“Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty movements; you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways” – H. Jackson Brown Jr. (Author)

Self-discipline is simply defined as the ability to do things you know you should do to achieve goals without someone forcing you to do it. Failure to be equipped with this skill/virtue can ultimately affect the prospect of us achieving our goals.

Could lack of self discipline be the reason why you haven’t seen much concrete results, even though you know you have the talents and you have seen lots of motion, but not much to show for it? Let’s walk through these practical steps on how to turn things around and be more productive.

1.  Sort out your Priorities: First Things first! Sort out your priorities. This entails having a deep thought about the areas of your life that are most important to you. Write them down and include what disciplines you must begin to keep growing and improving in these areas then go ahead to create a growth plan to make these disciplines a daily or weekly part of your life. 
2. Establish your Why:  This means asking a lot of questions like why is this important to you? Why do I need to embed these disciplines into my life? Make a list of the reasons why practising them is important and make sure they are never out of sight. Read and visit the list often to keep yourself motivated, especially on days when you don’t feel motivated. What benefits will embedding these disciplines into your life bring?
3. Get rid of Excuses: Give yourself no room to quit later. Write out every single reason you can think of, that may not allow you to follow through with your new discipline. Read through them and actively? dismiss every single one of them by finding a solution to overcome them ahead of time. Remember, excuses are blockers – get rid of them!
4. Limit Distractions: This is important in order to maintain focus and enhance productivity. Take note of what commonly distracts you and create a dedicated workspace/environment void of these distractions. Manage notifications and make use of apps/tools that limit your use of social media, if need be.

“The best time to plant a tree is twenty five years ago…the next best time is today”

Never forget, it’s only in the moment of discipline that we have the power to achieve our dreams. 

So take action today. Plant the tree of self-discipline in your life today. Begin a routine of regularly scheduled actions of self discipline and make a difference in your journey!