The one time you want to be disciplined! 

The days of running from discipline are no more. You remember the days, when your parents dropped the dreadful “or else” when it came to referencing what could happen should you disobey. Well, as grown ups, it is time to look at the positive side of discipline. When you hear the word “wellness,” do you only think of nutrition, fitness, meditation, etc.? Well, think again because wellness is so much more than just those things. Yes, they are indeed fundamentals, but the biggest element you might ask…is discipline! But who wants to be disciplined right? We have tapped wellness advocate and certified nutrition advisor — Lykke Naenfeldt — to shed some light on why discipline is a better motivator than motivation.

“I'd say motivation is a feeling and discipline is a type of action. That is probably the biggest difference. Motivation depends on so many external  factors such as sleep, hormonal health, nutrition, joy, weather, etc., whereas discipline is the act of showing up for yourself even when you don't feel like doing so. Discipline can be a better motivator sometimes as the consistent act of doing something positive for yourself is going to take you closer to your goals and make you a happier person. That will give you much better chances of feeling motivated in the long run, in my opinion.”

Your 5 Point Disciplinary Action Form:

— Ready. SET. go.

“Setting clear and measurable goals is always a good start.”

— To see and be seen.

“Keeping your goals visible will make it easier to continue.”

— Self c̶a̶r̶e̶ nudge.

“Self-nudging is great to keep yourself on track. What I mean when I say self-nudging is preparing for your healthy habits before completing them and putting positive things in your way, such as making a nourishing breakfast the night before, laying out workout clothes next to your bed, placing a journal by your laptop or keeping fresh fruit at eye level in the fridge. All these small things will make it easier for you to follow through with the actions you were hoping to do.”

— It’s a marathon not a sprint. 

“I acknowledge that my body and mind need rest days and that's okay. Life is not a sprint and your goals are not going to come to you faster if you burn out.”

— Counting down the days.

“I also keep track of my cycle to be aware when my energy is typically higher and lower during a month. Just knowing that ‘Oh, today is supposed to be a tired day,’ makes me feel so much better about decreasing my to-do list.”

BONUS TIP:

"I've had the same morning journaling / gratitude / planning routine for years now and I absolutely love it. I take about 15 min to set my intention for the day, practice gratitude and plan the most important tasks — divided by life categories. I even plan my rest and recovery activities to ensure I make this a priority. I'm about to launch a planner during spring, so I’m hoping to share this practice with more people soon!”