Motivation vs. discipline: What really matters more?
intro
When it comes to achieving goals, it’s easy to get caught up in the concept of motivation. But motivation, much like many other things, comes in peaks and troughs.
Look, motivation is great, and it’s often the reason we feel positive about starting something new. Personally, I’ve felt motivated to start hundreds of projects. My documents folder is littered with partially started books but I have more unfinished projects than I have finished ones. And the reason for that is that motivation doesn’t tend to stick around for as long as it takes to reach a goal.
Is every successful person out there really motivated 24/7? Absolutely not. So what is the real driving force behind their success? That’s where discipline comes into play.
if motivation is the ‘why’, discipline is the ‘how’
In a world where we’re so used to instant gratification, we can find motivation dipping when we don’t see results fast enough. Take the gym, for example. It typically takes a few weeks of a consistent routine to see visible results and, if you’ve been working your butt off for 2 weeks already, it can feel a bit disheartening to see or feel the same as you did before - perhaps just with added tiredness. So on Day 15, when it’s time to get up for your 7am bootcamp class, you don’t feel motivated anymore and you hit the snooze button instead. Repeat this for a few days in a row and your new habit has been broken.
Enter: discipline.
Discipline is the driving force that keeps you working towards your end goal even when that motivation is flagging. Discipline is getting up at your 6.15am alarm so you can make that bootcamp class regardless of whether you feel motivated. And discipline is setting aside time every weekend to work on that passion project you cooked up a month ago.
How to apply discipline in your own life
Set your goal
Whether you want to complete a new creative project or reach a fitness goal, make sure you set something measurable and achievable.
2. Set your timeframe
Having a deadline in mind can help you keep up the pace and not dawdle. Want to run a half marathon? Book one! Fancy learning how to mix music? Set a date to showcase your skills to friends or family. Sharing your goal and deadline with others is a great way to hold yourself accountable.
3. identify roadblocks
Is your phone sucking you into a Tik Tok hole every time you sit down to ‘focus’? Put your phone out of reach, or switch on Airplane Mode if you need it for your task. It’s natural to procrastinate when you aren’t feeling totally motivated, but by identifying your typical distractions, you can put measures in place to mitigate their impact. Likewise, if you find it impossible to get up for your morning run, try moving your phone out of reach so you’re forced to get out of bed to turn it off and boom, you’ve jumped your first hurdle.
4. create a habit
Consider scheduling as your new best friend. Determine what time of day you are the most productive towards your goal. For me, it’s the morning. Then determine how long you can work on this goal before your productivity levels drop off. For me, it’s 4 hours. Now set aside non-negotiable time blocks - like meetings with yourself - to work towards your goal. For me, that’s painting between 9am and 1pm every Saturday and Sunday. Easy!
5. take a break
The last thing we want is to burn out. Hey, I’ve been there. And when you reach burnout it’s even harder to get up and go again. The best way to avoid this is to schedule breaks. Cramming in too much of anything is a recipe for disaster, and if your goal is physical, you risk injury on top of mental fatigue. So instead of planning to workout every day, plan a schedule that is manageable and prioritise quality sessions. Same with painting, writing, cooking, or whatever it is you’re working on.
6. reward your progress
Here comes the fun part. I don’t doubt that reaching your goal is a reward in itself, but there’s no harm in giving yourself something extra. Or rewarding yourself for smaller milestones. Like your favourite brunch after reaching a new personal best in the gym, or a movie and a glass of wine after a long day grafting. Go on, you deserve it!
Author: Clare Palmer
Clare Palmer is a Manchester-based artist, specialising in creating bold, colourful pieces in acrylic. See her work here.