Leo T asked:
I have many goals and a strong desire to pursue them, e.g. waking up early, learning how to play an instrument, practicing my fiction writing, improving my programming skills, meeting new people, etc. Clearly, all of these are not doable, given the number of hours in the day (I’m a student and actually I have more ‘free’ hours than many people). But still – the gap between what I’d like to do and what I actually accomplish is too large – often I simply end up doing the bare minimum (I procrastinate a lot). How do I improve my self-discipline such that I can accomplish more of what I set out to do? This is a perennial question, but a lot of the self-help advice is either too simplistic or rubbish. Most of consists of: Well just set goals for yourself and do them. But that’s the crux of the problem. I’d like some strategies/heuristics/actions that work, even for those of us who are often disappointed with our will power. Anecdotes personal stories of your own especially help. Thanks
Gabrielle
I have many goals and a strong desire to pursue them, e.g. waking up early, learning how to play an instrument, practicing my fiction writing, improving my programming skills, meeting new people, etc. Clearly, all of these are not doable, given the number of hours in the day (I’m a student and actually I have more ‘free’ hours than many people). But still – the gap between what I’d like to do and what I actually accomplish is too large – often I simply end up doing the bare minimum (I procrastinate a lot). How do I improve my self-discipline such that I can accomplish more of what I set out to do? This is a perennial question, but a lot of the self-help advice is either too simplistic or rubbish. Most of consists of: Well just set goals for yourself and do them. But that’s the crux of the problem. I’d like some strategies/heuristics/actions that work, even for those of us who are often disappointed with our will power. Anecdotes personal stories of your own especially help. Thanks
Gabrielle
February 24th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Mariah
Your thinking too much, get into an exercise program. Healthy body/healthy mind!! things will fall into place after a little self discipline.
February 25th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Brady
Goals don’t work for me ether.
If determination does not work, then use your friends.
Let them know that you want to improve your self and would appreciate it if they would help you accomplish this feat.
Make sure they are persistent and demanding.
*The journy of a thousand paces begans with the first step*
(Good luck)
February 27th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Jordan
It sounds like you have many varied interests. I have had the same problem in the past…. but I have learned to make lists. Start by making a list of the things you do as you do them, and then placing a checkmark by that task. You will be pleased at how much you really do in a day. After you have that mastered, make a list before you go to bed, with just a few things that you would like to do and a few things that you know you will do. But be realistic in your goals. Cut things into small parts. If you are writing a paper for school, make sure you start early then you will not have to rush because you procrastinated. Stick to your lists and then reward yourself for following them.
March 1st, 2010 at 10:06 am
Andrew
It sounds to me like you are wanting the goals to all be accomplished quickly. Life doesn’t work that way, have patients and use baby-steps. You say you want to wake up early, so set your alarm for 5-10 minutes before your usual wake up time for a week, then 5-10 minutes earlier the next week and so on until you reach you goal. You want to play an instrument? Start by choosing what you like the best, then purchase the instrument. If you use your hard earned money on it you are more likely to follow through with your goal. Maybe take a class, or teach yourself. Do this with all of your goals, sit down and write it out step-by-step then hang it on your wall. Only try one goal at a time and once you’ve reached one goal move on to the next. Keep in mind that most goals take time. You can’t expect to wake up one day and be a great musician, you know what I mean? Good luck with your goals and please feel free to contact me if you need help setting up the steps for your goals.
March 3rd, 2010 at 3:55 am
Kaitlyn
You just have more and more excuses why you aren’t accomplishing your goals. The problem is no one can motivate you except for you! And if you aren’t accomplishing anything then maybe you have over extended the amount of things you wish to accomplish. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself for not accomplishing these things. Make a list of what you feel is your priority and just try accomplishing things one at a time. Maybe once a week you can attempt to begin some of these projects. If you cant do it once a week then you truly do not care about these goals.
March 3rd, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Jason
I found that celebrating my little victories encouraged me to work harder towards my bigger goals. I love how you mentioned that all your goals aren’t doable in a day.So what! Here is my story: My best friend wants to become a nurse. She has four children that will all be school aged next year. She feels that she doesn’t have the time to become a nurse. I took classes for 5 years, some nights, some weekends, some during the day while my kids were in school. I wanted it bad enough to do it. Anyhow, she is a stay at home mom. I asked her what else is she going to be doing over the next five years. If you do nothing you accomplish nothing. Take a night music lesson, you get to meet other people with your interests. Two goals down. Keep a journal of your struggles AND your successes. You stated that you are a student, take another class if possible in programming. My point about my friend was that if you don’t take steps to do what you want 5 years from now you will still be doing the same thing as you were. Gosh I hope that made sense.
March 6th, 2010 at 10:34 am
Abigail
How much sleep do you get?
Do you drink,smoke or partake of illegal drugs?
Are you eating properly?
What are your motivations for these projects?
How important are your goals to you?
Alot of us put things off as we tend to get overwhelmed and instead of doing a little each day,we tend to do nothing each day.
The goal you need to set for yourself is not a list of to do things but the idea of is this what the old me would do or is this what the new me is going to do.
Being overwhelmed over projects needs to be viewed in one way. . .like eating a 2000 lb elephant,you can only do it one spoonful at a time. Don’t try to do it all in one day.You will make yourself sick and end up throwing up and having another project to take care of.
Trying to do it all in one day we fail to meet our own expectations which were probably set too high to begin with and we give up.
As the saying goes,Rome wasn’t built in a day so give yourself a realistic deadline for accomplishing something and make a list of priorities of the things you want to do.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
Tyler
You have to want to improve your self-discipline. Sometimes it helps getting a buddy so you can support each other on these tasks. Yes, it’s very possible to get up early (set your alarm a half hour early then push it to an hour for a start and GET UP and moving). You can set aside 15 minutes during that time to sit in front of the computer after a quick three minute shower and type or write a paragraph or two. The Artist’s Way talks of morning pages, which can go up to three pages a day, just writing about anything and nothing that comes to mind. A paragraph a day is a start. Meeting new people? Join a wine tasting or cooking class or drawing class if that’s up your alley, pick up a local paper that shows what’s happening around town, and pick one thing to do a week and make sure to stick to it. It doesn’t have to be expensive. There are plenty of clubs and groups forming every day. Check your local community center for some tips. If you procrastinate a lot you have to work on yourself as to WHY you are doing the self sabotage. Because that’s what it is. Pick up the book The Artist’s Way – one chapter to read a week, with exercises you can pick and choose to do at the end of each. You can do it. I did and it’s been great. I take my time and don’t beat myself up if I skip a a day but I do write about why I skipped the next time I write.
If you value yourself, you will make it happen. One step at a time. Like an alcoholic or drug abuser looking to get clean, the first step is taking responsibility and admitting you have a problem and the second step is to WANT to do something about it with the third on equipping yourself with the information and tools to change things for yourself. If you say you’d like to but really don’t or find excuses to not do it, then you will continue to see yourself wallow in self-pity and misery with NOTHING done.
March 11th, 2010 at 5:46 am
Caleb
I’m still struggling with the same things myself!
But one thing I’m getting better at though is the waking up early bit. I’ve learned that if I set my alarm to go off 30 minutes before I actually need to and keep hitting the snooze button until it’s time to get up, I can get out of bed on time. And with the other projects, you may want to get your buddies to help you out. One enthusiastic gym rat buddy for the gym, one buddy who plays the guitar, etc. You get the idea. I tried the gym buddy idea once but unfortunately my gym buddy was as lazy as I am! 
Good luck with that! Let me know when you figure it out, okay? 
March 12th, 2010 at 1:13 am
Blake
Hi,
Stop procrastinating,get off yer arse and do these things or you will be 80 thinking why oh why did i not ……
I can think myself into not doing anything,thing is you have to start somewhere so i started with the guitar and i swear it was a buzz learning i know the basics to play any song now, i wanted to learn to drive but made up excuses why i couldnt, then i did, i am the sort of person if i think of something too long i find so many reasons not to do things,or ive thought about it that long its too late to do anything.
Never mind goals, i just sort of spontaneously decide what i want to do, like go to the gym, as soon as the thought enters my head im heading out the door,coz if i didnt i’d find a reason not to, and end up cabbaged indoors.
Its youre life and how you live it, ppl can tell you do this do that, but you have to think what do i really want to at least have accomplished,notice i said least? Youre the one that will look back and live with the choices you made,or should be making just now.
I adore music and if i have a lazy day i play my music and its amazing how it can give you a wee bit of a kick to go and do something new.
I really dont care if you take any notice of what i have wrote here, (nothing personal) but its youre life, try and fit in as much as you can
Enjoy,
regards
chelle.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:18 am
Isabelle
this is a decent site found on yahoo.
belief,want and desire are the answers as well as being realistic
mike
March 14th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Katelyn
Start by doing one thing for one week. By the end of the week, that will be a habit. I started running that way so at 5;30 every morning I wake up look really scary, brush my teeth and go for a run. It’s easier when it’s a habit. I don’t even think anymore. I just stumble out of bed and into my Nikes.
March 17th, 2010 at 6:40 am
Zoe
spank yourself
March 20th, 2010 at 4:30 am
Christian
look into your past
March 21st, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Michelle
reduce your goals