Self-discipline in an educational setting means knowing when to say no to partying and being able to complete assignments on time. It’s all about identifying your priorities and forgetting about unnecessary things.
In fact, self-discipline can significantly improve your academic performance. Disciplined students usually get the highest grades and reach great accomplishments. Also, discipline ensures a stress-free life. If you don’t wait until the last minute to submit your assignment, you won’t feel that worried.
To enjoy your student life, you shouldn’t start preparing for an exam one day before it takes place. It’s extremely difficult and exhausting to cover everything 24 hours before your assessment, so it’s better to use your self-discipline and complete all the projects on time. However, it’s not always possible. Let’s find out what to do in this case.
How to get everything done in one day
To finish a number of urgent tasks in one day, you must be really focused. If you keep getting distracted by external things, your efficiency will be extremely low. Concentration is a must for being productive. To boost concentration, you should practice self-discipline. There are different techniques for this, you can read more about them in essays on self discipline published at a free resource for students. For example, you can use the Pomodoro technique, which means setting a timer for 25-30 minutes and working non-stop during this time. After that, one should take a short break for 5-7 minutes and start another work ‘sprint’. Although this approach is quite effective, let’s consider some other ways to cultivate self-discipline.
Read books 20 minutes a day
One of the most effective ways to keep practicing the art of self-discipline is to constantly remind yourself about its big role in your life. It doesn’t mean that you should spend all day consuming other people’s information. Only 20-30 minutes of reading a day will be enough to stay on the right track. But note that you should stick to this rule on a regular basis.
Set goals and track progress
Setting objectives is the first need you need to do on your way to success. However, knowing your goals is not enough. You must also understand how to measure your progress. So after you write down your goals, describe the way you’re going to prove to yourself that you are going in the right direction. For example, if you want to complete a coursework, decide how many days or hours per week you are planning to work on it and identify the number of pages to be completed every month.
Surround yourself with the right people
You’ve probably heard that each of us is a reflection of the five people with whom we spend the most of our time. If your friends are lazy students, chances are, you are going to skip classes and break deadlines. If everyone around you cares only about partying, you are more likely to hang out at nights instead of studying. Hence, if you want to succeed at college, you should surround yourself with ambitious and disciplined people who will give you inspiration.
Use a visual calendar
To see your progress and understand how many days in a row you’re going towards your academic goals, use a visual calendar. It will help you realize how far you have moved from the initial point and how many steps you still need to make towards your aim. Maybe, this approach will also motivate you to be more engaged in the learning process.
Eliminate distractions
As mentioned above, it’s impossible to reach your goals fast if you are constantly distracted by something. To cultivate self-discipline, you should get rid of everything that interferes with your studies. For example, you can block websites that you like surfing or turn off notifications from social media apps. It’s completely up to you how to organize a distraction-free environment.
Act step-by-step
Big goals can make you feel intimidated. To avoid daunting feelings, keep your goals simple. Break them into small steps that you can easily complete. You’ve probably heard that study coaches usually advise to “eat the elephant one bite at a time.” So instead of trying to become an extremely disciplined person at once, focus on acquiring a few habits that will help you master self-discipline.
Allow yourself to relax
Actively practicing self-discipline may be too exhausting. If you have much tension in your life, you are likely to fail. Therefore, it’s essential to give yourself time when you are not strict with yourself. Once you properly relax, you can start working effectively. Remember that having a rest from time to time is necessary for promoting self-discipline.
Author’s BIO
Robert Griffith is a study coach that helps students reach high goals. He also works as a part-time academic writer at one of the best essay services in the United States. Robert completes research papers, courseworks and dissertations in different subjects, including Social Sciences, Economics and Business Management.
