“Through self-discipline comes freedom.” – Aristotle

Are you stuck in a cycle of procrastination and lack of discipline that prevents you from reaching your goals? Don’t worry! Procrastination is pretty common, and most of us have faced it at some point or another.

What is procrastination? It’s the act of delaying or postponing tasks or actions by choosing to do less urgent tasks in preference to more urgent ones or simply deferring to doing some specific tasks altogether. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. I’m also sure you know that procrastination can lead to discomfort and stress. However, there is a way to take back control of your happiness. How? By developing habits of self-discipline.

In this post, we will go over how to become more disciplined to achieve all your goals in creating new habits. To become more disciplined:

• Set achievable goals and create an action plan
• Limit the impact of your distractions on your productivity
• Start a routine to execute your action plan

1. Set achievable goals and create an action plan

If you struggle with procrastination, it will help set achievable goals paired with a plan to achieve them.

Why? Well, that’s because it’s impossible to tackle all your goals at once.

How to set up goals? It’s an easy process if you follow these tips:

Tip 1: Know what you are capable of first and understand your boundaries.

Tip 2: Now that you know what you can do, think about your goals. What are the goals you need to achieve today, for example? Going for a 30-minute walk in the morning or preparing a home-cooked meal?

Tip 3: Break down your goals into small achievable goals. Use a to-do list if necessary. This will help you visualize what you are working towards.

The point here is to have smaller manageable goals that you can go through one goal at a time.

Tip 4: Work on a solid plan to meet your goals. It would be helpful if you worked on your plan keeping in mind the time and resources you have available. For example, if you are a student working on 10000 words essay paper to be submitted in 24 hours without any prior reading is the perfect recipe for disaster. To complete this task successfully, you will need more than 24 hours. You see my point, right?

Tip 5: Be consistent. Whatever your goal is, follow your plan as if your life depended on it. If you take the time to create a strong plan, there isn’t anything you can’t achieve.

I know it’s hard work, but with dedication, you will be able to achieve your goal. Take it one step at a time; before you know it, you’ll look back at everything you’ve accomplished with pride and admiration for yourself.

2. Limit the impact of your distractions on your productivity

When it comes to procrastination, distractions are the ultimate killers, leaving you feeling unfulfilled at the end of the day.

That’s why it’s essential to identify those distractions so you can eliminate them, boosting your productivity.

How? Here are some more simple tips to foster your productivity:

Tip 1: Identify your distractions. Think back about your daily distractions. What get in the way of your goals on a daily basis? Are they notifications on your smartphone? Is it TV or playing a game? Remember that anything that isn’t on your to-do list or daily goal is a distraction.

Tip 2: Once your distractions are identified, take proactive steps to minimize their impacts. It will allow you to focus on your assigned tasks at hand. For instance, if your notifications distract you, then it’s time to turn them off. If you constantly find something binge-worthy to watch on TV, move into a room with no TV. You get it!

The idea here is to intentionally choose to avoid distractions that you know always get in the way of achieving your goals. Remember, by taking control of your distractions, you are taking control of your productivity.

3. Start a routine to execute your action plan 

To become more disciplined and boost your productivity, you should create a routine, whether it’s daily or weekly.

Why? This will help you document and track your achievements day in and day out, providing you with a sense of accomplishment.

How? By following these easy steps:

Tip 1: Create a daily or weekly routine with the intention of reaching the goals. A daily routine gives you a clear vision of your goals and helps you focus on achieving them. You can find some tips on how to start a successful morning routine in this article.

Tip 2: Track your daily tasks with a to-do list or organizer so you don’t lose track of your goals. This will allow you to ensure that you’re making progress towards your long-term goals.

The idea here is to complete each task, ticking a checkbox to feel the satisfaction of another step closer to your end goal. For example, you can incorporate a daily journal or diary in your habits to track your progress and stay organized. Here is how you can start journaling to organize your daily tasks.

Tip 3: Prioritize the most critical tasks first. The idea here is to tackle the tasks on your to-do list one task at a time, from the most important tasks first to the least.

Tip 4: Take small breaks to recharge. When you step away for small breaks, you’re giving yourself a chance to catch your breath, relax your mind, and return to your tasks with renewed energy. Remember that small breaks throughout the day will help you feel positive.

Tip 5: Include tasks for work, personal projects, relaxation, physical exercise, lunch, food prep and any other commitment you may have that day or that week, like a dentist appointment.

Tip 6: Find an accountability partner if you need to, so they can help you stay on track. This is essential if you struggle with staying on track. You can choose a trusted family member, a friend or a mentor.

Having someone in your corner will keep you accountable. It will provide you with support and encouragement, too!

Tip 7: Remind yourself why you wanted this change in the first place. This will keep you motivated when times get tough along the way.

The idea here is to increase your chances of achieving your goals for less stress and much happier and more organized days or weeks.

What’s more, it’s simple and easy to incorporate this approach into your self-growth habits! So, try it out!

Conclusion

As you can see, becoming more disciplined requires lots of effort and dedication on your part to be successful in the long run.

It’s possible to acquire new habits to boost your productivity, though.

Committing to incorporating these steps into your daily routine will boost your achievement rate and give you a sense of fulfilment.

I hope these tips help you reorganize your days between personal goals, projects, hobbies or other things you want to achieve and feel truly fulfilled!