3 answers
Ava
Student
New Bedford, Massachusetts
15
Questions
Asked
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How do i be more disaplined?
If there is one personal quality you can concentrate on while you are in high school it would be self discipline, and the best way I know of to develop this is through setting yourself a schedule and sticking to it. Your parents should be able to help you with this.
Paul S. Treuhaft, MD, MA
I am a sophmore in highschool and i want to become more disaplined, because i want to become a surgeon
3 answers
John Morris
Instructional Designer / Musician / eLearning Creator
38
Answers
Updated
John’s Answer
I had a problem with disciplne back when I was in college and I think that the biggest reason for it was because of the people I chose to associate with. They were all great people, and I am still friends with several of them, but I do believe that we were not a good influence on each other.
We would go out a lot, and do a lot of leisure things together like play ping pong and watch TV, but we did not do as much studying as we should have. Two of my best friends during my freshman and sophomore years did not come back after my second year. I don't know the reason for certain that they left, but I think they may have "flunked out." Not surprisingly, my grades got better my junior year when I was not as influenced by two individuals who had been unsuccessful in their college careers.
There were also people around the university that I saw every day who studied hard and avoided some of the less disciplined behaviours that I was indulging in. I generally avoided these people as I didn't think they were "fun" enough. But I started to get wise and associate more when them than I had before. I found study partners for my most difficult classes and we got together regularly to share notes and study. I found that studying was much more efficient and less tedious with a partner. For example, there was a very difficult class in which I got an F one semester. I retook that class the following semester, and studied with my partner, and got an A that time.
This is hard to write about, but it is true. If I had tried to model myself after that second group of people my college experience may have been entirely different.
Just as an aside, both of the individuals who left after my sophomore year when on to be very successful. One of them returned to school at another college and ended up getting a masters degree and the other attended a trade school at worked for decades in manufacturing. I imagine that they both wish that they had behaved differently and not squandered two years of college before they got serious.
We would go out a lot, and do a lot of leisure things together like play ping pong and watch TV, but we did not do as much studying as we should have. Two of my best friends during my freshman and sophomore years did not come back after my second year. I don't know the reason for certain that they left, but I think they may have "flunked out." Not surprisingly, my grades got better my junior year when I was not as influenced by two individuals who had been unsuccessful in their college careers.
There were also people around the university that I saw every day who studied hard and avoided some of the less disciplined behaviours that I was indulging in. I generally avoided these people as I didn't think they were "fun" enough. But I started to get wise and associate more when them than I had before. I found study partners for my most difficult classes and we got together regularly to share notes and study. I found that studying was much more efficient and less tedious with a partner. For example, there was a very difficult class in which I got an F one semester. I retook that class the following semester, and studied with my partner, and got an A that time.
This is hard to write about, but it is true. If I had tried to model myself after that second group of people my college experience may have been entirely different.
Just as an aside, both of the individuals who left after my sophomore year when on to be very successful. One of them returned to school at another college and ended up getting a masters degree and the other attended a trade school at worked for decades in manufacturing. I imagine that they both wish that they had behaved differently and not squandered two years of college before they got serious.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
391
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Ava,
You're absolutely right! Self-discipline is a cornerstone for achieving your goal of becoming a surgeon. It’s a skill that takes time to develop, but the earlier you start, the better. Becoming more disciplined is a great goal, especially if you want to pursue a career as demanding as surgery. Here are some steps you can take to build discipline:
1. Set Clear Goals: Define what discipline means to you. Is it about studying consistently, managing your time better, or staying focused during challenging tasks? Knowing your goals will help you stay motivated.
2. Create a Schedule: Plan your day, including study time, extracurricular activities, and relaxation. Stick to this schedule as much as possible. Over time, following it will become a habit.
3. Prioritize Tasks: Focus on the most important tasks first. If you have a big assignment or a test to study for, tackle it before other activities.
4. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Large tasks can feel overwhelming, but breaking them into smaller, manageable steps makes them more approachable and easier to complete.
5. Minimize Distractions: Identify what distracts you the most (e.g., social media, video games) and find ways to limit their impact. You can use apps to block distractions during study time.
6. Practice Self-Control: When you feel like procrastinating, remind yourself of your goals and why they matter to you. Sometimes, just getting started is the hardest part.
7. Stay Organized: Keep your study area tidy, and use tools like planners or digital apps to track assignments and deadlines. This reduces stress and helps you stay on top of things.
8. Reflect and Adjust: At the end of each week, reflect on how well you followed your schedule. If you notice any areas where you struggled, think about what you can do differently next week.
9. Build Healthy Habits: Discipline also comes from taking care of your body and mind. Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise regularly to keep your energy and focus strong.
10. Seek Support: Share your goals with someone who can help hold you accountable, like a parent, teacher, or friend. They can offer encouragement and advice when you need it.
It’s normal to face challenges along the way, but the key is to keep pushing forward and not give up. Over time, you'll see improvement in your discipline, which will help you in your journey to becoming a surgeon.
Best wishes!
You're absolutely right! Self-discipline is a cornerstone for achieving your goal of becoming a surgeon. It’s a skill that takes time to develop, but the earlier you start, the better. Becoming more disciplined is a great goal, especially if you want to pursue a career as demanding as surgery. Here are some steps you can take to build discipline:
1. Set Clear Goals: Define what discipline means to you. Is it about studying consistently, managing your time better, or staying focused during challenging tasks? Knowing your goals will help you stay motivated.
2. Create a Schedule: Plan your day, including study time, extracurricular activities, and relaxation. Stick to this schedule as much as possible. Over time, following it will become a habit.
3. Prioritize Tasks: Focus on the most important tasks first. If you have a big assignment or a test to study for, tackle it before other activities.
4. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Large tasks can feel overwhelming, but breaking them into smaller, manageable steps makes them more approachable and easier to complete.
5. Minimize Distractions: Identify what distracts you the most (e.g., social media, video games) and find ways to limit their impact. You can use apps to block distractions during study time.
6. Practice Self-Control: When you feel like procrastinating, remind yourself of your goals and why they matter to you. Sometimes, just getting started is the hardest part.
7. Stay Organized: Keep your study area tidy, and use tools like planners or digital apps to track assignments and deadlines. This reduces stress and helps you stay on top of things.
8. Reflect and Adjust: At the end of each week, reflect on how well you followed your schedule. If you notice any areas where you struggled, think about what you can do differently next week.
9. Build Healthy Habits: Discipline also comes from taking care of your body and mind. Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise regularly to keep your energy and focus strong.
10. Seek Support: Share your goals with someone who can help hold you accountable, like a parent, teacher, or friend. They can offer encouragement and advice when you need it.
It’s normal to face challenges along the way, but the key is to keep pushing forward and not give up. Over time, you'll see improvement in your discipline, which will help you in your journey to becoming a surgeon.
Best wishes!
Matthew Gleim
VP of Global Marketing
5
Answers
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
Matthew’s Answer
Hi Ava.
Chinyere posted some great steps for approaching a more disciplined approach to life, school etc. and I would agree to almost all of them. Another thing to consider if you can balance it with school is a part time job - specifically something managed like restaurant, retail, etc. The right part time job can introduce responsibility, provide structure and timelines, and teach you some life lessons around prioritization and routine creation. I started working for a delivery business when I was in high school and even the practice of getting up on time every morning during the summer, memorizing routes I took each day and setting the goals for how much I could get done each day set me up for success in other areas of life. It also gave me money which added another level of responsibility. Also, having a boss provides accountability. Good luck!
Matt
Chinyere posted some great steps for approaching a more disciplined approach to life, school etc. and I would agree to almost all of them. Another thing to consider if you can balance it with school is a part time job - specifically something managed like restaurant, retail, etc. The right part time job can introduce responsibility, provide structure and timelines, and teach you some life lessons around prioritization and routine creation. I started working for a delivery business when I was in high school and even the practice of getting up on time every morning during the summer, memorizing routes I took each day and setting the goals for how much I could get done each day set me up for success in other areas of life. It also gave me money which added another level of responsibility. Also, having a boss provides accountability. Good luck!
Matt
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