How to Build Self Discipline As a Teen

Co-authored by Kari Samuels

Last Updated: January 27, 2022 Approved

If you’re a teen looking to boost their self-discipline, congrats! The fact that you’re even looking into this is a sign that you’re on the right track. Self-discipline is all about your ability to control yourself and focus. It’s easy to bounce around from one impulse to another, but discipline allows you to work hard and achieve your dreams. If you want to build your self-discipline, we’ve got what you're looking for!

1

Learn to accept your options and decide on the best choice.

Every day we're faced with countless decisions. In these moments we have to make the right choice - the safest, most comfortable choice.
- Imagine yourself in bed and your alarm clock goes off, and you have to get ready for school. Whether you're home schooled or not, just imagine yourself in that particular situation. Would you smack the snooze button and wish for another day, or would you get up, despite the sleepiness, and groom yourself for school? Decisions like this are complicated ones, and take discipline to complete.

2

Practice meditation.

Meditation isn't when you sit in "Indian Style" and hum to yourself. Meditation is in different forms. It is up to you to decide what your meditation is. Is thinking your meditation? Is writing poems your meditation? Writing and playing music? Are video games your meditation? It's ok for video games to be your meditation, as long as you play them sparingly. As long as you can think thoroughly while playing them.

3

Use time management.

The whole reason why some of us can't keep track of what we do is because we don't know how to use time management. This is when you control the usage of time spent into a particular subject or action being done.
- What? Ok, let's say it like this. How much time do you usually spend in your "leisure" time? How much time do you usually spend with chores? Think about that. Which time is more? Normally, as teens, we usually spend more time doing leisure things when we have that time. Now, this is not saying that you have to spend the rest of your life doing chores. The point is, try splitting your leisure time in half and focus on the things that really matter.

4

Do not come up with excuses not to do something.

This is the number one problem we all have when we don't want to do something, especially being as teens. The idea behind it is that when we're left to our own devices, it's easy to come up with excuses not to do something. Don't wait until you "feel like it".
- Sometimes we may say to ourselves, "I'm tired and I don't feel like it because it's too hard!" Bla, bla, bla! Sometimes it takes a little bit of pain to accomplish what we're trying to get accomplished. Really, our body is ready for it, but our mind isn't, because we need to feed it.
- To feed your mind, think good thoughts. Do good things. Whether you notice it or not, when you do good things, your mind will pick up on that good deed, and will try to accomplish it again. That's how "habits" are formed.

5

Set smart goals.

Why should we set goals? Just think about it. They give you a very clear direction in life and help you connect your daily action to a greater purpose. This is suggesting that your life means something and you're not roaming around thinking you have no purpose.
- When you create goals, make sure they're: smart, specific, relevant, timely, and attainable.
- Don't set a simple, unspecific goal like I want to lose weight. Make it specific and strong like I want to loose 10 lbs. of fat by August 6.
- Remember to set realistic expectations. If you set extreme goals, they're going to be harder to accomplish and you may lose motivation. Think big, but start small.^{[1]
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  Expert Source
  
  Kari Samuels
  Intuitive Counselor & Happiness Coach
  Expert Interview. 12 October 2021.}
- Get into the habit of working on one thing at a time, since trying to change too much at once isn't really feasible.^{[2]
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  Expert Source
  
  Kari Samuels
  Intuitive Counselor & Happiness Coach
  Expert Interview. 12 October 2021.}

6

Hack your mind with the 5-minute rule.

Our mind can be our greatest ally, and biggest foe. One of our mind's greatest flaws is that it often struggles to get things started. But once we're in the flow, it's easy to keep the pace.
- If you're really struggling to get going with your work, exercising, meditation, etc., do it for just five minutes. This will train your mind to get use to how things go.
- Usually when you start for 5 minutes, you usually (unknowingly) start going ahead of five minutes.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Kari Samuels
  Intuitive Counselor & Happiness Coach
  Expert Interview. 12 October 2021.}

7

Commit to what you're trying to do.

This is another mind thing. If you're sorta-committing, there'll always be a little voice in your head saying, Ahh, I'll take this day off. You waste a lot of willpower trying to fight that voice.
- Remember to be good to yourself in the process. You should focus on positive motivation, not negative punishment. Motivate yourself with small successes, instead of punishing yourself when you don't do something.^{[4]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Kari Samuels
  Intuitive Counselor & Happiness Coach
  Expert Interview. 12 October 2021.}

8

Don't listen to "haters".

Not everyone likes how you want to better yourself as a human being, but that doesn't mean you have to stop doing what you do just to impress someone else. This won't get you anywhere.

Expert Q&A

Question

What are some examples of building self discipline?

Kari Samuels
Intuitive Counselor & Happiness Coach
Kari Samuels is an international Intuitive Counselor and Happiness Coach. With more than 21 years of experience, she specializes in intuition, energy healing, numerology, and astrology. Kari assists people in reclaiming their innate intuitive gifts and restore well-being through self-empowerment. She has a popular Youtube channel and has been featured on Hay House Radio and other podcasts.

Kari Samuels

Intuitive Counselor & Happiness Coach

Expert Answer

Setting up an exercise routine is a good example! You could build self-discipline by starting off with small, 5-minute exercises and working your way up.
Question

What are the ingredients of self discipline?

Kari Samuels
Intuitive Counselor & Happiness Coach
Kari Samuels is an international Intuitive Counselor and Happiness Coach. With more than 21 years of experience, she specializes in intuition, energy healing, numerology, and astrology. Kari assists people in reclaiming their innate intuitive gifts and restore well-being through self-empowerment. She has a popular Youtube channel and has been featured on Hay House Radio and other podcasts.

Kari Samuels

Intuitive Counselor & Happiness Coach

Expert Answer

Being able to pace yourself is a major ingredient of self discipline! Break your large goals down into small, actionable things that you can do every day.