We’re all full of good intentions when we set goals. Unfortunately, we find it extremely difficult to keep our commitments. Why is that? Because we lack self-discipline. So how can we develop our self-discipline? Here are 7 powerful exercises to get and stay motivated and finally achieve your goals.

1 – List the reasons why

Self-discipline is based on our ability to remember why our goals and commitments are important to us and our lives.

That’s why I wholeheartedly invite you to take something to write about and go back over your current goal(s). For each one, list the reasons why it’s really important to you.

Example: Why do you want to lose weight, change jobs, find love? Why do you want to start a vegetable garden, learn a language?

Then copy out this list and put it on your bedside table. Reread it every morning! It’s ideal for boosting motivation and developing self-discipline.

2 – Work on your action plan

To develop self-discipline, it’s essential to know what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it.

That’s why I invite you to take a piece of paper and write down your goal(s). For each of them, list at least 5 actions you need to take to achieve your goal.

Then, for each of the actions you’ve just listed, list everything you’ve done to put it in place.

Finally, for each goal, prioritize all the actions you’ve listed: from the easiest to the most difficult, for example.

And start right away! One action at a time.

Keep working on your action plan every day, because it’s your best ally in achieving your goals. It’s because you don’t know what you have to do that you’re so lacking in self-discipline.

3 – Set yourself small 30-day challenges to develop self-discipline

In fact, to have good self-discipline, you don’t have to have any goals or projects right now. In fact, we can work on it with small 30-day challenges.

In fact, I wholeheartedly advise you to always have a small 30-day challenge on the go. Because self-discipline has to be worked on a little every day!

Here are some ideas for 30-day challenges: replace coffee with tea. Replace Nutella with jam. Walk 20 minutes a day. Read for 15 minutes every day for 30 days.

I invite you to create your 30-day challenge right here, right now, and start today. Tell me in the comments what your 30-day challenge will be, I’d love to hear from you.

4 – Engaging with others to develop self-discipline

Is there someone around you who is kind, but strict? In other words, someone who knows how to encourage you, but also how to “get angry” if you don’t keep your commitments?

If so, tell him/her that you’ve set such and such a goal and that you’re committed to doing this and that for so long or by X amount of time to reach it.

This way, when sometimes you don’t feel like doing what you have to do, you’ll show self-discipline, because you won’t want the person to get angry.

It’s a technique that works very well, so I wholeheartedly recommend it.

5 – Keep your inspiration at its peak

Self-discipline means remembering that we’re not the only ones who want to achieve goals, and we’re not the only ones who have doubts or find it difficult to keep our commitments.

That’s why I invite you to make a list of people who, for you, embody self-discipline, motivation, perseverance and courage. Look for personalities such as top athletes, for example.

Then read their biographies and find out more about their backgrounds. Find out if they’ve given advice on how to succeed, how to discipline yourself. Watch reports about them.

Learn from the mistakes and victories of others. You’ll go faster and further thanks to them.

6 – Sort out bad habits to develop self-discipline

We don’t realize it, but we have bad daily habits that prevent us from being self-disciplined.

Television and social networks, for example, are too time-consuming. What’s more, they bombard us with negative, even harmful waves.

So turn it all off. Instead, read motivating and inspiring books. What’s more, it’s better to exercise, to move your body, than to stay on the couch.

Finally, pay attention to your eating and sleeping habits.

Really sort out your bad habits, because the quality of your self-discipline depends on it.

7 – Having a role model to help you persevere when you lack motivation

Self-discipline means knowing how to persevere in moments of doubt and difficulty.

To do this, I invite you to look for an inspirational role model. In other words, look for someone who truly embodies self-discipline for you.

Then, when you start to have doubts, ask yourself what this per

son would do to be self-disciplined and persevere.

It’s a powerful tool! I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover Having regrets at the end of your life: 10 tips to avoid them!
Discover Willpower: Top 10 tips for overcoming laziness

In addition, I recommend this inspiring book:

The Road by Cormac McCarthy:

In a tragic post-apocalyptic world, a father and son struggle to navigate a wasteland. The story is a reflection on the discipline necessary for survival, and on the parent-child bond.
A captivating book from start to finish, but with a gentle touch. The relationship between the two characters is so well observed – it’s one of those books I looked forward to reading every night.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself.