Balancing Discipline and Mental Health

Our generation, for the first time truly makes an effort to put mental health first. This is something I am so so grateful for. It is essential for our overall well-being that we take care of not only our physical but also our mental health. However, something I’ve noticed in my own life is that it’s so easy for “taking care of your mental health” to cross the line of honestly just being lazy. As important as mental health is, discipline is just as important.

Why Is Discipline So Important?

Discipline is so important not only for your physical health, but it actually is proven to aid your mental health as well. A study done by Wilhelm Hofmann, Maike Luhmann, Rachel R Fisher, Kathleen D. Vohs, Roy F. Baumeister found that self-discipline actually makes people happier. When I go to the gym and work out even though I am tired, I have a sense of satisfaction. I feel good. I feel proud. Yes, getting to the gym and going through a workout is hard, but who said it was supposed to be easy? It’s important to do hard things, that is where the true reward comes from.

Discipline is necessary because doing the “right” thing isn’t usually the “easy” thing. Having discipline allows us to train ourselves to achieve our goals. No one achieved their goals by being lazy. You have to put in the work. The more disciplined you are, the easier it becomes. Having discipline allows you to create habits, healthy habits. Once a habit is made, discipline comes naturally.

Instant Gratification

Discipline is about denying instant gratification for long-term gain. Our generation is so used to instant gratification. We have no patience. But the best things take time so we need to be disciplined to get there. Instead of staying in bed that extra 10 minutes (which tends to lead to 10 more… and 5 more), get up, and have the discipline to start your day when you said you would. Let your actions match your words and stop making empty promises to yourself. If you truly want to improve your life and work toward something better, you need more than empty promises. Speak your goals, but don’t forget to have your actions follow.

Even when you don’t want to do something, you feel better after you do it. You are capable of so much more than you think. Don’t use your mental health as an excuse to be lazy. It’s all about balance.

Working Out

One prime example of this is working out. I hear over and over again, “Listen to your body”. Which is valid and so true, but is too easily taken advantage of. While it is important to listen to our bodies, fuel them properly, and take breaks when healing is required, it’s important not to use this as an excuse for laziness. I found myself waking up tired and deciding that I shouldn’t go to the gym because I was tired and I should “listen to my body”. Please. The dramatics. As if I can’t get up, suck it up, have some discipline, and get a good workout in regardless of being “tired”. The extra 30 minutes I lay in bed instead of going to the gym quite frankly accomplishes nothing for me. I would honestly feel better if I just went.

Discipline doesn’t have to be about getting “fit” or working out. You can have discipline in any aspect of your life. It can be anything from sticking to your skincare routine, to properly studying for a test, to reading 10 pages every day.

Mental Health

Okay, we get it discipline is important, but where does the balance of mental health come in? Discipline is a slippery slope that can sometimes even lead to obsessive behavior. It’s important to factor discipline into your life while considering your mental health. It’s about recognizing the difference between laziness, and when your mind or your body truly needs a break.

In fact, you can even have discipline in taking care of your mental health. It is important to check in with yourself and how you are feeling. What are the motivations behind your goals, are they healthy? Reflection is so important. So, be disciplined about your mental health, and be disciplined about checking in with yourself. That is how you can balance discipline and mental health.