How to get Disciplined Fast
You want to get disciplined, but you find it hard. You want to get the ball rolling and take action but how do you lower the barrier to entry. Here’s a a few quick ways of getting disciplined fast.
Think About the Cost of Inaction
If you struggle with discipline, it’s not because you’re lazy—it’s because your reason isn’t strong enough. The fastest way to build discipline? Think about the cost of doing nothing.
- If you don’t start that business, will you be stuck in a job you hate for the next 10 years?
- If you don’t take care of your health, will you face serious issues that could have been prevented?
- If you don’t work on yourself, will you keep making the same mistakes in relationships, career, and personal growth?
- If you don’t take daily action on your business, will it sink.
We often focus on how hard it is to stay disciplined, but perhaps think about the price of inaction? Picture yourself five years from now, stuck in the same cycle because you didn’t take action today. Imagine the regret, the frustration, the lost time. Imagine you could have learned that language years ago.
Now, write it down. Print it. Make it impossible to ignore. “If I don’t take action, my future will look like this…” Let that reality push you forward.
Discipline isn’t about forcing yourself—it’s about making sure not doing the work isn’t an option. The discomfort of effort is temporary, but the pain of regret lasts forever.
So, the next time you think about skipping the work, ask yourself: Can I afford the cost of inaction? If the answer is no, then get moving.
Trick your Brain from overthinking
Overthinking can feel like being stuck in quicksand—the more you struggle with your thoughts, the deeper you sink. Your mind keeps replaying scenarios, analysing every possibility, and doubting your next move. The best way to break free? Immediate action.
Your brain listens to only one language: action. When you take action, you give your mind something real to focus on. Instead of endlessly debating “what ifs,” you create momentum. Action shuts down overthinking because your brain sees you’re actually doing something. It no longer has to fill in the blanks with doubts and fears.
Think about it: When you tell yourself, “I’ll start tomorrow,” your brain knows you’re lying. It starts throwing every possible excuse at you, making things feel overwhelming. That’s when overthinking takes control and paralyzes you. You hesitate, second-guess yourself, and before you know it, you’ve talked yourself out of doing anything at all.
The solution? Move before your mind has a chance to hold you back. Want to exercise? Stand up and do one squat right now. Need to have a tough conversation? Pick up your phone and send a message. Feeling stuck on a project? Write one sentence. Even the smallest action interrupts overthinking and pushes you forward.
Overthinking thrives in hesitation. Action kills it. The faster you act, the less time your brain has to fill your head with doubt. The next time you feel yourself getting stuck in your thoughts, don’t wait. Take the first step—any step. Your mind will follow your lead.
If you want further hacks to get disciplined and take action, then I recommend The Five Second Rule
The Five-Second Rule, popularized by Mel Robbins, is a simple brain hack to overcome hesitation and self-doubt. It works by counting backward—5, 4, 3, 2, 1—GO!—and taking immediate action before your brain talks you out of it. This interrupts negative thought patterns, shifts your focus from hesitation to action, and activates the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making. Whether it’s getting out of bed, starting a task, or going to the gym, the rule helps you break procrastination and build discipline through quick, decisive action.
How to get yourself disciplined requires failing
Most successful entrepreneurs didn’t get everything right on their first try. In fact, many of them failed—over and over again. But here’s the difference: they didn’t stop. They learn from their failures, made adjustments, and kept going.
Failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s part of the process. Every mistake teaches you something valuable. Maybe you launched a business idea that didn’t work. Instead of seeing it as a waste, think about what it taught you. Did you need a better strategy? Did you rush into it without proper planning? Did you learn something about your customers that you didn’t know before? f you’ve failed at something, good. It means you took a risk. It means you’re in the game. The only real failure is quitting before you learn what you need to succeed.
Recommended How to get disciplined books
These are our 5 books we highly recommend if you want to get more disciplined whether its for work or home life.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” by James Clear
This book offers practical strategies for habit formation and emphasizes how small changes can lead to significant improvements
No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline” by Brian Tracy
Tracy provides insights into overcoming procrastination and taking responsibility, highlighting self-discipline as a key to success.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business” by Charles Duhigg
Duhigg examines the formation of habits and how understanding them can lead to positive behavioral changes
“The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play” by Neil Fiore
Helps overcome procrastination by changing mindset and time management through self-kindness and structured productivity.
“Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol S. Dweck
Explains how embracing a growth mindset fuels persistence, learning, and lasting self-discipline.
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Want to be happy. Check out Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and its link to happiness