Self-discipline. Let’s be honest. For most of us, it’s a work in progress wrapped in good intentions, procrastination, and feelings of failure. But it doesn’t have to be. Self-discipline, like everything else, is a practice. Not every day will be perfect, but each day — with its failures and small wins — is progress, and that’s what self-discipline is all about.

Here are some suggestions to master self discipline

Start the countdown, then proceed

• When you’re really unmotivated, start counting down from 10, then push yourself to finish what you’re doing.
• A brief countdown can helping putting you in the proper frame of mind to become motivated.
• Sometimes all we need is a little encouragement to move forward, this is how developing self discipline starts.

Put your goals where you can see them everyday

• Writing down a goal makes it much more real, and it’s an essential step in developing discipline. Put it up somewhere you’ll see it frequently and be motivated by it, such as your bedroom, car, or work station. On your phone, you may even set calendar reminders.
• Be kind to yourself, though. Be positive, and motivating rather than scaring or embarrassing yourself into achieving your goals.

Remind yourself of why you started

• This one can really help you keep going when life is challenging.
• Do not let yourself forget where you started, and always keep in mind why you set this goal, how you came to it, and what you will have accomplished once you’ve completed it, especially when things get difficult.
• Affirmations are a powerful tool for maintaining your why-driven perspective,

Start with small goals

• Try not to set the bar too high when learning how to develop discipline.
• Setting and attaining a little goal will help you gain confidence before attempting a large one.
• For instance, if your long term goal is to run five miles without stopping.
• Accomplishing those small goals first can give you the motivation you need to keep going.

Work on setting priorities

• Choose the jobs that need the most effort, and then plan your day so that you can completely dominate them.
• You’re less likely to put off the difficult tasks if you create a study plan.
• Put tasks that you may not particularly enjoy at the top of your priority list, and you’ll be glad when they’re finished rather than pushing them off for another time.

Remember, self-discipline is a practice. You will not be perfect every day. What’s important is showing up each day ready to try. So, what changes are you going to make today?