Getting up early, going to the gym and finishing your morning exercise routine and then having a whole day of full of energy is more uncomfortable than staying in your warm, cozy bed then feeling lethargic throughout the day.
Miss that workout and you start feeling bad about yourself.
The discomfort of eating in a caloric deficit and sticking to your planned nutrition habits of protein, veggies, fruits, and whatever carbs help you perform your best will likely help your gut, joints and overall performance than eating whatever you want because you’re feeling sorry for yourself while your clothes feel like they’re starting to constrict your body.
It’s ok to be hungry.
Putting your phone down in another room an hour before bed and sleeping in a dark, cool space will help your deep sleep more than doom scrolling in bed.
Quality, deep sleep is your most important supplement.
Having a seltzer or water at dinner is without doubt better for your recovery and brain health than of a glass of wine or a beer that’s being used as a “stress management.”
Accept the discomfort of discipline versus the status quo, being stagnant wherever you’re at.
You can do this by:
- Consider that the discipline you are striving for might be uncomfortable at first but in the long term it is an investment in your future self. A growth mindset accepts discomfort and discipline now to be a better version of yourself later.
- Reinforce your “good” habits. Plan your meals, exercise schedule, and sleep. Make what matters non-negotiable. The more you stick to your plan the easier the habits you want to reinforce become engrained.
- Start with small wins. Pick something you can easily change now that will help you build momentum. Pick one meal that you can change this week. Pick one day you will make it into the gym each week. No more phone or device use after 7pm every night.
- Remember your focus is on progress, not perfection. Be willing to fail over and over again. If you don’t get a win or an obstacle gets in your way, reframe how you approach failure and what you can do next time. Don’t be scared of failure, learn to adapt.
- Get comfortable being uncomfortable. This is not about taking cold showers, eating cauliflower bread, or meditating, it’s about accepting that change is hard. Take a step back when you need it. Visualize what you want and what action you can take. Breathe. Visualize. Do.
Discipline is uncomfortable until it becomes your routine and you start realizing that you’re gaining traction and making progress. The discomfort is there for a moment. Discipline will last you a lifetime.
Changing your diet, starting an exercise program, going to sleep earlier, not drinking, etc. It all looks uncomfortable and I suppose these things are. . .for a moment.