# **Is it more about mindset, small habits, or just accepting that progress is messy and slow?** For years I tried the “all or nothing” approach — early mornings, detailed plans, no flexibility — and it always collapsed when life got busy. What changed for me was realising that discipline doesn’t have to feel harsh. I started focusing on very small, repeatable actions rather than motivation. For example, instead of telling myself I’d exercise for an hour, I committed to ten minutes. Most days I ended up doing more, but the key was removing the mental resistance. I recently read an article that broke this down in a very practical way, especially for people who aren’t trying to reinvent their whole personality: https://www.babyboomers.com/ways-to-become-more-disciplined-and-reach-your-goals . One idea that stuck with me was tying discipline to personal values rather than abstract goals. When I linked habits to why they mattered to me — like having more energy or feeling reliable — it became easier to stay consistent. It’s still imperfect, but now I see discipline as something flexible that grows with time, not a rigid rulebook.