by Bailey Brown
Wondering how to maximize your success? One word: Self-discipline. Self-discipline is defined as the ability to control one’s feelings and overcome one’s weaknesses, and let’s be honest. That is no easy feat. More than that, it’s often hardest to take the first step and know where to begin. Self-discipline is a continual process that requires time, patience, and the willingness to begin. So, where do you start? Inspired by James Clear and his book, Atomic Habits, below you will find 5 secrets to success and the keys to creating good habits in order to begin your journey toward building better self-discipline.
“Good habits make time your ally, bad habits make time your enemy.”
James Clear, Atomic Habits
1. Design Your Environment
Whether we know it or not, environment plays a huge role in how productive we feel. Sometimes the difference in motivation and laziness is a simple as a cluttered desk versus an organized, clean, and simple one. Removing the things that can cause distractions or procrastination can increase productivity more than you might expect and maximize your success.
“The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision.”
James Clear, Atomic Habits
2. Make it Easy
Establish your habit before you build upon it. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by setting the bar too high. Pare it down to its simplest form and make it “bite-sized.” Be patient and try to make it as easy as possible as you begin. This will allow you to begin to build the habit while also enjoying little victories along the way.
“Every action you take is a vote for the person you wish to become.“
James Clear, Atomic Habits
3. Master the Entry Points
“The true habit matter comes in the form of the going to, rather than the being at,” Clear puts it. For example, if you decide you want to start going to the gym more regularly, willing yourself to get out of your house and take the journey is the first and most crucial step. Make this easy for yourself by deciding to work out before you get out of bed. Mastering the basics are key to implementing self-discipline and experiencing success in the workplace.
“Habits are like the atoms of our lives, each one is a fundamental unit that contributes to your overall improvement.“
James Clear, Atomic Habits
4. Join a Community
Those closest in community to us have the ability to either reinforce or alter our behaviors. Psychologically speaking, you are less likely to cheat on your goals if you know someone you admire or respect is watching. The logic is the same here. Have someone who knows you well or can speak into your life set goals with your and/or keep you accountable towards making positive action and experiencing success. Surround yourself with those who can push you forward so that the things you want to do become a normal part of your life.
“The most practical way to change who you are is to change what you do.“
James Clear, Atomic Habits
5. Use Variable Rewards
Whereas bad habits stay with us because of the immediate gratification we get, good habits have an opposite effect: only after a while do we begin to reap the benefits. Thus, give yourself little rewards along the way for the hard work you are doing and continue to incentivize yourself so that you can enjoy the process. While challenging at times, build habits shouldn’t feel like cumbersome chores. Focus on shifting your perspective from a “have to,” to a “get to” in order to maximize success.
“The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision.”
James Clear, Atomic Habits
Being a motivated person requires effort, even and especially when you don’t feel like it. But as you set goals and work towards success, implementing habits via tiny, single decisions will fundamentally change your life. You will find yourself living a happier life and becoming far more efficient, effective, and overall more successful.
Follow these 5 tips and you will discover success. Click to check out more blogs from Sophisticated Professional.
