Think of the most productive, successful people you know. They seem to always have the energy to get things done. They never seem to have that listless, lazy energy that creeps up on your every afternoon. That energy that keeps you from doing all the stuff you talk about doing.

Ask yourself this question: Do you think they never feel that way? Are they super-humans who just always feel like working?

Answer: No.

So what is it?

Here's what it is: Those people you thought of have mastered the skill of getting themselves to feel like it, or at least act like it, even when they don't want to. They get it done anyway. When their bodies say, "enough", their minds say, "NOW!"

You probably think I'm going to tell you how you have the choice to do this now, and you should, and rah-rah-rah. I won't -- it's not that simple.

This is a skill of discipline, but discipline isn't something you just pick and choose. Discipline is like having the ability to run 3 miles without doubling over from a lack of oxygen. Discipline is conditioned into you, just like any habit. In general, a habit takes 30 days to stick. Do anything new for 30 days without missing a beat, and you'll find yourself doing that thing without even thinking about it. Habits will return anything you practice. They don't care what you ingrain in them; anything you do constantly for 30 days, you'll start doing involuntarily.

Pick something small, like washing your hands every time you come home or outside. Or doing ten jumping jacks every morning when you wake up. Or writing in a journal every day before bed. 30 days is all it takes to form any new habit.


Pick one and begin.