Many people have a misconception about motivation and think if something doesn’t motivate us it shouldn’t be done at all. We find ourselves giving something 20% instead of a 100% effort just because we aren’t motivated, but the truth is that motivation for the most of us fluctuates. It’s only natural to lose the initial passion and motivation you had towards something when you do it for a very long time. This is where discipline is important.
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.” – Jim Rohn
Athletes are intrinsically motivated therefore they often find it easier to resist temptations that could negatively impact them. However, it’s human nature to lose motivation and question why you are doing what you do and wonder if it’s even worth it. Hence discipline is the practice of maintaining and influencing your motivation.
5 ways to maintain discipline
1. Don’t expect for it to feel right – Some of us just expect motivation to always be there and when it isn’t we make excuses to have a lazy day. Yes you must forgive yourself for having these and rest when you need to, but to expect motivation to be there all the time may be slightly delusional. Sometimes we need to make a conscious effort to do something we don’t really enjoy at first for it to then motivate us, for example getting up early to get some work done when you least feel like it.
2. Set out some objectives and make a plan that will define your routine – Creating objectives is very important because it gives you a vision of what needs to be accomplished. Therefore you can make a plan to develop your daily routine. This can improve your motivation because with each task you complete at a certain time you’re ticking something off your list and that gives you a sense of achievement. Download our infographic that lays out an example of a routine to boost your motivation during the day.
3. Humans need breaks and rewards – When you want to motivate a seven year old to do their homework, you often tempt them with a reward. Adults are no different. Giving yourself something to look forward to enhances self-motivation.
4. Eat healthy and prioritise exercise – The phrase “you are what you eat” implies that a person is largely affected by their diet. Eating the correct food and having a balanced diet can have a positive impact on your wellbeing. Exercise is also very important when it comes to improving your quality of life. Considering gyms are closed, most people aren’t able to remain as fit as they normally would but you can always try doing things like Yoga and other stretching exercises from the comfort of your own home. Check out Bupa’s article on 10 Morning Stretches.
5. Remove temptations – Are you somebody trying to eat more healthy with just unhealthy food in your fridge? Or somebody that’s trying to revise but find yourself scrolling on social media after only 15 minutes of studies? The key to removing temptation isn’t always to get rid of it instantly but it may be to start by reducing it at first. Know what is tempting you and why, and then deal with it accordingly. If you aren’t used to eating healthy, start by reducing the amount of junk you have and increasing your fruit and vegetable intake. If you struggle with social media when revising, put your phone on downtime. Remember, sometimes removing temptations could also mean the kind of company you keep. Often, the people you’re around may not encourage you to achieve your goals and remain disciplined. If you find yourself in such a circle you may need to consider pulling yourself away.
There’s so many other factors that contribute to your levels of motivation but we hope that our top 5 have helped you.
Below you can download our Kickass Daily Routine Infographic for your use.
We hope that you have enjoyed our post and have taken something from it. Let us know what motivates you and how you keep yourself disciplined.
We look forward to hearing from you,
The Regeneration