How Discipline Transforms Self-Care into Personal Growth

Contrary to popular beliefs, self-care isn’t about treating yourself to luxuries such as spas, manicures, massages etc. It isn’t about relaxing either. It’s something much more. The focus of self-care should always be focused on improving yourself as a person both physically and mentally. It would be a shame to receive this gift from the universe and not see the potential it is capable of. Neglecting this opportunity will make us overlook the vast potential we each possess. Self-care is a commitment to becoming the best version of ourselves.

Read More: Self-love as a form of Self-discipline

How does discipline fit into this?

Discipline is all about doing the things you don’t want to do. Maybe the mood isn’t right. Or maybe it’s a little too cold outside. Maybe it’s time to relax for once. It doesn’t matter how many excuses we come up with. If the work needs to be done, it needs to be done. Anything that comes in the way has to be either ignored or eliminated. It can include happiness as well. 

One would argue that happiness is the goal of life and that it shouldn’t be compromised. There is an important thing to note here. Happiness should always come as a by-product of our efforts. Dopamine gained through social media scrolling or daydreaming about things that will never happen is of no use. Any work which is difficult or strenuous in nature will make us happy in the end regardless of how tiring the entire process was. That’s the nature of how things are. Anything that is chased after always remains out of sight. We must ‘let’ it come to us. Discipline is the way through which we can do this.  Let’s see how we can incorporate this into our self-care regimen.

Read More: Why Self-Discipline is the Real Secret to Success, According to Psychology

How to Cultivate Discipline into our Self-Care Routine

1. Start Small

Make a target of journaling 3 pages each day or taking a 5-minute walk in the park. Such small goals look more realistic to the mind than the bigger ones that we often create. Hence, we can find it easier to complete them and gradually move on to the bigger things along the way. Starting small is also relatively easier to do as the mind isn’t afraid of taking on a huge task head-on.

2. Be consistent

Starting out is a difficult step indeed but the process doesn’t end there. Maintaining it is arguably much tougher. Nowadays, we have applications to help us with tracking our habits. We can use these to evaluate our progress in real time and monitor whether we are consistent with our commitment.

3. Being kind to oneself

Discipline and hard work are necessary but burnouts should be avoided as they will end up impacting productivity in the future. Overworking can be just as detrimental as not working at all. The human mind and body are capable of handling only a certain amount of workload and stress. Putting it under any more pressure can be harmful in the long term.

4. Meditation

Meditation is at the centre of both self-care and self-discipline. It facilitates both domains. Something as simple as being mindful of our actions can have a profound effect on our mental health. It helps in reducing distractions and prevents our thoughts from flying away here and there. Different types of meditation cater to various needs.

Some of them include mindfulness meditation which focuses on staying in the present, transcendental meditation which uses mantras for deeper relaxation, loving-kindness meditation which helps with compassion, and body scan meditation which enhances awareness of the body. Practising these further improves our focus, emotional health and resilience.

Now let’s look at some of the benefits available to our psyche once we adopt discipline into our self-care routine.

Read More: 10 Reasons People Struggle with Self-Discipline, According to Psychologist

Psychological benefits of Discipline in Self-Care

1. Reduced Anxiety and Stress

Routine creates predictability and reduces overwhelming feelings. It is worth noting that diverting the mind is not the goal here. Rather, engaging the mind is what we are talking about. Over a long enough time frame, diversions won’t lead to any solutions but being mindful of the issue and actively trying to solve them will. The anxiety and despair associated with procrastination will also disappear through practising discipline.

2. Improved Emotional Resilience

Regular self-care helps with building coping mechanisms for stress and challenges. We are more capable of managing life’s obstacles when we maintain regular self-care routines. Our mental and emotional resilience is strengthened by regular mindfulness, exercise, and a balanced diet, which makes it easier for us to handle stress.

3. Increased Self-Esteem and Confidence

Achieving small, disciplined goals boosts self-worth. They give us a sense of accomplishment and make us feel in control of our lives. The completion of these goals also serves as evidence of our capabilities.

Read More: Positive Psychology: Harnessing the Power of Happiness, Mindfulness, Savoring & Inner Strength

The idea that self-care is purely about indulgence is a myth. True self-care requires discipline, consistency, and effort. By including ‘structured’ self-care routines in our lives, we improve our physical, mental and emotional being. The discipline of self-care is about making intentional choices that align with our well-being, even when they are challenging. So, rather than looking at self-care as a luxury, we can see it as a necessary practice for a healthier, more fulfilling life. As we reflect on your self-care habits, we consider where we can add a bit more discipline. After all, self-care is not about instant gratification; it’s about laying a foundation for long-term growth and health.