Motivation or Discipline

What really gets things done? What really helps you crush goals and make changes in your life? Which way is best? Motivation or Discipline?

This can be a bit of a touchy subject. There are people who believe that you can achieve anything if you are properly motivated.

And then there is the other group that believes motivation is more or less a waste of time and that you can’t wait around for motivation to strike to get things done. You have to be disciplined and organized to make it happen for you!

It’s an interesting and important question. If you want to achieve something or are setting a new goal that pushes you to grow personally or professionally, you have to figure this piece out. As much as I would like them to, goals don’t magically reach themselves through wishing.

When I think about what works best for me I honestly thought I was 100% Team Discipline. I know I am a Type A person. I would get an assignment at work or set a new goal. I would make a plan, schedule it all out, stick to the plan and get it done. No problem.

But the last few years’ things seemed different. Or maybe it’s just that I am more self-aware than I was in my 20's. I can still set a goal, set my plan and achieve it. But if it’s something I am not passionate about, I will procrastinate until the last minute. It was frustrating. I knew I should be working on it but suddenly doing anything else sounded like a good idea.

Yeah, that counter sure is dirty! Better scrub the grout too. Those baseboards could use a cleaning. Oh look at that, I need to clean out my inbox again!

And then I read an article that helped explain why all the sudden I couldn’t just discipline myself into getting things done.

To get things done you need a healthy mix of motivation and discipline. And it may be different amounts of each for everyone and can vary depending on the situation.

I get asked a lot how I get up every morning at 5 am to work out. My initial answer is that I am disciplined and plan it into my day. I actually plan for it the night before, going to bed early enough to make sure I get enough sleep to be able to wake up that early. And that was true when I first started working out consistently about 4 years ago. But if I’m being totally honest, I do it because I like it! It’s not that hard for me to get up early to work out. I like how I feel after my work out and I like how I feel after working out in the morning. I don’t get that same feeling when I work out later in the day. It’s easy for me because I enjoy it. It’s not discipline, I’m motivated by feeling good after!

It’s different for everyone. I could never have gone to school for accounting. Does that mean I am not a disciplined person? No! It’s just that that major isn’t for me. I hate running. Does that mean I am not disciplined in my exercise program because I never run? No!

You can find ways of getting things done, of eating right or exercising or starting a new routine in ways that require less struggle and willpower but are instead a joy and internally motivating for you. And that may look completely different than your best friend, spouse or co-worker.

The next time you need to get something done or want to work on improving yourself in any area you have to figure out the best way for you. You have to figure out what situation, what time, what place and what setting will take the struggle out of it and get you energized. You have to figure out how you

Do you find you have better concentration in the morning? Then work on those big work projects then.

Do you need peace and quiet to work? Then make sure you bring ear buds to block out noise or close your office door and ask everyone to leave you alone for the next hour.

Do you like dancing but hate the treadmill? Then find a dance studio and that is your fitness routine.

Do you have have a sweet tooth you can't control? Then make sure you don't bring sweets into the house.

You can do anything with the right mix of motivation AND discipline.