Staying Disciplined

TOP TIPS

There are more distractions in our lives than any time before. The internet alone gives us thousands of different ways to stray from our goals. Use the tips in this article to help you keep disciplined.

1. Project How Life Will Be When Goals Are Met:
   You have probably heard the term, keep your eye on the prize. It is a bit overused. Yet, it still drives home the point that if you have a goal that you really want to reach, focusing on the end result can help keep us on track. It gives you a purpose to do what is needed to meet the objective.
2. Project How Life Will Be When Goals Are Not Met:
   If your life is not going the way you want it, you need to make changes. If you have a goal to make more money or get another job, think about what life will be like if you don’t take steps to make that happen. This can be a great way to keep your discipline.
3. Figure Out How to Reduce Stress:
   Stress will be a big factor in not staying disciplined. It will be difficult to concentrate on what you want to accomplish when you are stressed out. Consider taking up exercise, meditation, and other ways to relax like massages. These have all been shown to help reduce the onset of stress. When your stress is reduced, you will have a much easier time concentrating on accomplishing your goals.
4. Put Accountability into the Mix:
   Try to find a way to hold yourself accountable for whatever activity or goal you are trying to stay disciplined with. For instance, perhaps you used to play a musical instrument and wanted to take it up again. One way to make that happen is to start playing in a band. This arrangement will require you to go to band practices and show up for gigs when you get them.
5. Look at Your Journey in a Different Light:
   Sometimes when we are focusing on staying self-disciplined, we frame it in a way that others have already shown us how to do. For instance, perhaps you are learning a new language. You have always been told that repetition is the way to learn. Look for other ways that may liven up the process. You could try something like playing games in the new language, etc.
6. Break Down Tasks into Subtasks:
   When we have some kind of goal or problem that seems too big to tackle, this can put up barriers within our mind. These barriers often prevent us from reaching the intended results. When this happens, consider breaking the end result into subtasks. This makes them more manageable and they can help us alter course along the way if needed.
7. Don’t Dwell on the Small Stuff:
   There are times when people will let unimportant items get in the way of their lives. This can hinder our focus and keeps us from reaching the desired goals. Do this often enough and you can just about forget accomplishing anything major. While you can’t ignore every little item that pops up, you can shift your priorities or get others to do it instead.
8. Join Support Groups:
   Support groups can really help when trying to stay disciplined. Whatever key area you are focusing on, there are likely to be groups available to join. If they don’t exist, consider creating one yourself. These groups have people that have been through what you are experiencing and can offer advice.

ACTIONABLE STEPS

FURTHER READING

1. The Power of Habit:
2. The Practicing Mind: Developing Focus and Discipline in Your Life:
3. The Willpower Instinct:
4. No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline:
5. How to Build Self-Discipline:

This report includes powerful tips related to Staying Disciplined.

It also includes 3 actionable steps you can take right away and a list of suggested reading for those people who are looking for even more information.

Dr. Jacqueline L. Knight © 2018

The Business Transformation Coach