Discipline

Interesting, I don't know if this will help, but here it goes. I too have a two hour limit on pure concentration then my brain starts to shut down, so I take a power nap about 20 minutes (I get about 6 to 7 hours of sleep per night & an early riser 4Am, but no alarm clock used) and I'm refreshed. I'm not saying that's the trick for you, it's for me, but the point each of us have unique biological clocks. All of us are wired differently, and we need to find it, that means experimentation. So find your rhythm first...

An excellent way to discover it or get you close is by looking at your siblings, and parents. They usually got their routines down if they're older (of course your parents are older) than you. Hope this helps, God bless you and your family!

Here's some basic common sense fact you probably already know but just a simple review a Handy Guide to Self-Discipline:

Self-discipline seems to be the thing that everyone else has. Few are fortunate enough to be so self-motivated that self-discipline isn't necessary. Self-discipline is the ability to do something that you don't feel like doing. We each have a limited supply, but we can grow our capacity for self-discipline over time.

Those with high levels of self-control have been found to be happier than those with low levels. It's believed this is due to reduced internal conflict. Those with less self-control are constantly struggling to make decisions between competing goals. Those with more self-control make decisions more rationally and much more quickly.

Increase your ability to control yourself:

1. Success without discipline is a myth. Successful people appear to have ten times more talent than the rest of us, but successful people work very hard to be successful. The ability to control your thoughts and actions creates success. Hard work requires discipline, because it usually isn't fun.

2. Avoid waiting until you feel inspired to take action. With all the forms of entertainment and distraction we have available, it's logical to assume that we should feel inspired to do the things that need to be accomplished.

• Quality of life and comfort are often at odds. Self-discipline can be used to engage in activities that aren't comfortable. Only then will you enjoy a high quality of life.

1. Learn to complete tasks. Let finishing become your code. Become a finisher. Regardless of the task, see it through to the end. Is the dish rack full, but there are still a few more dishes to wash? Make room and get it done. When you start something, finish it.

2. Do the hardest thing first. Your self-discipline is highest early in day. SO get that tough item crossed off your to-do list as soon as possible.

3. Learn to stay with discomfort. Do you have the urge to go to the kitchen for a snack? Make yourself wait another 30 minutes. Whenever you're feeling uncomfortable, make yourself stay with it just a little longer. Teach yourself that your discomfort is only a suggestion. You don't have to cave in.

4. Take time to enjoy yourself. This is the best way to replenish your willpower. Stress, hunger, and fatigue drain your ability to exercise self-discipline. So eat a good meal and get a full night of sleep. Take part in enjoyable activities.

5. Know your outcome. Whether the outcome is a shoveled driveway, a new bass boat, or a completed novel, be aware of the desired outcome. Self-discipline becomes easier when you're able to maintain a long-term perspective.

6. Develop habits. Creating a habit of vacuuming the living room every Wednesday eliminates the need for discipline. Habits are powerful. Put yourself on autopilot and use the power of habits to your advantage.

7. Meditate. Studies have shown that mediation strengthens the part of the brain responsible for self-control. Buy a book or find a local meditation group.

8. Use affirmations. When you feel your resolve weakening, recite positive affirmations to yourself. Keep your mind occupied on something positive while you get your work done.

9. Give yourself frequent breaks. Setting a schedule that's too aggressive will quickly diminish your self-discipline. Give yourself regular breaks to ensure that you stay alert and fresh.

How much self-discipline do you have? Your level of self-discipline can affect your diet, health, fitness, finances, career, and relationships. Self-discipline is a learned behavior, so you can develop your self-discipline if you choose. With enough self-discipline, you can achieve any goal once you've established your biological rhythm.

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Some strategies I've heard work :

~ start using the language of "wanting to study" instead of "having to study", that reclaims your autonomy and avoids a reactance response in your brain.

~ begin each chapter (or section) by skimming the material quickly, reading subtitles etc. Then ask yourself a bunch of questions that you expect to answer through studying. Really FEEL the curiosity and the desire to know the answer. Grow that feeling. That's a dopamine craving in action. Curiousity is so powerful a drive that it's the primary persuasive technique used in viral media and email newsletters. It's also what drives flow-state learning.

~ break up your work into smaller chunks and keep track of your progress like a progress bar on a video game (aka gamification).

~ celebrate each chunk's completion with a 'Yes! " and a power move, like smacking your first in your palm. That releases reward transmitters training your brain to like making progress on that work.

~ challenge yourself to complete each" chunk" of work faster than the previous one. Time yourself. Adding a short term, self-assigned challenge will generate fun feelings and forget accentuate your autonomy.

~ also take breaks to stretch, do 10 Jumping Jacks , take a few deep breaths , splash your face, get sunlight on your face, socialize briefly online or off-- but time yourself and get back to work. All those things make you feel better and more alert.

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A motto of mine that I constantly tell myself is "fuck how you feel, just do it."

Don't feel like going to the gym? Too bad, just do it. One foot in front of the other until you arrive at the gym.

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I had some success reframing everything in my head as a "positive" wherever I had a "negative". That doesn't mean to only be chipper/happy/etc, it means that mammal brains aren't able to "not" do something.

Impossible: "Don't stay up all night."

Do-able: "Turn everything off and go to bed when an alarm goes off at 10:00pm"

Impossible: "Stop daydreaming in class."

Do-able: "Take the best notes possible during class."

Impossible: "Don't waste time on reddit."

Do-able: "When I get home, I'm going to grab my notecard and pencil next to the door and write down 3 things I want to do before relaxing."

It's not possible to "not" do something, but we can replace it with a different behavior that is incompatible with the thing we want to "not" do anymore.

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