Discipline is a complicated word, meaning different things to different people. Some construe it as a punishment or as a thing to be avoided, while others consider it the very foundation of their being. How do we employ discipline to optimize our health?
I talk about discipline with my patients a lot. I argue it is perhaps the most important thing to employ if you want to have long-lasting good health. Or really anything for that matter. As one of my favourite leadership coaches, Jocko Willink says, “Discipline equals freedom.” Here is an excerpt of him explaining what this means:
While Discipline and Freedom seem like they sit on opposite sides of the spectrum, they are actually very connected. Freedom is what everyone wants — to be able to act and live with freedom. But the only way to get to a place of freedom is through discipline. If you want financial freedom, you have to have financial discipline. If you want more free time, you have to follow a more disciplined time management system. You also have to have the discipline to say “No” to things that eat up your time with no payback—things like random YouTube videos, click-bait on the internet, and even events that you agree to attend when you know you won’t want to be there. Discipline equals freedom applies to every aspect of life: if you want more freedom, get more discipline.
If we want good health, both now and into the future, we must also apply discipline. I like to start with the BIG 5: sleep, nutrition, hydration, exercise, and stress management. These are the foundations of health, and if any of these are ignored, the other therapies that we do are going to be less efficacious. While these seem like basic tenets that it’s easy to roll your eyes at, just stop for a moment and reflect on how well you’re doing with each of them.
Do you commit to exercise then “fall off” and take months away from it?
Do you think you eat well but if you’re being honest there’s a fair amount of treats or fast food or alcohol that sneaks in?
Do you have excuses for not drinking enough water?
Do you think 6 hours is enough sleep?
Do you think there’s nothing you can do about the stress that “happens to you?”
Most of us could use some improvement in one or several of these areas. Tearing apart the obstacles is key to success, but more often than not, we just have to commit. You don’t have a resilient fit body unless you work out, consistently. You are not going to lose weight if you don’t sleep enough. You are not going to thrive unless you manage stress, sleep well, exercise, eat well and hydrate yourself.
Does this mean that life becomes a boring routine where you can’t ever “live a little?” Absolutely not. That’s where the freedom comes in! It’s only when we have a healthy body to live in, that it’s free to enjoy life: play with your kids without sore joints, go on a holiday and to do the things you enjoy rather than “recovering from life for a week by the pool,” learn a new skill or activity and have the brain clarity to do it because you slept enough! These things don’t just come to those that are lucky, they come to those that have the discipline to commit to taking care of their bodies.
Let us help you remove the obstacles so that you can commit to what’s important and have the freedom to enjoy your life!
“Don’t expect to be motivated every day to get out there and make things happen. You won’t be. Don’t count on motivation. Count on discipline” – Jocko Willink
