Discipline V Motivation. I am sharing more tips here on the second of the 3 habits listed below.Here are a few more thoughts on how to better balance Discipline v Motivation around our goals.
- Persist v Procrastinate
- Discipline v Motivation
- Analyse before you Rationalise
Habits that Help Ensure you Deliver on Your Goals
I’ve talked about how habits become automatic and work in clusters without us necessarily realising how they influence us and our belief systems in my article on persist and procrastinate. Let’s now look at how discipline can positively influence our motivation.
Discipline v Motivation
What’s the difference between discipline and motivation? Think of it like this!
Discipline is– What to Do (the ability to change or correct something you’re doing or not doing like change a behaviour).
Motivation is–Why to Do (the why behind the goal, the Jiminy Cricket in your ear, the voice that keeps you going when you think you can’t).
This difference is the reason why some people generally achieve their goals and also why some really bright individuals, who are motivated but lack self-discipline, don’t necessarily achieve them.
It’s easy to be distracted, we work and live in a 24 hour digital world – there is so much we want to see, learn and do around us every day – and it’s easy to fall into a pattern of not focusing on ‘the concrete,’ things that need to be done. It’s so easy to be distracted. So, we procrastinate at times. Yet we know that we need to focus on the one thing, that at that point in time, will make the difference. We are constantly in a balancing act of focusing, while simultaneously also not losing sight of how, what we are focusing on, fits into the big picture. This balancing act is exacerbated by the distractions and ways our digital world requires us to work. So, it’s not hard to see why a ‘balanced focus’ can be challenging to achieve and where discipline can help. Here are some tips to help with that.
6 Things to Do, to Improve Discipline and Increase More Lasting Motivation
- Create visual reminders – write down the reasons why you want to improve self-disciple. This creates an environment to help motivate you and builds discipline too. Display your reasons where you can see them regularly so they remind you of the ‘What’ and ‘Why’ to do.
- Use boundaries – Be definite about your focus on building self-discipline. Set a date, a time or event; mark the start of your focus in some way. For example, start on a Monday, or a Saturday – this is your marker, your boundary, the line in the sand to use as a measurement starter.
- Create a working plan – this is not a full Action Plan. Make a list of what you want to achieve each day for the next week or two. Put it up where you can see it OFTEN. Review and update it weekly so you can always see at least one week at a time. This helps to keep you on track doesn’t overwhelm you.
- Visualise. This is really important. Picture how what you gain from being more disciplined, improves your day. This visualising can positively influence your motivation – when you picture ‘the ‘Why’ – to do’ – research shows your motivation lasts longer, so too your self-control which improves and reinforces longer term discipline.
- Simultaneous rewards and kicks. Combine something you ‘like’ doing with something you ‘don’t like’ doing to help motivate yourself and get it done E.g. I like having a shower in peace but I don’t like getting out of bed in the morning, especially not 10 minutes earlier. Combined, the 2 things are more palatable – a bit like a ‘medicine wrapped in sugar. A simultaneous reward and a kick.
- Small steps. ALWAYS make changes using small, doable baby steps; or your brain is likely to automatically protect you against the change. When Self-discipline is strong, motivation not only flourishes, it lasts the distance. You’ll look back, not recognising where your ‘norm’ was before. Be patient, lasting change takes time – typically 6-12 months.Don’t overwhelm your brain, or it will likely automatically kick in and protect you from the change. That’s what brains are designed to do!Layer and integrate the small steps to change and build self-discipline, motivation and persistence into your actions. (‘layered integrating’ – refer to: Persist v Procrastinate – More Tips).
Summary: The key to success is to keep moving steadily forward each day, while keeping an eye on your working plan. No matter how small the step is on any particular day, lasting change will happen over time, typically 6-12 months.When a habit is established it can and does last. Reward yourself in ‘small’ ways as you go. This will build resilience too.
In the next article some tips on habit 3: Analyse Before You Rationalise. Let’s share soon.
Luciana Niven runs development programs for leaders to assess, build and measure resilience.
Luciana brings dedication, breadth and depth of experience to individuals and any strategic operations team, gained in a variety of senior positions,internal and external global consultancies. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge in Coaching and Mentoring, HR Facilitation, Learning and Development and Change Management. Building on this she designs ‘exclusively small group’ retreats in global locations that focus and support leaders, and individuals to direct and develop their own potential, with the space and time to ‘think,’ be coached and mentored over a week. You can contact Luciana for a chat and more information, click here: luciana@ldnivenconsulting.com