How I’m rebuilding my discipline after failing to stay consistent

A few months ago, I made a promise to myself that I was going to improve and transform my life through self-discipline. I had set ambitious goals like waking up at 5 AM, drink 3-4 liters. water everyday, exercise daily or 5 days in every week, avoiding junk food and back testing my trading strategy with my personal development habits.

For the first few days, I was performing at my peak, I followed my routine like I am a robot. But then, life happened. Late night outings with friend, I do a 9 to 6 job which gives me free work stress at evening and moments of laziness slowly chipped away at my discipline. Before I knew it, I had fallen back into my old habits as a dog returns to his vomit- sleeping late, skipping workouts, and eating garbage food.

At first, I felt frustrated and disappointed from inner-self. But then I realized that discipline is not about never loosing it is about getting back up and win your goal through self discipline. And that’s exactly what I am doing now. In this article I will share how I identified my mistakes, changed my mindset, and created a structured plan to regain control of my life.

1. Identifying the Root Causes of My Inconsistency

Before I could fix my lack of discipline, I had to understand why I failed in the first place. Here is what I discovered:

A. Relying Too Much on Motivation

Motivation is great, but it is practically hard to stick on it daily. Some days, I felt inspired to wake up at 5 AM and work out for 30-45 minutes. Other days, I didn’t. I realized that discipline isn’t about feeling motivated it is about doing what needs to be done, even when I don’t feel like it.

B. Outer Distractions

Outer distraction is an external force that divert your attention from what you are trying to focus on. These distractions come from your surroundings and can make it difficult to concentrate on goals. I used to hang out with friends late into the night after leaving my workplace, making it difficult to wake up early. I used to spend more time in social media instead giving this time for productivity activity.

C. Lack of a Clear System

I had set goals, but I didn’t have a structured and systematical plan to achieve them. Without a proper system, I often felt lost and overwhelmed.

D. Not Tracking My Progress

Since I wasn’t tracking my habits, I didn’t realize when I was slipping. Without feedback, I had no way of holding myself accountable.

2. The Mindset Shift: Discipline over Perfection

Once I identified my mistakes, I had to change my mindset.

A. Discipline is a Skill, Not a Trait

I used to think some people are naturally disciplined in their day to day life while others weren’t. But then I learned that discipline is like a muscle- the more you train it, the stronger it gets. It is all about how much you stick to it and practice it.

B. Small Wins Matter

Instead of aiming for perfection, I started focusing on small goals, which gave me consistent wins. Even if I couldn’t do a full workout, I made sure to exercise my body for at least 10 minutes. This small wins become one day bigger wins.

C. Self-Compassion is Key

I stopped being too hard on myself when I failed. Instead of seeing setbacks as proof that I lacked discipline, I started seeing them as learning opportunities. Remember one thing that “more you fail, more you learn”.

3. Creating a Realistic & Structured Plan

This time, I approached discipline differently. Instead of relying on willpower alone, I built a solid system to keep me on track. You can read it below how I set my plans for everyday.

A. Setting Clear, Specific Goals

I redefined my goals in a way that made them easier to follow:

• Old Goal: “Wake up early.”
• New Goal: “Wake up at 5 AM on weekdays and 7 AM on weekends.”
• Old Goal: “Exercise regularly.”
• New Goal: “Do a 30-minute workout at least 5 days a week or walk 30 minute.”
• Old Goal: “Read daily self-development book for 30 minute.”
• New Goal: “Read 10 page any book for 5 days a week.”

B. Using the 2-Minute Rule

I started breaking my habits into small, manageable steps. For example, instead of committing to an hour long workout, I just focused on putting on my workout shoes- because once I did that, I almost always exercised.

C. Creating a Non-Negotiable Routine

I made a daily structure that helped me stay disciplined:

• Morning: Wake up at 5 AM → Stretch for 5 minutes → Drink Water → Fresh →Workout.
• Evening: No social media after 9 PM → Read 10 page → Sleep By 11 PM.

D. Planning for Social Life Without Losing Discipline

I decided to limit late-night hangouts to weekends and choose healthier food options when eating out.

4. Using External Accountability and Tracking Progress

I realized that having accountability makes discipline easier, so I implemented these strategies:

A. Habit Tracking

I started using a habit tracker to record my daily wins. Seeing my progress visually kept me motivated. You can track your habit by any app available on your smartphone or you can start write your daily habit on a journal which helps you for evaluate your daily aims.

B. Public Commitment

I told a close friend about my new routine and asked to check in on me. Knowing that someone was holding me accountable made it harder to skip my habits. Remember one thing that share your routine with those person who are want to see you success in your life.

C. Rewarding Small Wins

Rewarding yourself is like a cheat day. I always rewarded me by sweet desert for achieving small goals. Instead of waiting for a big achievement to celebrate, I rewarded myself for small milestones. For example, If I completed my workouts for a week, I treated myself by watching favorite movie.

5. Overcoming Setbacks and Staying on Track

Even with a better plan, I still faced challenges so many time, Here is how I dealt with them:

A. The “NEVER MISS TWICE” Rule

If i skipped a workout or stayed up to late one day, I made sure not to repeat the mistake the next day. This prevented small slip-ups from turning into full relapses.

B. Adjusting Goals Instead of Quitting

If I struggled with an unrealistic goal, I adjusted it instead of giving up completely. For example, if waking up at 5 AM every day felt impossible, I allowed myself to wake up at 6 AM on weekends.

C. Reminding Myself Why I started

Whenever I felt unmotivated, I reminded myself of my “Why” I wanted to become the best version of myself.

6. How my Life is Changing After Rebuilding Discipline

Now that I have been more consistent, I am seeing noticeable changes in my life:

• Better Productivity: I get more done in less time because I stick to my routines.
• Improved Health: Exercising daily has made me feel stronger and more energetic.
• More confidence: Keeping promises to myself has boosted my self-esteem.
• Stronger Willpower: I find it easier to say no to distractions and bad habits.

Of course that, I am not perfect, and still have moments of weakness, But now, I don’t let them define me – I get back on track, no matter what.

Conclusion: Discipline is a Journey, Not a Destination

If you are struggling with consistency, remember that you are not alone. Failing dose not mean you lack discipline, it means you are human not robot. The key is to keep going, even after setbacks. Start small, build systems, track your progress, and forgive yourself when you fail.

Overtime, discipline will become a part of who you are. So, If you have been struggling like I was, I challenge you to start rebuilding your discipline today. One small step at a time. Because in the end, the only way to truly fail is to stop trying.