6 Ways to Develop The Self-Discipline

When a friend orders the salad instead of the fried chicken, have you ever heard someone say, "I wish I had that type of willpower?" It's as though they believe some people are born with extraordinary self-control. Self-discipline, on the other hand, is an acquired talent, not an intrinsic one.

A lack of self-control can be a serious issue. According to the 2011 Stress in America Survey, 27% of adults say that a lack of willpower is the most significant impediment to implementing healthy lifestyle choices.

Surprisingly, the majority of respondents believed they could improve their willpower. However, they believed that more free time was required to complete the task.

However, there is no evidence that more leisure time leads to more self-discipline. It makes no difference how much time you have. It is what you choose to accomplish with your time that matters.

Developing mental muscle, like a physical muscle, necessitates deliberate exercise. Your self-discipline muscles can be strengthened over time.

Here are six exercises to help you improve your self-discipline:

1. Recognize your shortcomings.

Ignoring your pitfalls will not make them disappear. So, whether it's eating cookies that sabotages your weight loss or checking social media that sabotages your productivity, admit your flaws. Recognizing your flaws is the first step toward making positive changes.

2. Make a detailed plan

You won't magically have superhuman willpower one day. Instead, you'll need a plan to help you strengthen your mental muscles.

You'll need a plan to put your objectives into action, whether you want to improve healthy habits like going to the gym more regularly or decrease bad habits like watching too much TV. Make a list of specific actions you'll begin taking on a daily basis.

3. Eliminate all temptations

If you keep junk food in your house, you will not develop the self-discipline needed to lose weight. Instead, you'll exhaust yourself by attempting to avoid every cookie, brownie, and chip.

Limiting temptations can help you gradually develop more self-control over time. Find an app that blocks access to Facebook if your weakness is checking social media every two minutes. If you can't stop yourself from overspending at the store, leave your credit card at home and only carry cash.

4. Get in the habit of putting up with discomfort

It's natural to strive to stay as far away from pain as possible. However, eliminating short-term discomfort frequently results in long-term issues. And every time you give in, you're telling yourself that you can't deal with stress.

Allowing yourself to be uncomfortable is a good way to prove to yourself that you can handle it. Train your brain to realize that pain isn't the enemy by running on the treadmill for one minute longer than you thought you could or resisting the impulse to pick up a cigarette.

5. Visualize the benefits

Remind yourself of the benefits you will receive if you resist temptation. Visualize yourself achieving your objectives and reaping the rewards of self-discipline.

Make a list of everything you'll gain if you stick to your goals. When you're about to give up, go over the list again. Spend a few minutes visualizing yourself succeeding and reminding yourself how you'll feel when you do.

6. Learn from your mistakes

You may persuade yourself to miss your workout if you're worried about a big presentation. If you're ecstatic about a large deal you just closed, you might persuade yourself to ignore your excellent habits.

Progress rarely happens in a straight line. And just because you make a mistake doesn't automatically make you a failure. Making mistakes is a necessary part of the learning process.

What matters most is how you recover from your mistakes. Self-discipline can be developed by learning from your mistakes and committing to do better next time.

Continue to Strive and You Will Be Rewarded

Improving your self-control is the key to living a more fulfilling life. Everyone has the ability to develop more willpower with a little mental strength training. The good news is that improving self-control in one area of your life can lead to increased willpower in others.