Keys to a Disciplined Life
Nobody is born with discipline, but anyone can live a disciplined life. It’s not a gift. It’s not a personality. It’s a mindset. It’s a buildable skill. Discipline is the daily decision to do hard things and to deny the flesh – to own your life rather than becoming a passive participant in it. Don’t be a victim. Discipline cannot be given. It must be taken.
Discipline equals freedom. Think about how much time you stress about being undisciplined. You could be free from that. Discipline allows you to be spontaneous and responsible. Discipline allows you to make the most of your circumstances – even when things aren’t great. Discipline makes the most of every opportunity. Discipline ensures that you’re always ready and capable to follow the call of God – whenever, wherever, whatever.
Discipline – The Verb
Do hard things: no excuses, no exceptions.
Knowing you should do something is not enough. Ask yourself, “Is it worth it to me?” Discipline demands the sacrifice of comfort; people do not easily give up comfort. You won’t do it until you truly believe it’s worth it.
Discipline doesn’t come free. Make the decision right now to change, and do whatever it takes. You were created in the image of God and filled with the Holy Spirit. It’s going to be hard, but you were created to do hard things.
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character…” (Romans 5:3-4; NLT)
When it gets hard, rejoice; difficulty builds character.
Self-talk matters. Stop saying, “I should”, “I will try”, “I wish”, or “I can’t”, and start saying, “I will.” There is a switch in your brain that you need to flip. Flip it, and don’t look back.
Example – Waking Up Early
If you want to wake up early, before you go to sleep, tell yourself, “I will wake up early tomorrow.” Don’t wait to see how you feel in the morning. You will feel like you want to go back to sleep. If you want to wake up early, wake up early – no exceptions. Don’t surrender to your first temptation of the day. Choose victory.
Discipline – The Noun
We all want more discipline, but we don’t want to do hard things. Instead, we complain and make excuses. We assume it’s easier for “disciplined people,” but a disciplined life is built upon the daily decision to do hard things. Discipline begets discipline. The opposite is also true; laziness begets laziness.
When you’re building discipline, you will be tempted daily to give up. Don’t. There will be days when you’re tempted to take a break or make an exception. Don’t. Stay on the path. Keep getting after it. No excuses, no exceptions.
Even if it doesn’t feel meaningful or productive or if it feels legalistic, do it anyways. If you’re not in the mood, do it anyways. If you’re tired, do it anyways.
Hard things are still hard for disciplined people, but disciplined people are no longer tempted to take the easy way out. Disciplined people have learned to deny the flesh. Disciplined people have learned to ignore the voice of temptation. Disciplined people have learned to do hard things by doing hard things.
We wouldn’t admire disciplined people if it was easy. Embrace the challenge. Do hard things. Become the person you admire.
Example – Waking Up Early
After weeks of making the difficult daily decision to drag yourself out of bed, it will become easier, but not because it’s easy. You may still feel exhausted when you wake up. You may still want to sleep in, but you won’t be tempted to do it anymore. You now have discipline the noun that you built through discipline the verb. There are no shortcuts.
Tips
Start Today
If your first step to living a disciplined life is to start later, you’ve already failed. You cannot become disciplined if you begin with procrastination.
Stop Looking For an Easy Path
When you look at the habits and lifestyles of disciplined people, you might think to yourself, “That’s crazy. That’s too radical. That’s too hard or too strict. I could never to that.” That’s why you’re still undisciplined and they’re not. Stop making excuses, and get after it.
Make a Plan, and Stick to It
It’s impossible to know whether or not your plan is working after a few days or even a few weeks. Stick to the plan for at least one month, and if it’s still not working, make a change. However, don’t change the plan to make it easier. Change it to make it better.
Make Decisions Ahead of Time
Making decisions is hard. Every decision is an opportunity for failure or procrastination. Make decisions ahead of time when you’re strong and are thinking clearly. Then, in the moments of weakness, there’s nothing to decide. Just execute.
Example – Waking Up Early
If you want to exercise in the morning, get your clothes ready the night before. Make your exercise plan ahead of time for the entire week. When the moment comes, don’t think. Just execute.
Stay Away From the Gray
When you’re building new disciplines, make it as black and white as possible–no exceptions. Gray area requires far more discipline and self-control.
Example – Sugar
If you want to eat less sugar, cut out desserts and sweet drinks entirely. Reintroduce them in moderation later once you’ve established discipline.
Procrastinate Later
If you feel like you need a break, procrastinate your break. Take a break tomorrow. At the end of the day, you’ll often realize that you didn’t need a break. You were just tempted to take the easy road.
Example – Waking Up Early
If you want to wake up early, some days you’ll wake up feeling exhausted and tempted to go back to sleep. Tell yourself you can take a 15’ nap later or you can “sleep in” tomorrow. It’s likely that after getting up and getting after it, you’ll realize you didn’t need more sleep. A lot of our fatigue comes from inactivity, not overactivity.
Where to Start?
Discipline begins with sleep
It’s very difficult to live a disciplined life if the first thing you do each day is to give into temptation. It’s also very difficult to live a disciplined life if you’re always exhausted from a lack of sleep.
Wake up early and at the same time every day. Pick a reasonable time to wake up based on your schedule. Aim for about 7-8 hours per night.
Put your alarm across the room, so you have to get out of bed to turn it off.
“Sleep in” on the front end. If you want to “sleep in,” go to bed early instead of waking up late.
If you have trouble falling asleep, waking up early for a few days (without napping) will cure that.
Time in the morning is more intentional than time at night. Nobody wakes up early to scroll.
If you “sleep in” the normal way sometimes, don’t “sleep in” too much. Think of it as attaching a nap onto the end your night’s sleep. Sleeping in too much or too often is like living in a constant state of jet lag.
Don't get on your phone for at least the first 30 minutes of the day.
Spend at least 30 minutes with Jesus first thing in the morning (or after exercising/showering).
Don’t touch your phone until after you’ve spent quality time with Jesus.
Don’t get on your phone for at least the last 30 minutes before bed (and never in your bed/bedroom if possible).
Pick a “Bible in a Year” plan, print it out (so you’re free from your phone), and do it.
For the average person to read the Bible in a year, it takes 12 minutes of reading per day. Stop making excuses, and get after it.
Exercise every day for at least 15 minutes. It doesn’t have to be intense, but do something active that increases your heartbeat.
Limit time on social media to less than 30 minutes per day. If you need more, use your computer.
Limit sugary treats to once per day (i.e. eat a small dessert after dinner). Don’t drink soda.
Take a weekly Sabbath.
Resting is not the same as being lazy. Find productive, restful things to do. Limit screen-time and passive activities. Get action, but get rest.
