What Is Self-Discipline?

(A Definition)

Self-discipline is broadly defined as conscious control that is oriented towards successful

outcomes by overcoming obstacles or impediments (Zimmerman & Kitsantas, 2014). One of the
scientists at the forefront of self-control research, Angela Duckworth, defines it as “the ability
to suppress prepotent responses in the service of a higher goal… and such a choice is not
automatic but rather requires conscious effort” (Duckworth & Seligman, 2006, p. 199).

In the context of school, examples of self-discipline might include getting yourself up and into
class on time, paying attention in class instead of daydreaming or scrolling through social media,
choosing to do homework over watching a TV show, or doing difficult assignments
despite boredom and frustration (Duckworth & Seligman, 2006).

Why Is Self-Discipline Important?

There is a famous saying by Lao Tzu that says: “Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself
is true power.” This valuable insight resonates with what self-discipline is about—it’s about
getting control over your thoughts and behaviors and making them work for you, not against
you. The “true power” he refers to has implications in many areas of your life, from professional
to personal situations. And although we might intuitively know that mastering ourselves can
benefit us, perhaps some of the situations in which self-discipline is important might surprise
you.

Although most people might believe that IQ, memory, or standardized test scores predict a
student’s academic performance, researchers have shown otherwise. In many studies, researchers
have found that self-regulation (which is similar to self-discipline) predicts not only academic
outcomes but also which students would improve their grades over the course of the school year
(Duckworth & Seligman, 2005).

In addition, children who have the highest levels of self-discipline in preschool and primary
school were more likely to have fewer health problems, less problematic substance use, and were
better in terms of personal finances. Interestingly, young children who struggled with self-
discipline were three times more likely to have financial problems or be single parents (Moffitt et
al., 2011). In another study, low self-discipline predicted unhealthy habits, such as overeating,
smoking, unsafe sex, drunk driving, and noncompliance with medical regimens (Kochanska, Coy
& Murray, 2003).
Examples of Self-Discipline

Self-discipline includes many processes, such as planning, self-monitoring, and sustained effort
(de la Fuente et al., 2020). As you can see, self-discipline is an important life skill that has
implications in many areas, such as:

 Healthy habits. Having the self-discipline to get enough sleep, eat nutritious food, and
avoid bad habits, such as smoking, have great benefits for your mental health and
physical health.
 Work. Self-discipline is important for work and career because it keeps you focused on
reaching your goals, whether they are big or small.
 Money management. Making wise financial decisions includes being self-disciplined
with money.
 Emotion regulation. When you learn self-discipline, you make an effort to express
your emotions in healthy ways and learn coping mechanisms for stressful situations
or disappointments.
 Time management. Probably one of the hardest things to do in our society is apply self-
discipline to time management. But learning how to manage your time wisely can have
positive benefits for your personal and professional life.
How to Develop Self-Discipline

Self-discipline is a skill and anyone can improve theirs. It might take a lot of practice and might
require you to be patient and be kind to yourself, but it’s not impossible. Here are some ways
you could start developing self-discipline:

 Be aware. Every day you make decisions about how you live: what to eat, when to go to
bed, or whether you should send that passive-aggressive text. We can avoid temptations
or give in to them. For example, people often say that you should not go grocery
shopping on an empty stomach. Why? Because you are more likely to buy less healthy
snacks or other high-calorie foods (Tal & Wansick, 2013). You could practice self-
discipline by not buying junk food when you’re hungry, or you could practice it by not
even going to the store when you’re hungry. The goal is to be aware of what works for
you and implement those strategies regularly to create positive changes in your life.
 Figure out your “Why.” Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, highlights
that “Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how.'" When you find
your “why,” or the reason why you want to do something, you can remind yourself of
these reasons when things get difficult. This helps us sustain self-discipline even under
duress.
 Develop a plan. If you don’t know where you’re going, it might be easier to get
sidetracked. If this sounds like you, you can create an a clear action plan to follow on a
daily or weekly basis until you reach your goal. Whether you want to increase
good habits and reduce bad habits or learn a new skill, creating a clear plan will help you
get to whatever your definition of success is.
 Start small. The famous quote says: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one
single step.” Now that you have a plan, take a step. Start small. Don’t try to do everything
in one week, as this can lead you to feel overwhelmed and might even cause you to
abandon your plan.
 Remove temptations. Removing temptations can significantly impact the likelihood that
you’ll reach a successful outcome. In psychology, there is a theory called “ego
depletion,” which highlights that willpower is a limited resource, and we only have a
finite “reservoir” of mental resources to resist temptations. Every day, you use your
willpower to resist temptations until the “reservoir” runs out (Baumeister et al., 1998).
For example, if you’re resisting drinking three cups of coffee before lunch and then you
stop yourself from getting mad at a coworker, and then you hold back from eating pre-
dinner cookies, by the time the day is over, you might have fewer resources to resist other
temptations. So, you might want to remove temptations around the house (or on your
phone) if you’d like to increase good habits and set yourself up for success.
 Try time-blocking. The Pomodoro technique, very popular among busy students, says
that you should break up your work time like this: work uninterrupted for 25 minutes and
then take a 5-minute break—each of these is a Pomodoro. After four Pomodoros, you can
take a longer break of 20 minutes. This technique works because the session is long
enough to get some work done, but not too long that you feel overwhelmed.
Self-Discipline Insights From Marcus Aurelius and Stoicism

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor and one of the most important figures in Stoicism.
When he was an emperor, he used to write in his diary about life, reflecting on how to make
sense of the Universe and understand himself. His journal was later published as a
book, Meditations. Even though Marcus Aurelius wrote his thoughts almost 2,000 years ago,
many people turn to his lessons these days to find solace in the modern world (Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2018).

If you’re curious about ten important insights for self-discipline from Marcus Aurelius and
Stoicism, you can watch the video below.

Video: How to Build Self-Discipline

Tips for Self-Discipline

If you are starting a journey to become more self-disciplined, you might be curious about what
you can do to get better at it. Here are some suggestions you can try:

 Keep going. Success is never linear or easy. It’s important to learn how to tolerate
discomfort and learn from your mistakes. Just because you made a mistake does not
mean you’re a failure or you can’t be successful—it just shows you an area of self-
growth that can be used to your advantage. If necessary, adjust your plan, identify what
needs improvement, and keep going.
 Say positive and use motivating words. Repeating positive affirmations might help
you stay optimistic and remind you why it’s important to do what you planned to do.
Some affirmation examples include: “I have the discipline to accomplish my goals” or “I
do what needs to be done, even when I don’t feel like doing it.”

Motivational Videos for Self-Discipline

Another tip for self-discipline and to keep going with your plan is to watch motivation videos.
You can check the video below to give it a try.

Video: Self-Discipline

Affirmations for Self-Discipline

Talking to yourself in a positive way can keep you on track and make your path more pleasant.
Here is a list of affirmations for self-discipline that may help you stay engaged and motivated to
work towards your goal:

 “I am disciplined and determined to accomplish my goals.”

 “I am in control of my behavior and thoughts.”
 “I enjoy being self-disciplined.”
 “Today will be a productive day.”
 “Self-discipline is self-love, and I love myself.”
 “Today, I will break bad habits.”
 “I enjoy working toward my goals.”
 “I know what I need to do today to reach my goals.”
 “I’m freeing myself from all destructive doubt and fear.”
 “Each and every day, I am getting closer to achieving my goals.”

Yoga for Self-Discipline

Although yoga is an ancient practice, its benefits are frequently studied by modern science. With
numerous benefits for mental and physical health, such as improved mood, sleep, stress,
immunity, and overall mental health, yoga is a practice that is very beneficial for our
overall well-being.

Because in a yoga practice, you are connecting the body and the mind, it can help you calm
down and learn how to be more mindful of your body. Training your attention and
cultivating presence are not only important for yoga but also for self-discipline. Considering that
a key factor of self-discipline is the ability to repress an impulsive response that might undo your
commitment to success, bringing in what yoga and meditation teach you about being aware can
help you on the path to achieving your goals.

When you learn to control your mind and physiological responses to psychological stress, you
can achieve much more than you initially thought. This is why yoga may help you become more
mentally and physically disciplined, helping you to improve yourself in the ways that you want.
Self-Discipline Quotes

 “Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.” – Lao Tzu

 “With self-discipline, almost anything is possible.” – Theodore Roosevelt
 “Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” –
Abraham Lincoln
 “We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret and
disappointment.” – Jim Rohn
 “We don’t have to be smarter than the rest; we have to be more disciplined than the rest.”
– Warren Buffett
 “In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over
themselves… self-discipline with all of them came first.” – Harry S. Truman
 “The first and best victory is to conquer self.” – Plato
 “You can never conquer the mountain. You can only conquer yourself.” – Jim Whittaker
 “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle
 “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn
 “I think self-discipline is something; it’s like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the
stronger it gets.” – Daniel Goldstein
 “I can’t always control my thoughts but I can choose how I respond to them.” – David
Cuschieri