In the last blog post, I spoke on Time stealers with Ignorance and excuses as man's greatest enemies of time.
Number 3: Procrastination
Procrastination is the act of delaying or putting off tasks until the last minute, or past their deadline. Some researchers define procrastination as a "form of self-regulation failure characterized by the irrational delay of tasks despite potentially negative consequences."
From the definition of procrastination, you will notice two things: time is not maximized, and lack of discipline.
The absence of discipline is a common trait in people that haven't discovered the value of time, from the ignorant to the ones with a truckload of excuses and the procrastinator.
To be disciplined you first need to determine and be clear on what you want and what you need to let go of to get it.
Economists call it the opportunity cost I.e cost forgone. If placed on a scale of preference we can determine the true value of what you aspire for by what you are willing to give up for it.
Abraham Lincoln said " Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most"
Choosing between your favorite gossip partner and destiny.
Reducing your 5 hours of the afternoon nap to 2 hours to work on your skill.
Reducing your social media presence to invest your time in things pertaining to the future.
Simply put, to be disciplined you need to choose between growth and redundancy pleasure and future slavery...
Discipline will be another word in the dictionary until It becomes a work in progress ( you don't outgrow discipline) something you do Daily.
Discipline is a "doing" word.
Discipline starts with action which is a resultant effect of clarity. If you have to be motivated before you start, you will always come running to it (motivation) whenever you encounter a challenge but with clarity, a focused mindset, and a strong "why" as your driving force, there will be little or no need for you to be motivated to be discipline daily.
You strive for mastery daily even when it seems you are carrying the world on your shoulders and staying in bed all day comes off as the best idea. Why? Because you didn't start with the excitement that motivation brings.
Don't wait for a motivator to stir you up; what will you do in the absence of none?
You will never always be motivated, so must learn to be disciplined.
In conclusion, discipline is a prerequisite for growth and redeeming time, don't just watch your time stolen from you; make good use of it.
