities I want to complete for the day, or week ahead.
Then, my morning routine, I review the day's calendar appointments, make adjustments to the schedule if I need, then focus in on the day's current agent. NOTE, and this is very important, give yourself some buffer time throughout the day to actually step away from your workstation (desk) to think, collect your thoughts, or to accommodate changes in the day's schedule which are bound to happen!
Thank you for the questions! Hope this helps!
Good luck!
Plan a morning routine. Write it down.
Plan an EOD routine. Write it down.
Routine, Routine, Routine! :) For me, it starts with a routine, which includes both an end-of -day (EOD) and a morning routine as it pertains to work and remaining disciplined.
For example, for my EOD (actually, throughout the entire day), I plan & schedule open-ended items for the next appropriate day. This allows me to focus on current tasks, and not worry about having to remember the next task for the next day. (e.g. schedule and finish a software installation for Wed from 11-1; schedule a project retrospective meeting for Thurs at 9; read an industry related article Friday at 8, etc). I use the Calendar software on my workstation as my 'task list' and guide for activities I want to complete for the day, or week ahead.
Then, my morning routine, I review the day's calendar appointments, make adjustments to the schedule if I need, then focus in on the day's current agent. NOTE, and this is very important, give yourself some buffer time throughout the day to actually step away from your workstation (desk) to think, collect your thoughts, or to accommodate changes in the day's schedule which are bound to happen!
Thank you for the questions! Hope this helps!
Good luck!
Mike recommends the following next steps:
Donald Lei
Sales specialist
3
Answers
Macau
Updated
Donald’s Answer
Dear Ashley,
There have many ways to be self-discipline. Moreover, difference people have difference ways to work for their self, in my opinion, I think this is similar with self motivation, you needs to know you goal and what you wants for in your life. There have some methods which is work for myself, I can recommend you to do with, such as make a timeline, sort-term goal or long-term goal, read some books which are relevant for self-discipline, or talk to people who you trust. BTW, day dream is not an useless, it’s some kind of innovation. It can help to find your passion and goal.
There have many ways to be self-discipline. Moreover, difference people have difference ways to work for their self, in my opinion, I think this is similar with self motivation, you needs to know you goal and what you wants for in your life. There have some methods which is work for myself, I can recommend you to do with, such as make a timeline, sort-term goal or long-term goal, read some books which are relevant for self-discipline, or talk to people who you trust. BTW, day dream is not an useless, it’s some kind of innovation. It can help to find your passion and goal.
Gloria Ortiz
Instructional Designer
850
Answers
Irving, Texas
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
I find the term "daydreaming" interesting. I think that there is a time and a place for daydreaming. I might also think of that time as planning time. You can plan your life in those daydreaming sessions. You can see the potential in some situations, work through what you might do in other situations. There is a time and place for daydreaming. I presume that you mean that day dreaming is about total fantasy that does not appear to have value in your every day life, maybe even used as an escape from what you are supposed to be doing. Many of the posts here have great advice on how to focus yourself on a task at hand. In your day-to-day life, having a TO DO list and small goals can help you stay on track. I have found that I don't really need much help getting on task at work because I am lucky enough to do something that I want to do every day. It happens to be my job. I would say that you can start to find that work in your daydreams. If you were asked to day dream about what you want to do as a job, something would come up. I have always wanted to be a writer, a teller of stories. I didn't see myself in my current job (Instructional Designer), but I knew at the core of my soul that I wanted to tell stories. When I couldn't do that, I would wander into daydreams where I could do that. Now as a learning professional, I tell people the stories of their jobs and how to do them well. I learned about telling stories in training as an instructor. A good story can be a clear way to explain a job, much more so than talking someone through a checklist. It can take some time to make the things that you dream about into reality. You have to try different kinds of jobs or different majors in college. Very few people do the job that they imagined for themselves at an early age. I hope that you find a job that is rewarding, one that lets you use both of your talents - dreaming and ambition.
Dora Cheang
Sales
6
Answers
Macau
Updated
Dora’s Answer
Hi Ashley,
I’m also a self-disciplined person. I always reflect myself and think what I can do better.
- Learn from role models
- Always remind yourself not to be lazy
- Keep your positive attitude and not to be affected by others
- Do not forget your intention and reason to be self-disciplined, this can help and guide you on the right direction
- Timely relax yourself, otherwise you will become so stressful
I’m also a self-disciplined person. I always reflect myself and think what I can do better.
- Learn from role models
- Always remind yourself not to be lazy
- Keep your positive attitude and not to be affected by others
- Do not forget your intention and reason to be self-disciplined, this can help and guide you on the right direction
- Timely relax yourself, otherwise you will become so stressful
Tareq Muhmoood
Group Country Manager (I manage a cluster of countries)
2
Answers
Singapore
Updated
Tareq’s Answer
There are so many productivity tools (To do lists / Keep etc). However, I still find making a list every morning of things i want to get done helps. Some days I get plenty done, and some days are useless. But the discipline helps. Another tactic could be settling alarms on your phone to remind you to do something. Hope this helps.
Aamod Ravetkar
Job
3
Answers
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Updated
Aamod’s Answer
Hi Ashley ,
Start Simple. Keep motivators around your work area – things that give you that initial spark to get going. ...
Keep Good Company. ...
Keep Learning. ...
See the Good in Bad. ...
Stop Over Thinking. ...
Know Your strength and weaknesses ...
Track Your Progress. ...
Read autobiographies ...
Help Others.
Start Simple. Keep motivators around your work area – things that give you that initial spark to get going. ...
Keep Good Company. ...
Keep Learning. ...
See the Good in Bad. ...
Stop Over Thinking. ...
Know Your strength and weaknesses ...
Track Your Progress. ...
Read autobiographies ...
Help Others.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6342
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Ashley,
How to Train Yourself to Be More Self-Disciplined
Self-discipline is a crucial skill that can significantly impact one’s personal and professional life. Developing self-discipline requires commitment, consistency, and the implementation of effective strategies. Here are some steps you can take to train yourself to be more self-disciplined:
1. Set Clear Goals: Start by defining clear and achievable goals for yourself. Having specific objectives in mind will give you a sense of direction and purpose, making it easier to stay focused and disciplined.
2. Create a Routine: Establishing a daily routine can help you build good habits and eliminate distractions. By following a structured schedule, you can train your mind to prioritize tasks and avoid procrastination.
3. Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing exercises, can help improve your focus and concentration. By being more present in the moment, you can reduce impulsive behavior and make better decisions.
4. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Large tasks can be overwhelming and lead to procrastination. Break down your goals into smaller, manageable steps to make them more achievable. Celebrate small victories along the way to stay motivated.
5. Eliminate Temptations: Identify potential distractions or temptations that may hinder your progress towards self-discipline. Create an environment that supports your goals by removing or minimizing sources of temptation.
6. Stay Accountable: Share your goals with a friend, family member, or mentor who can hold you accountable. Regular check-ins and feedback can help you stay on track and motivated.
7. Reward Yourself: Set up a system of rewards for achieving milestones or sticking to your routine. Positive reinforcement can reinforce good behavior and encourage continued progress.
8. Practice Self-Care: Taking care of your physical and mental well-being is essential for maintaining self-discipline. Get enough sleep, eat healthily, exercise regularly, and manage stress effectively.
9. Learn from Setbacks: It’s normal to face setbacks on the journey to self-discipline. Instead of getting discouraged, use setbacks as learning opportunities to identify areas for improvement and adjust your approach accordingly.
By incorporating these strategies into your daily life consistently, you can gradually enhance your self-discipline skills and achieve greater success in reaching your goals.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
Psychology Today: This source provides valuable insights into human behavior, including tips on developing self-discipline through psychological principles.
Harvard Business Review: Known for its reputable articles on personal development and productivity, Harvard Business Review offers evidence-based strategies for improving self-discipline.
Mayo Clinic: As a renowned medical institution, Mayo Clinic offers expert advice on holistic well-being, including tips on maintaining discipline through healthy lifestyle choices.
God Bless You,
JC.
How to Train Yourself to Be More Self-Disciplined
Self-discipline is a crucial skill that can significantly impact one’s personal and professional life. Developing self-discipline requires commitment, consistency, and the implementation of effective strategies. Here are some steps you can take to train yourself to be more self-disciplined:
1. Set Clear Goals: Start by defining clear and achievable goals for yourself. Having specific objectives in mind will give you a sense of direction and purpose, making it easier to stay focused and disciplined.
2. Create a Routine: Establishing a daily routine can help you build good habits and eliminate distractions. By following a structured schedule, you can train your mind to prioritize tasks and avoid procrastination.
3. Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing exercises, can help improve your focus and concentration. By being more present in the moment, you can reduce impulsive behavior and make better decisions.
4. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Large tasks can be overwhelming and lead to procrastination. Break down your goals into smaller, manageable steps to make them more achievable. Celebrate small victories along the way to stay motivated.
5. Eliminate Temptations: Identify potential distractions or temptations that may hinder your progress towards self-discipline. Create an environment that supports your goals by removing or minimizing sources of temptation.
6. Stay Accountable: Share your goals with a friend, family member, or mentor who can hold you accountable. Regular check-ins and feedback can help you stay on track and motivated.
7. Reward Yourself: Set up a system of rewards for achieving milestones or sticking to your routine. Positive reinforcement can reinforce good behavior and encourage continued progress.
8. Practice Self-Care: Taking care of your physical and mental well-being is essential for maintaining self-discipline. Get enough sleep, eat healthily, exercise regularly, and manage stress effectively.
9. Learn from Setbacks: It’s normal to face setbacks on the journey to self-discipline. Instead of getting discouraged, use setbacks as learning opportunities to identify areas for improvement and adjust your approach accordingly.
By incorporating these strategies into your daily life consistently, you can gradually enhance your self-discipline skills and achieve greater success in reaching your goals.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
Psychology Today: This source provides valuable insights into human behavior, including tips on developing self-discipline through psychological principles.
Harvard Business Review: Known for its reputable articles on personal development and productivity, Harvard Business Review offers evidence-based strategies for improving self-discipline.
Mayo Clinic: As a renowned medical institution, Mayo Clinic offers expert advice on holistic well-being, including tips on maintaining discipline through healthy lifestyle choices.
God Bless You,
JC.
Katherine ng
sales
19
Answers
Macau
Updated
Katherine’s Answer
You can start with your interests, or set goals to complete by yourself, and train your self-discipline
It sounds like you recommend that the student sets goals to build discipline. Do you have any tips on how to set good goals?
Gurpreet Lally, Admin
Simeon Snow
Risk Assurance
1790
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Simeon’s Answer
Self-discipline is a muscle that needs to be trained up. Build habits into your day to pursue your goals in small chunks. Find goals that are worthy of your time and effort and find ways to break up your bigger goal into smaller microgoals.
jennifer chou
acupuncturist, hypnotist, teacher
9
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
jennifer’s Answer
Developing self-discipline can be a challenging but rewarding process. Here are a few tips for training yourself to be more self-disciplined:
Set clear goals: Having clear, specific goals can help you stay focused and motivated. Make sure your goals are challenging but achievable, and break them down into smaller, actionable steps.
Create a plan: Develop a plan for achieving your goals, including specific tasks and deadlines. This will help you stay on track and make progress towards your goals.
Make a schedule: Establish a daily schedule that includes time for work, rest, and other activities. Try to stick to your schedule as closely as possible to help you stay focused and organized.
Limit distractions: Identify and eliminate distractions that might prevent you from staying on track. This might include turning off notifications on your phone or finding a quiet place to work.
Practice self-control: Practice self-control by resisting the urge to procrastinate or give in to distractions. This might mean setting aside time each day to work on a specific task, even if you don't feel like it.
Seek support: If you struggle with self-discipline, consider seeking support from friends, family, or a professional counselor or coach. They can provide encouragement and accountability as you work to develop self-discipline.
Remember that developing self-discipline is a process, and it may take time and effort to see progress. Be patient with yourself and keep working at it, and you will likely see improvement over time.
Set clear goals: Having clear, specific goals can help you stay focused and motivated. Make sure your goals are challenging but achievable, and break them down into smaller, actionable steps.
Create a plan: Develop a plan for achieving your goals, including specific tasks and deadlines. This will help you stay on track and make progress towards your goals.
Make a schedule: Establish a daily schedule that includes time for work, rest, and other activities. Try to stick to your schedule as closely as possible to help you stay focused and organized.
Limit distractions: Identify and eliminate distractions that might prevent you from staying on track. This might include turning off notifications on your phone or finding a quiet place to work.
Practice self-control: Practice self-control by resisting the urge to procrastinate or give in to distractions. This might mean setting aside time each day to work on a specific task, even if you don't feel like it.
Seek support: If you struggle with self-discipline, consider seeking support from friends, family, or a professional counselor or coach. They can provide encouragement and accountability as you work to develop self-discipline.
Remember that developing self-discipline is a process, and it may take time and effort to see progress. Be patient with yourself and keep working at it, and you will likely see improvement over time.
Judy Park
External Affairs | Community Connector | Resume + STAR Interview Coach at Comcast
20
Answers
Updated
Judy’s Answer
Hi Ashley,
I'm 41 years old and still a daydreamer. :)
It's taken a lot of years for me to understand who I am, what I am passionate about and what I am good at. I also find myself at work losing focus on the work that really feels like work because I see the "shiny, fun, that's totally me" projects on the side.
At your stage, its okay to daydream. I didn't know what I was good at or what I really wanted to do. I realized what I wanted to do when I was 25, 31, 35, 39, and at 40. They were all very different things but there was a common theme in every single one. (Youth Ministry to Child Custody Mediator to Family Therapist to Talent Acquisition to Resume/Interview Coach) The benefit of that is I learned about myself at every realization.
There's an old saying that goes, "He's a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none," used to describe someone who is good at many different things but not excellent at any one of them. That was me all the way up to year 39. I truly believe every single person has the ability to do one thing and master it. Mastering it means instead of scattering your gifts and energy in a million different directions, consider finding the one vocation you're called to do and then mastering it. Scattering your time and attention across different endeavors will almost assuredly lead to mediocrity not mastery. Whatever you choose to do, I hope you do it with the mindset to do it with excellence. Whether you make a dish, write a book for children, become a parent, present on new Marketing strategies- do it with excellence in mind.
P.s. Benjamin Franklin's original quote is "Jack of all trades, master of ONE." He was trying to say that while it is good to be well-rounded and have a wide variety of interest, skills, and hobbies, there ought to be one thing we go big on, that we sink our teeth into, that we pursue mastery of.
The biggest challenge I want to leave with you Ashley is this: Start your journey now and don't do it alone. Find trustworthy people in your life who know you and can help you explore and process your experiences. Being ambitious isn't bad nor is being a daydreamer but when it disservice you from being true and focused on your goals..thats when you need pause and refocus. Try different things. I try something until I realize I'm not interested or ..I can't bear it.
(Violin was my first hard pass after a year of lessons)
Good luck.
Judy
CliftonStrengths test by Gallup is a nice start to discovering your strengths.
Find a small group of trustworthy friends, mentors, family that can help you process your daydreams and experiences.
Keep a journal. List all your wants and the things you did. Write down your thoughts, impressions, conclusions, etc.
I'm 41 years old and still a daydreamer. :)
It's taken a lot of years for me to understand who I am, what I am passionate about and what I am good at. I also find myself at work losing focus on the work that really feels like work because I see the "shiny, fun, that's totally me" projects on the side.
At your stage, its okay to daydream. I didn't know what I was good at or what I really wanted to do. I realized what I wanted to do when I was 25, 31, 35, 39, and at 40. They were all very different things but there was a common theme in every single one. (Youth Ministry to Child Custody Mediator to Family Therapist to Talent Acquisition to Resume/Interview Coach) The benefit of that is I learned about myself at every realization.
There's an old saying that goes, "He's a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none," used to describe someone who is good at many different things but not excellent at any one of them. That was me all the way up to year 39. I truly believe every single person has the ability to do one thing and master it. Mastering it means instead of scattering your gifts and energy in a million different directions, consider finding the one vocation you're called to do and then mastering it. Scattering your time and attention across different endeavors will almost assuredly lead to mediocrity not mastery. Whatever you choose to do, I hope you do it with the mindset to do it with excellence. Whether you make a dish, write a book for children, become a parent, present on new Marketing strategies- do it with excellence in mind.
P.s. Benjamin Franklin's original quote is "Jack of all trades, master of ONE." He was trying to say that while it is good to be well-rounded and have a wide variety of interest, skills, and hobbies, there ought to be one thing we go big on, that we sink our teeth into, that we pursue mastery of.
The biggest challenge I want to leave with you Ashley is this: Start your journey now and don't do it alone. Find trustworthy people in your life who know you and can help you explore and process your experiences. Being ambitious isn't bad nor is being a daydreamer but when it disservice you from being true and focused on your goals..thats when you need pause and refocus. Try different things. I try something until I realize I'm not interested or ..I can't bear it.
(Violin was my first hard pass after a year of lessons)
Good luck.
Judy
Judy recommends the following next steps: