When most people first start their fitness journey, they tend to start with a goal and purpose. They are so motivated and go hard, it’s the all or nothing approach. But is motivation and discipline the same thing? Motivation is what gets you started and discipline is what keeps you going everyday. No one can be motivated 24/7, therefore you can not rely on your level of motivation to reach your goals, which is why discipline is so important.
This blog covers 5 strategies to improve self-discipline. Master these and start slaying your goals queens.
Get clear on your why
Why are you doing this? Have an answer top of mind whenever starting anything, from work projects to body goals. When you aren’t feeling motivated, your why will help you keep going and not give up.
Have a plan
Once you fully understand your why, putting together a clear plan will help you get started and will avoid confusion. Have you ever wanted to start a project but hold yourself back because you have no idea how to do it? Whether you hire a coach or are doing it on your own, create a step-by-step plan on how to achieve your goal. Your training program and nutrition plan are programmed together to meet your specific goal. Are you trying to gain muscle and create shape or are you leaning out? Your nutrition and training protocol have to be tailored around your individual needs and goals.
Understanding your triggers and overcoming them
We all have triggers that cause us to react. You can choose how you want to react by understanding the triggers. Such as stress at work may cause you to crave a soda, recognizing your trigger can help you plan your reaction. If you crave a soda, make sure you have a diet soda on hand so that you’re not reaching for the higher calorie item. If you love potato chips and can’t get enough of them (me), don’t stock your pantry with potato chips. Understanding what triggers you, will help you take charge and get ahead of them - setting you up for success.
Prioritization
Life is busy for everyone. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with work, personal duties, relationships and dieting. Oftentimes training and nutrition take a back seat and get deprioritized. Have you ever rushed out of your home and grabbed a random snack you have on hand to eat something? Have you ever pulled into a fast food restaurant and ordered a burger because you’re hungry and don’t have the time to cook everyday? We’ve all been there. Wrapping your head around making your nutrition and training your lifestyle and not just another “diet” will dramatically shift things for you, and only then will you get results. It’s a commitment you make to yourself to put yourself first. If you put everyone and everything before yourself, not only will you burn out, but you won’t be happy. Decreasing energy levels and increasing body fat percentages will leave you feeling drained physically and emotionally. Schedule a training session in your calendar and treat it as a doctor's appointment that you would make time for and never cancel. Make your lifestyle part of your everyday life and it will become routine.
Preparation
Being prepared and feeling prepared are critical to anyone's fitness journey. Meal prep is so important, it allows you to have your meals proportioned to the exact measurements required to meet your macros. It is very difficult to stay on track when you don’t have your meals prepared in advance. How many of you have eaten something random from the pantry when you’re hungry because you don’t have anything healthy prepared? I find meal prepping my main food items, such as, protein and starches on Sunday’s sets me up for success for the entire week. It’s hard work, but absolutely worth it.
I hope these tips help you master self discipline. You can apply these strategies to all areas of life, not just fitness. If you need a coach to help you with your fitness and nutrition goals, I’d be happy to help you. Book a free consultation today to learn more about my coaching style. I’d love to work with you.
xx, B