Self-discipline; keeping focus & aiming for goals

Everyone has their goals, either being big or small. But only some actually achieve it. The key ingredient for achievement is self-discipline.

Self-discipline is one of the pillars of mental strength, it is when we are able to keep ourselves focused and determined to a task, while doing what we can to achieve them. It also includes time management, being organized and dedication; the ability to control ourselves.

Being disciplined not only gets you closer to your goals, but it also:

• Gives you a clear mind

• Makes you a better leader

• Gives you inner strength

• Helps overcome temptations, procrastination, and addictions

• Allows you to choose wisely and make the right decisions

It is a daily practice done by anyone with any goal, regardless of age, occupation, or where they live.

How do we achieve it? By doing the following:

Knowing how to achieve the goal

You have a goal in mind, do you know how to achieve it? Have you researched about it? How much do you know about it?

In order to do something, we first need to the steps. Search the web, go to the library, or ask around to build your knowledge. Try to have as much knowledge as you can, that way you always have backup.

Having a plan is also helpful, that way you can refer to it when you're lost on something.

If you know the ways on doing it and already have a plan, then you are already closer to your goal.

Start small

You definitely don't want to bite off more than you can chew, because you just started! Take your plan and break it up into steps, so that you're doing the right thing by the right time. Don't try to do everything at once, you should not look at your plan as a whole, but as steps.

Take your time when doing each step, you don't want to miss anything or do something wrong. If you rush everything and try to do everything at once, then you won't achieve anything and just give yourself extra anxiety and frustration.

Get a mentor

If you feel like you can't do it alone and you need a push, then you should consider getting a mentor. Having a mentor is always helpful. Not only do they teach you new things and help you reach your goals, their presence is also motivational.

A mentor could be your parent, a paid professional, a skilled friend or even someone online. They provide a plan for you and keep track of your success.

Know your weaknesses

As I mentioned in a previous article, knowing your weaknesses helps you stay more organized and helps you know where you should look for a solution.

Identify the things that you are not good at. You could either strengthen your weaknesses or avoid them. Regardless, you end up with a clear path and a clear mind when trying to get to your goal.

Track and reward

Keeping track of the things you do, allows you to look back at your journal and learn from your mistakes, while also remembering to avoid them in future tasks. It is also motivational to see how far you've come and how much you have grown since you first started.

Rewarding yourself is also motivational. Just knowing that there is something waiting for you on the other end of you journey, pushes you to keep going. You can remind yourself of the outcomes you will get once you finish the task, or you can reward yourself with the things that make you happy.

Be productive everyday

Everyday counts, but the amount of productivity doesn't, as long as you're productive. You shouldn't let a day go by unproductively; that's gonna hold you back from your plan. Spending days unproductively not only interferes with your mood, but also gets you behind on schedule.

During times when you're not feeling motivated, you could look for inspiration, read about the task or find motivation through different platforms.