How To Be More Disciplined

Discipline is when you know you should do something but don't feel like it. So if you have a presentation, an exam, an app, or a workout, you should be doing, but you’re not, this is for you.

For you to be more disciplined, you could 'force yourself' but that's extremely hard. And it’s suboptimal. You shouldn’t try to ‘control the mind with the mind’. 

Instead, beat your limbic friction by changing your body’s state. Because what you label as 'friction' is not a mental block. It's a physical block.

Even when you’re very stressed or scared. Like, you can still do your work with fear, but you don’t. Why? Because your autonomic nervous system is stressed. So that’s a ton of friction. But, it’s something you can control.

To get more disciplined, or overcome limbic friction of “ugh I don’t feel like it”, change your physical state.

Example: if you need to work out but you prefer laying in bed more. Don’t start talking with yourself and nagging that you’re procrastinating. Instead, change your body. In this case, you need to be more alert, so do the easiest thing that gives you alertness. Like, active nose breathing, hard energizing music, or even food. 

If you’re stressed, but the task needs calmness (like studying), you can meditate, nap, or take a walk.

So let’s put this into practice for today. Please answer these one-by-one to know exactly how you’ll overcome intense friction. You can revisit the questions during the day.

• What's the task you're avoiding? (or you tend to avoid)
  Think of your answer…

• Does it need you to be calm or alert?
  Think of your answer…

• What will you do to enter that state?
  something like… breathe, walk, listen to music, close your eyes, etc. Choose one

Great. This action gives you discipline.

And that’s your action for the day. Use your body first.

You got this !