Regaining lost discipline

[dinc]

I used to be really disciplined/motivated in my younger years...Now, not so much. I've succumbed to a sort of malignant and creeping apathy. Dreams and goals have become unimportant to me, and this scares me quite a bit.

So, I've done what any good neophyte (no, I don't know what the word means) would do in this situation! I've become accountable to the internet! Failure is only bad when people are watching me fail... So now people are watching me!

I really need to get back my discipline, so I'm starting a sort of self discipline training mission:

* No sugar of any kind (soda, candy, etc.)
* No TV (1 movie a week with the family)
* No computer (Unless I'm blogging)
* 2 sets of pushups and pullups a day (morning and evening)
* Wake up at 6:00 everyday
* No naps during the day

This will be a 30 day challenge, and I'll be blogging it...Please kick me if I stop reporting!!...As a matter of fact, kick me anyways! I could use it :P.

Nitroviper, The exploits of
nitroviper2000@yahoo.com = kick me email.

[hugofortin]

Hi,

I know what you mean by 'lost discipline'. It happend to everybody. But, not everybody get back on track. You have to be strong to regained discipline.

So, good luck with your challenge. I'm sure that you will be able to do it.

bye

Hugo

[thenzengineer]

It seems you are dedicated to change, don't think you will have any problem in achieving them. Just keep at it and go hard.

[dinc]

Thanks for the support!

[Trezker]

Originally Posted by dinc

* No sugar of any kind (soda, candy, etc.)
* No TV (1 movie a week with the family)
* No computer (Unless I'm blogging)
* 2 sets of pushups and pullups a day (morning and evening)
* Wake up at 6:00 everyday
* No naps during the day

* No computer (Unless I'm blogging)
I suggest adding "Or doing research", though that might fall within your definition of blogging. I suppose you need to clear your inbox once a day too... Just saying "blogging" seems a bit too restrictive. Though, maybe you mean this harsh restriction is just for these 30 days?

* No naps during the day
You usually take naps? Might be counterproductive to completely remove all your naps. I'd suggest keeping one nap a day. A day is a long time to go without a little rest somewhere in the middle.

[dinc]

Originally Posted by Trezker

* No computer (Unless I'm blogging)
I suggest adding "Or doing research", though that might fall within your definition of blogging. I suppose you need to clear your inbox once a day too... Just saying "blogging" seems a bit too restrictive. Though, maybe you mean this harsh restriction is just for these 30 days?

* No naps during the day
You usually take naps? Might be counterproductive to completely remove all your naps. I'd suggest keeping one nap a day. A day is a long time to go without a little rest somewhere in the middle.

Ack, I guess I'm being pretty unclear. Actually, no computer simply means that I can blog and occasionally contribute to this forum. That's it.

I'm removing naps because I want to exhaust myself into a better sleep schedule. I usually stay up all hours of the night and then nap during the day. I'm thinking if I take away the possibility of a nap, I'll just collapse at the end of the day should this happen.

Well, I just posted a huge wall of text on my blog, explaining the nuances of the challenge, but I'll give you guys a summary.
(Blog's here by the way Nitroviper, The exploits of)

No TV, Computer, or Video Games
There seems to be a fundamental flaw with my challenge so far....I've succeeded in keeping myself from falling back on these time killers, but I haven't figured out what to do in their place. So...I've kinda spent at least fifteen hours so far just staring into space...quite literally.

I found that my apathy was rooted much deeper than it seemed to be, because I really don't want to do anything. I don't want to read, I don't want to draw, and it's too hot to take walks or anything....It's an odd and awkward quandary I've found myself in, and any suggestions would be good.

Geting up at 6:00 everyday
One slip-up when I got up at 6:14, but other than that I've been pretty good about this. It's actually really easy to wake up when you don't allow yourself time to convince yourself that sleep is better.

No sugar
A few accidental slip-ups here, but after the first two days I've remembered to avoid sugar, and that includes high fructose corn syrup too (of course), which cuts out a lot more than you'd think. A lot of fruit juices are off limits.

Pushups and Situps twice a day
I missed one session, but other than that it's gone well. I'm up to 17 of each (real situps..different than sissy situps. I can do tons of those.)

I'll keep you guys posted! Thanks for the support

[Trezker]

Now it's clearer.

Too hot makes your brain go "Ugh, I don't wanna"?
I have that problem too. You should figure out a solution to that.

I think it's possible to train yourself to handle heat better. Remember that sweating is the human bodys way of cooling down.
Clothes hinder air flow over your skin, which means the sweat just sits there instead of evaporating. So clothes keep you warm which makes you sweat more, bad cycle, you get sticky, itchy and irritated.

Drink lots of water, eat lots of greens and fruits. That helps with keeping your body cool too. Definitely avoid bad fats and sugar, they clog up your skin. I recommend that you never eat pizza, burgers, fries or cheese. Or at least stay away from them as much as you can.

[MartinP]

Hi Dinc,

Very inspiring to read about your challenge.

Just one observation:
You can think of discipline like a habit or virtue, that either you have or don't have. (and when you don't have it, you beat yourself up about it) Or you can think of it in another way:
With any particular task, if the REASON you are doing it is motivating enough, then you will keep doing it regardless of whether you feel like it or not, and not need to have "discipline".

Relying on "discipline" is what people do, when they don't have a strong enough reason to do something.

If I was told my child would be killed if I didnt do sit-ups each day I would probably do them, without needing to resort to "discipline" to make me do it.

So the challenge is not so much being "disciplined", but really spending some time, working out WHY you need to do it. And make the WHY really really strong. Thats the biggest challenge of all!

[dinc]

Originally Posted by MartinP

Hi Dinc,

Very inspiring to read about your challenge.

Just one observation:
You can think of discipline like a habit or virtue, that either you have or don't have. (and when you don't have it, you beat yourself up about it) Or you can think of it in another way:
With any particular task, if the REASON you are doing it is motivating enough, then you will keep doing it regardless of whether you feel like it or not, and not need to have "discipline".

Relying on "discipline" is what people do, when they don't have a strong enough reason to do something.

If I was told my child would be killed if I didnt do sit-ups each day I would probably do them, without needing to resort to "discipline" to make me do it.

So the challenge is not so much being "disciplined", but really spending some time, working out WHY you need to do it. And make the WHY really really strong. Thats the biggest challenge of all!

Actually this was very close to my own view a few months ago. I still believe it to an extent, and your way of wording it makes me want to pursue it farther, but I think it may only work in theory for me. I would sit down everyday and ask myself questions like 'What do I want to do?' and 'Why am I doing what I'm doing?'. Eventually I just came to answer the first question with 'Nothing' and the second question with 'I don't know.'

@Trezker

The heat just started a week or two ago, before that it was nice and cool, so I don't think it contributed to the formation of the problem, but it still might be a factor to consider... This challenge has caused me to drink more water, and eat healthier, and I do feel better for it.

[nhaasch]

*kicks dinc*

How is the mission going?

[dinc]

Originally Posted by nhaasch

*kicks dinc*

How is the mission going?

Lol, it's going alright. Thanks for the kick. A little tough love can do wonders for one's motivation.


I'll be writing another big blog post on my progress, but for now I have one interesting bit of info. I've always HATED endurance running. Whenever I tried to do it, even at the slowest pace, I'd feel nauseous after five minutes or so. I sucked so bad at it, but just today, after following the rules of the trial for nearly a week, I ran at near sprinting level for fifteen minutes and was doing MUCH better physically. Interesting indeed.

[dinc]

Ha ha! (Not a last, but an introductory phrase of some sort)

I am back with an update on my progress. This challenge is taking me in interesting directions so far.

I've got to go, so I can't summarize the blog post for the sake of this forum post, so here's the link:

Regaining Self Discipline Part 2

Any advice, comments, flames, or love letters are welcome.

Oh, BTW, Trezker now has the right to make fun of me : P . Shoulda listened to him earlier.

[dinc]

Okay, an update and a summary:

Regaining Lost Discipline Part 3

Overall, this challenge has done great things for me. I feel much more motivated about life and much more in control.

No Computer or TV ('cept bloggin and research)
This is the big one, and I've been doing pretty good with it. I'm finding it easier and easier to spend time with myself and not be constantly entertained. I spend time drawing, listening to music, and thinking about interesting things that the future might bring.

I do have a problem with visiting this handsome forum a little too much, so I'm moving all of my non-blogging computer time to a one hour time block starting at 5:00 pm, unless some work is absolutely necessary.

Wake up at 6, No naps
I slept in today and stayed home from school cause I was sick, and I also accidentally took a one hour nap (I wasn't even tired...just staring at the ceiling and I woke up), but other than that, things have been going well. I don't get tired during the day, and now I have more time to do.....umm...well... Yeah, gotta work on that more.

No Sugar
This is working really well. I drinks lots of fruit juice, so I don't get any cravings. I think this contributes to by higher level of energy throughout the day. I used to get tired alot, even with more sleep than I'm getting now, but now that I'm not eating sugar , things are good.

2 Sets of Pushups and Situps Daily
I'm up to 24 pushups and 20 situps. I missed this morning cause I felt sick.

[CoolBee]

Hi Dinc,
well done on your progress so far, I am watching with interest as I need to put a rocket somewhere the sun don't shine too

[nhaasch]

Awesome dinc. Things don't always go as planned, however we learn along the way. It is brave of you to continue this and to public post your results.

[kyle82]

ive have some problems with time management.. i was not like this before since vacation started.. i have been currently working online but there's a little loosening of my being strict towards schedule of tasks and so.. how do i regain the discipline?

[TiffyLove]

Usually its best to replace habits with a new one and focus on the new one instead of "not doing" the old one. It makes it easier and gives the mind something else to "entertain" it rather than protest the change you are making.

Especially since you are attempting to make many changes at once.


I would love to hear how things are going so far!

[dinc]

Three week mark update!




My first long post was deleted...and I didn't want to write it all up again, so I rushed through.

[nhaasch]

I'm happy to see your update dinc!

The only thing I have to say is don't worry if your not perfect. Any progress is progress.

[dinc]

Originally Posted by nhaasch

I'm happy to see your update dinc!

The only thing I have to say is don't worry if your not perfect. Any progress is progress.

Lol, I'm kind of a perfectionist, so it takes very little to disappoint me, but you're quite right.

[CoolBee]

Originally Posted by dinc

Three week mark update!


My first long post was deleted...and I didn't want to write it all up again, so I rushed through.

So, Dinc, what's your learning outcome from that experience?


Re the perfectionism - as my PhD supervisor used to say - better 92% right and submitted than 100% right and never finished.... there's very few areas of life where 100% perfect is necessary (O-rings on space shuttles and brain surgery being 2 of them )

[nin64]

Nitroviper..
Hey, I remeber you! You're the guy who cosplay as L and then post it on your site.

You're doing this crazy thing again. 30 days thing. I never done that before, setting goals and achieving them is completely alien to me.

But, seeing that my life ain't getting nowhere, and it seem to me that people have achieved results through doing this... maybe, I'll give it a shot.

Maybe it's time to get some idea...

[dinc]

Originally Posted by nin64

Nitroviper..
Hey, I remeber you! You're the guy who cosplay as L and then post it on your site.

You're doing this crazy thing again. 30 days thing. I never done that before, setting goals and achieving them is completely alien to me.

But, seeing that my life ain't getting nowhere, and it seem to me that people have achieved results through doing this... maybe, I'll give it a shot.

Maybe it's time to get some idea...

Wow, didn't even know anyone read that post :P. Yep, that's me.

Lol, how ironic. My lesson for that day was already in my forum post.

[Manomanman]

My discipline comes directly from motivation. I'm trying to rekindle it. Good luck!

[MartinP]

@tiffylove

Usually its best to replace habits with a new one and focus on the new one instead of "not doing" the old one. It makes it easier and gives the mind something else to "entertain" it rather than protest the change you are making.

Thats really good advice!

[dinc]

Long time no see, folks!

Final and last post! Glad I did this challenge. Now, if only I can carry on the momentum this has provided (failing at that right now)

Final Regaining Discipline Post

[CoolBee]

Well done Dinc, I think you have a lot to celebrate here.
Your honesty in how well you've done, the way you have transformed yourself in to someone excited about the future, the parts of the challenge you will continue with, is very refreshing.

[Dot]

Originally Posted by dinc

Dreams and goals have become unimportant to me...

Right there are your keys, dinc. You didn't lose any discipline. You lost the power that energizes and animates your experience of life and your contributions to the world.

There's another current thread here about not masturbating and watching pornography. Low and behold, what the OP really wants is a deeper relationship with God, Christ, and the Catholic church. It's very interesting to see the recent change in tone, conversation, and focus over there.

While you're starting to pitch things out you don't want, the real magic and power is in realizing what you do want.

What are your dreams? They're in our DNA. They're part of who we are. When we are living and thinking and breathing and realizing our dreams - the power of the universe moves in us. Life becomes effortless. Rigid discipline becomes unnecessary. What we don't want falls off of its own accord - naturally - because we're simply not vibing with it any longer. And more of what we do what begins to be attracted to us and realized. We are what we vibe.

My 2¢.

[Kaybee]

I think motivation plays a role with our self discipline. Like most things....there are easy times and challenging times. The key is action, along with never giving up.

My inertia stage lasted for about three months. I felt crappy because I was no longer doing those things that energized me. It was like a catch twenty-two. Instead of pressuring myself with a big list of things to do...I started small figuring it was the best way to work my way back to the self discipline levels I was used to. One step lead to another and now I'm back in the swing of things.

Stay focused on your goal. I'm a huge fan of quotes and one of my favorites is from John Maxwell as follows:

Unsuccessful people focus their thinking on survival.
Average people focus their thinking on maintenance.
Successful people focus their thinking on progress.

Just keep moving forward.

Kim

Self Improvement and Motivation