Creating Self-Sustaining Momentum - Willpower (Self-discipline series)

[Polag]

Hi everybody.

I wanted to ask you what's your idea when it comes to creating self-sustaining momentum with willpower as described by Steve in his self-discipline series?
Will Power - Self Discipline Series

He describes willpower as something like this:

Willpower provides an intensely powerful yet temporary boost. Think of it as a one-shot thruster. It burns out quickly, but if directed intelligently, it can provide the burst you need to overcome inertia and create momentum

Little background: I have major problem with, well, basically doing anything, I'm in university and have problems with studying. I'm trying to resolve this problem because I won't accomplish anything if I continue like this. It's not just studying, it's basically my whole life. I just don't activate myself towards my goals, my dreams... Often I think that I've found the answer but all those answers didn't work, either because they were just scratching the surface or because I've never implemented them the whole way. It has been some time now, but I don't feel that I have made real, long-term progress. The reason as I analize myself could be this:

Don’t use willpower to attack your biggest problem directly. Use willpower to attack the environmental and social obstacles that perpetuate the problem.

I would suggest to read the article again (I'm sure you already did once) if you don't know what I'm talking about.

As I see it I have done just that. I've used my willpower to attack my problems directly and of course without any long-term results. Because willpower as described here isn't long-term. It comes in waves so to speak. And it makes sense, my fighting (or my success) with my problem (no studying, no action) could be described the same way. In waves. I would get excited now and then and do something, or figure out some possible solution for my procrastination but that's it. (well technically it isn't procrastionation because I don't just delay, I don't do it at all). So now I want to implement this strategy and after that continue with the "progressive weight training theory" to develope self-discipline but I need a few ideas.

Here’s how to tackle that same goal with the proper application of willpower. You accept that you can only apply a short burst of willpower… maybe a few days at best. After that it’s gone. So you’d better use that willpower to alter the territory around you in such a way that maintaining momentum won’t be as hard as building it in the first place.

How can I do this when it comes to studying, and just about doing anything at home? What could I do that could put me on the right track as explained in the article with the "losing pounds example"?

I know some of you could ask something like: "Is that what you study really for you...are you interested ..." I thought about that but I think that's not the problem, or the solution. I definitely need to graduate and I want to, I study what I like, what I'm good at. Like I said it's not just studying but doing anything that requires some decent effort. I had a long pause (2 years) in studying and just doing anything constructive in life which has destroyed almost completely my work discipline. So I need to build my self-discipline.

Also I want to say that I see discipline as the key(or the basic) to do anything. There are some things that can contribute to be even more efective but discipline is the core stuff. Everything else is extra improvement but not essential. So you can have discipline but not that "I figured out what I want to do with my life" for example and be good in life, but having found what you like to do without discipline won't get you anywhere. You'll be a failure. I can see that clearly in my situation. You can be inspired by something, have big dreams and goals, find something that you like etc. but what will move you is discipline. I can see that as someone how has lost almost everything of it. The discipline to do something regardless of what it is. This definition from steve puts it nice:

Self-discipline is the ability to get yourself to take action regardless of your emotional state

But let's say that discipline is not the answer for example for procrastination? That means that discipline is not the core that moves every person. I don't see what could replace discipline at that position. Purpose? No. That gives you a direction and meaning, and of course will power but your purpose won't do you any good if you don't have enough discipline to go eat something even when you're hungry (extreme example but you get the point)
The good thing is that most people have enough discipline to function normaly. Not as best as they could but it's enough. But that's also the bad thing because if they do, they don't see that that is the solution and keep looking for something different and end up in "learning but not doing" phase. I would suggest everybody to build the self-discipline as high as possible specially if you have problems with procrastination, "learning but not doing" and stuff like that.

So: 1.ideas 2.opinions about the importance of self-discipline in general
I would appriciate your feedback. Thanks.

Sorry -the length. I actually wanted to ask just for your ideas but then also to put self-discipline in the picture.

[Nelson]

Hey! You are in the same boat I was in a year ago.

The truth is discipline is developed like almost everything in life. Practice.

If you really are committed to developing the kind of discipline that will cause great success then you already know what to do. Put your nose to the grindstone.

Make it your number one priority to get your schoolwork done and don't let up for anything.

Don't hang with friends. Don't take a break. Don't sleep. Don't eat. Just do it. Be relentless. There will be plenty of time left to enjoy your life once you've completed your work.

When you're finally finished working do whatever you want and have fun - you only live once. Dreams of a grand life are great. But make sure that you put in the raw effort it takes to live the life of your dreams. Great achievements don't just land in your lap. You've got to work for it.

[Jes]

My study method in college was to do it all in the library. As soon as I was done with my class, I'd go straight to the library and hammer out as much as I could until I had just enough energy to drive home. The great thing about the library is it's a work-positive environment: you will be surrounded by many other people who actually have the discipline to take action, and that can motivate you. There's also no distractions, like TV and the internet [even if you cave in and use the computers there (DON'T!!!), you're guaranteed not to have too long before someone starts nagging you to hurry up].

Try it out for a few weeks. Force yourself to stay in there for at least three hours. There's no way you'll just sit around doing nothing for that long, unless you want people thinking, 'hey, that weirdo over there is just staring into space---he's done NOTHING for THREE HOURS!'

Yeah. Library.

[jwz]

I actually have the same problem right now.

IMO, his problem wasn't just the homework, but all 'dull' assignments in his life (like me).

Once or twice every month, I clean my room 100%, move a little around with the furniture, sort out my clothes, shelves, drawers etc etc.

Then I promise myself that with the nice clean room I now got, I can't possible allow clutter if only I pay a little attention for 5 mins every day.

But a couple of days later, I maybe accidentally leave a pair of used socks on the floor, forget to throw out a piece of paper.

Suddenly, half a month after my cleaning, I find my room so cluttered that I'm actually embarrassed of it. Some days or weeks pass while I feel bad about how it looks, and about how little willpower I obvious have in order to not clean it up.

Then, when I feel sick and tired of living in clutter, I clean it up again 100%, only to start all over.

What can be done?

It's not just my room, but many things in my life also.

I have a snowmobile which needs some working on that I need to do in order to sell it (I need the money), but I can't get myself to go start on it after work. If I started right now, It would be done this week.

Polag, I hope you get a good reply or find the cause of your 'lazyness', it would help me too.

-Jan

[Polag]

Looks like I wasn't specific enough with my question. To develope self-discipline Steve says that you must use your willpower first to

alter the territory around you in such a way that maintaining momentum won’t be as hard as building it in the first place

If you don't do that then just with willpower you won't be able to accomplish your goal

because willpower is temporary. It’s for sprints, not marathons. Willpower requires conscious focus, and conscious focus is very draining — it cannot be maintained for long. Something will eventually distract you.

In the example of losing weight he describes how to use willpower. Instead of using your willpower to actually go on a diet he says to alter your environment first, and that will make it then much easier to go do the diet

You identify all the various targets you’ll need to strike if you want to have a chance of success. First, all the junk food needs to leave your kitchen, including anything you have a tendency to overeat, and you need to replace it with foods that will help you lose weight, like fruits and veggies. Secondly, you know you’ll be tempted to get fast food if you come home hungry and don’t have anything ready to eat, so you decide to pre-cook a week’s worth of food in advance each weekend. That way you always have something in the refrigerator. You set aside a block of several hours each weekend to buy groceries and cook all your food for the week. Plus you get a decent cookbook of healthy recipes. You learn about Weight Watchers, and find out where the closest one is to you, so you can go to the first meeting and sign-up. Setup a weight chart and post it on your bathroom wall. Get a decent scale that can measure weight and body fat %. Make a list of sample meals (5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 dinners), and post it on your refrigerator.
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By the end of the day, you’ve used your willpower not to diet directly but to establish the conditions that will make your diet easier to follow.

So my question was: what are your ideas for altering your environment or anything else that will help you with studying?

[Polag]

@Jes

I agree with you completely. But this is exactly what I'm talking about. I started learning in the library and it was MUCH better, just as you say. But the problem is that I was able to go to the library for a few days when I had enough willpower. After that I just couldn't force myself to go to the library. As Steve says, willpower is just a temporary bust.

@jwz

Well I think I've found the solution. Building self-discipline as described in the self-discipline series.
1. you accept your situation
2. use willpower to alter your environment, friends etc.
3. build discipline through "progressive weight training theory" that is step by step.

So we have to figure out the point number 2. It might be easier to do that with the goal in losing weight but with studying it's harder.

[Kaspian]

I studied music in college, and one thing that helped me a lot was treating practicing like a class. My #1 rule was "Never skip class." This way, not only did I have consistent class notes, but I also always got in at least two hours on the horn outside of orchestra/band rehearsal time. A typical quarter/semester looked like this: 8:30 class, 9:30 practice, 10:30 class, 11:30 practice, eat while walking to class, 12:30 class, 1:30 work, 2:30 work, 3:30 rehearsal, 4:30 rehearsal. Busy, but effective. (I still had to study in the evenings, since work and rehearsals took up large chunks of time.)

You could do the same thing with study sessions in the library. Commit to being either in class or in the library studying for certain hours during the day, perhaps between 8am and 4pm. Treat it like a job. Don't skip. (Rule #1: Never skip class!)

Also, you might consider switching your focus every 20 minutes or so—20 minutes of math, 20 minutes of psychology, 20 minutes of math, etc. Apparently you remember things better if you don't pound away at them for long stretches, and you'll probably enjoy it better if you're not doing 3-hour marathon sessions of organic chemistry. Schedule breaks and time to eat, too, but keep them short and plan them ahead of time, not in a moment of weak willpower or distraction.

You could also find a study buddy for each class you’re taking. The two of you could agree to spend an hour per day together in the library. Schedule a specific time. Sometimes involving another person makes keeping the commitment easier.

Choosing to study in the library (instead of at home) and getting study buddies are both ways to alter your environment. Making 8am to 4pm your time for “school stuff only” is a matter of self discipline. Plan ahead of time what you will say to friends who want you to go hang out during your school-only time, something like, “I’d love to join you, but I need to go study. I’ll call you at 4pm and see if I can catch up.” If necessary, plan arguments to use on yourself, too.

A thought on self discipline: One thing I learned from being a polyphasic sleeper was this—frequently reinforcing my desire to change my habits makes the self discipline easier. Bursts of thinking/writing, “This is what I want to do, and here’s how I’m going to do it,” tended to last me 3-4 days. Recommit to your studying plan more often than that, like every morning.


One totally different suggestion: Make studying more fun. My brother LOVES rock climbing and doesn't really enjoy sitting still for long. His solution is to study at the rock climbing gym. He reads a paragraph, then climbs to the top of the wall once, reads another paragraph, does another climb, and so on. He says he's able to process the material better when he's moving, too.

[Kaspian]

And now that I've gone through some of the other threads in this section, I think you might find this post useful:

http://www.stevepavlina.com/forums/personal-effectiveness/6874...