I posted something on instagram last week where I talked about the lack of discipline being the main issue in regards to not achieving goals.
I saw a question from a follower on that post asking, “How do I build discipline?”
This is a great question so let's talk about it.
Discipline is essentially one's ability to stick a plan or rules that one has set for themselves regardless of the challenges or obstacles that might get in the way.
To be quite honest, there are some aspects of discipline that can't be taught.
A part of discipline comes down to will power.
I can't teach you to have will power.
You have to draw strength from within sometimes and ask yourself “How bad do you want to achieve your goals?”
With that being said, there are a number of things that you can start doing TODAY to build more discipline and get better results in all aspects of your life.
Let's dive in👇
1. Fitness: Focus on Consistency, Not Perfection
Discipline in fitness doesn’t mean training hard every single day—it means showing up regularly and consistently, even when you don’t feel like it. I cannot stress this enough!
Start with a an attainable, realistic schedule (e.g., 3-4 workouts per week).
Set smaller, specific, achievable goals like “just move for 30 minutes daily” or “get 7,500 steps.”
Track your progress to stay motivated—small wins over time = big results
2. Nutrition: Simplify and Build Better Habits
Rather than chasing perfection, strict diets, and removing every food that you enjoy, focus on sustainable habits.
Sustainability will pay off way more in the long run than going all out with some extreme diet for just a couple of weeks or months.
Plan meals ahead of time to avoid impulsive eating.
Keep healthy options available and accessible.
Remove unhealthy foods from the house as much as you can.
A lot of times if it's not there to eat you won't eat it.
Use the 80/20 principle: aim to eat healthy 80% of the time, and leave some room for flexibility and the occasional unhealthy meal or snack.
Discipline with nutrition is really about just making the better choices more often—it's not about being perfect with it all the time.
3. Mindset: Build Mental Resilience
Discipline in your mindset means sticking to the plan even when your motivation fades and when life kicks you in the balls.
Another reason why having a set structured routine to follow is key.
Start your day with intention: a quick journal entry, 5 minutes of mindfulness, prayer and or meditation to reinforce good thoughts for you and your loved ones and setting goals for the day is really helpful.
Catch and reframe negative self-talk as best as you can. Have more compassion for yourself and criticize yourself less. We create our reality.
When you're about to say “Fuck it” and eat some unhealthy food or skip that workout because you're tired, remind yourself why you started.Your “why” is your anchor.
None of this happens overnight that's for sure.
Building discipline is like building muscle—it grows with consistent effort and a lot of reps. Some days will be better than others.
The key is to keep showing up despite how you feel. Read that one again.
Make adjustments as needed, stay committed to the process and focus on small wins to keep positive momentum.
Ready to get more dialed in?
Talk soon,
Jay
