Transforming from Lazy to Disciplined: A Journey to Success
Written on
Chapter 1: The Importance of Discipline
To achieve your objectives, discipline is crucial. You may commit to going to the gym for a month, but the moment it becomes monotonous, you may find yourself quitting. People often make promises to themselves only to break them repeatedly.
The idea of talent is one I strongly contest. It frustrates me when individuals attribute success solely to innate talent. Even those who are celebrated for their accomplishments often dislike this notion, as it overlooks the countless hours of hard work and dedication that went into their craft.
Consider a renowned writer on Medium who produces captivating content. Many might assume that their success stems from talent. However, the reality is that their discipline and consistent writing practice paved the way for their achievements.
I have always been a generalist, capable of many things, but I've struggled to stick with one pursuit long enough to see it through. My tendency to jump from one interest to another meant I often left projects unfinished. Recently, I consciously decided to change this pattern, and I'm pleased to report significant progress, thanks to the following insights.
Section 1.1: Less is More
Let’s examine two different approaches to starting a fitness routine.
Scenario 1: An enthusiastic newcomer decides to overhaul their life through fitness and tries every exercise available. They end up sore and demotivated, struggling to return to the gym.
Scenario 2: Another beginner opts for a more manageable approach, beginning with just 10 minutes on the treadmill. They experience minimal soreness and return the next day to work on another muscle group.
In my opinion, the second scenario is far superior.
Establishing good habits is challenging, but you can make it easier for yourself by starting with the bare minimum. You don’t need to achieve monumental changes on day one—small, incremental steps are much more sustainable.
Daily actions accumulate over time. As Bruce Lee famously stated, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”
When training for a marathon, you don’t attempt to run the entire distance on your first day. Instead, you start with half a mile and gradually increase your distance as you improve.
Section 1.2: Finding Your Purpose
To succeed in any endeavor, you must have a higher purpose. You may work out to improve your health or study to become more knowledgeable.
Every objective requires a deeper motivation; without it, giving up becomes too easy. Each day, remind yourself why you rise in the morning. If your motivation to exercise is merely to fit in with others, you’re likely to falter.
One habit that profoundly influenced my life is daily prayer. Initially skeptical about the existence of a higher power, I’ve come to view prayer as an expression of gratitude and a means to be present.
This discipline has spilled over into other areas, allowing me to complete any task I commit to.
Chapter 2: Accountability and Planning
Do you remember the scene in "The Dark Knight Rises" where Bruce Wayne tries to escape from a prison? He initially uses a harness and fails repeatedly. However, when he climbs without it, the stakes become real—if he fails, he dies.
What shifted? When he removed the harness, he faced consequences, which spurred him to succeed.
Accountability is vital. If you don’t have any consequences for slacking off, it’s all too easy to give up. One effective strategy is to find an accountability partner. While it may seem cliché, it truly works; the embarrassment of not completing your tasks can be a strong motivator.
Section 2.1: Manifesting Success
If you wake up without a plan for the day, you risk wasting time scrolling through social media, wondering where the hours went.
Take a moment to outline your tasks for the next day. You can use applications like Notion or simply jot them down on a sticky note. Prioritize your tasks, tackling the most important ones first.
By doing this, you’re essentially manifesting your next day, which is a reliable strategy for enhancing productivity.
Subsection 2.1.1: Making Work Enjoyable
Every task includes elements that can be tedious. You may enjoy writing but dread submitting your work to publications. However, you can make the process enjoyable. Listen to music or have your favorite TV show on in the background while you work.
Over time, these tasks will feel less like chores, and you may even look forward to them. Implementing a reward system can also boost your motivation. For example, allow yourself to watch Netflix only after completing your tasks.
Making work enjoyable is a superb way to prevent burnout; when you’re having fun, it transforms into play!
I hope this article was insightful. If you’re interested in reading more of my work on Medium, consider signing up for a membership. For just $5 a month, you'll gain access to a wealth of articles while also supporting my writing.
Explore darticle.io if you're interested in turning your articles into NFTs for free.
The first video titled "Overcoming Laziness: Daily Habits To Take Back Control Of Your Discipline & Focus" features insights on building effective habits to combat laziness and enhance focus.
The second video, "How I Went from Lazy to Disciplined, and You Can Too," shares a personal journey of transformation and offers practical tips to cultivate discipline.