Are you wondering how you can develop and improve on your self-discipline? Maybe because you have come to realize it is one of the most important techniques to develop so we can get further in where we would like to go and become who we truly want to be.
As mentioned above self-discipline is one of the most important skills to develop. This skill teaches us to be able to be in control of ourselves with our actions, thoughts and emotions. Self-discipline is being able to choose what you focus on and what action you’d like to take. It takes practice to develop self-discipline especially if you are an individual who is naturally impulsive. However, incorporating some activities and techniques into your daily routine to work on being disciplined can allow us to overcome our impulsive habits.
SO LETS GET INTO THE 4 WAYS YOU CAN DEVELOP SELF-DISCIPLINE
MEDITATION
The first habit that is important to incorporate into your daily routine is meditation. Meditation is a key technique to improving self-discipline. Why? Because it improves your ability to focus and be in control, therefore, you can CHOOSE what you’d like to control and focus in and a bonus is you will feel good about it! Meditation can be in many different forms such as sitting in one place in silence and focusing on one thing; another is when eating – focusing on your food; taking deep breaths with the focus on the breath (mindful meditation) or even prayer.
Now these that I’ve mentioned are mainly mindfulness meditation and improves self-awareness which is what we need to develop self-disciple. But meditation has proven to have many benefits, so you’re not just going to be working on improving your attention but science has proven that meditation will help improve blood pressure, psychosocial adjustment of patients with cancer, relieve physical pain, reduce stress and many more.
COLD SHOWERS
yes, cold showers. Makes me shiver just thinking about it. I know it has so many great benefits and that it being it can help with concentration. Research has shown that cold showers can increase blood level of noradrenaline (norepinephrine) which functions in the brain and body as a neurotransmitter and a hormone and can help to increase alertness. So…there you go! Try cold showers! Something maybe I should build courage up and try too!
IMPLEMENTATION INTENTION
This is basically a strategy that can lead to better goal attainment. They are formed by a conscious act of will of if-then plan. So for example: If it is sunny in the morning then I will walk to work. So the idea here is that when you set a goal intention, it will create a sense of obligation to reach them, therefore you will implement them.
When you set the intention, you’ll be answering questions of how you’ll reach that goal and, therefore, plan it out in a statement that will include habits to reach the goal. Such as time, place, date and when. When one is committed to the goal, they will naturally develop habits that will give positive results.
EXERCISE
I am sure you have heard of this one. And well if you don’t, now you do. Exercise is a great habit to develop because it teaches you self-discipline by finishing a workout that you may find challenging, showing up to workout, and putting your focus on the workout itself. More than likely, you are pushing yourself beyond resistance which is basically what self-discipline is. You are pushing yourself to complete an activity no matter the challenges that are there, because you know the benefits and what it can bring you! If you think like that on things in life then you may just end up completing what is needed no matter what because you are aware of the benefits!
So what Self-discipline techniques are you already using or are planning to use? I know for myself, I am going to need to try the cold shower strategy and maybe increase exercise time!
References
Health+Benefits+of+Meditation.pdf (pbworks.com)
Adapted-cold-shower-as-a-potential-treatment-for-depression.pdf (researchgate.net)
