quick self-discipline exercises

[jwh335]

I'm just looking to find some quick exercises that help develop self-discipline.
Example: turning the shower on cold and getting in. Stay in for about 5 minutes. Get out, dry off, repeat. etc..
Example 2: taking a vow of silence for a few days.

[Canarybird]

But how would these exercises help you?

Are you planning on saving money for a particular item by cutting out hot water heating?

Are you planning on becoming a benedictine monk?

If not I fail to see how these exercises would be useful. Wouldn't it be better to choose exercises that get you closer to your personal goals. For example, taking a regular amount of exercise if yours is a health goal, or committing to 1 hour of writing each day if that's where your aims lie.

Otherwise they just seem to be painful exercises for no concrete outcome.

[ogrekilleat]

Anything that requires self-discipline is a good exercise. So starting now, do anything you don't want to do.

[YourSelf]

Keeping the internet off for 1 week.

[supertom]

just draw a perfect circle, keep doing it until your happy with it. It will teach you to complete things.

[Paul C]

Limiting TV and/or internet time. Or get up early in the morning, at the same time ever day, then get dressed and ready straight afterwards. The last part is a habit that I instilled in myself about a year ago, so I wouldn't feel the need to go right back to bed after turning off the alarm clock.

[SaberToothDream]

it might help trying some meditation exercises. clearing you mind of all it's clutter and focusing on your breathing. my friend does this every morning for like fifteen minutes before going to work. she says it helps her focus.

[Steve Pavlina]

Some ideas:

• Get up an hour earlier each morning
• Try a veg*an or raw diet for a while
• Plan each day in advance and stick to your plan
• Read for an hour a day in your chosen career field
• Dress nicer every day for a week

You can easily build discipline in a way that benefits you instead of just doing exercises.

[The David]

I've found that rearranging objects around the house helps me overcome inertia. That's a little weird, I know, and I'm not like most people here, but if you have problems with inertia, doing small and seemingly pointless tasks may help.

[supertom]

i agree with david, thats how i get started sometimes

[mercuryrising]

I start by writing down what I am doing already in a specific area. Then I modify it slightly and keep track of the results. Like if I wanted to lose weight, I would start by writing down what I eat and what activities I do without judgment. Then I would make a slight modification and write that down. There's something about keeping track in an objective way that helps me.

I've never been able to make a sudden change that was lasting. And thinking about what I ultimately wanted didn't help me stay disciplined.

Meditation helped because, IMO, meditation is self-discipline in it's purest form.

[maxdof]

This could help:

How do I increase my self-esteem?

Cheers