Motivation Vs Discipline – The Difference.

We get asked all the time ‘How can I keep myself motivated’ or ‘How do you guys stay motivated every day’?
At the end of the day, sometimes we’re not all feeling overly motivated. Sometimes we just cannot be bothered to train.

You can say it… It’s ok… 

What will ACTUALLY get us through and get us up off our butts and off to training is Discipline.

That’s right. Sometimes you don’t even need to be motivated to train. You just have to have the discipline to train.

What’s the difference though?

MOTIVATION relies on some higher purpose that we’ve created for ourselves. It’s emotional and mental and really emphasises the fact that a particular emotional state is required in order to get the training done. It’s usually related to something that is goal orientated, involves a deadline or gives us a reason to want to achieve something. Motivation is brilliant but it doesn’t always mean that we HAVE to get up and train. Sure you’ve got a deadline, but you’ll be right…..right?

Wrong.

This is where Discipline kicks in.

DISCIPLINE is more routine centric and is usually separate from moods and feelings. Usually discipline will IMPROVE your mood or emotional state by getting you to GO to training.

Three key tips that will help you improve your overall ability when it comes to discipline:

1. A training program is critical. If your program dictates that you need to go and do interval training on Wednesday and you can’t be bothered…then guess what, you need to get up and go train intervals.

2. This is where a coach, be it in person or online is critical. Someone to hold you accountable, someone that you MUST report back to about your session, someone that will kick you up the ass if you DON’T do that interval session.

3. This is also where a battle buddy or a team is super powerful! Someone that you MUST meet for training and that you know will be waiting for you to turn up. Regardless of how unmotivated you feel, you’ve got to have the discipline to go and meet them so that you don’t let them down.

Basically If your need to train is reliant on a particular feeling, then waiting for that right mood/ feeling becomes a pretty epic form of procrastination. If you just wait around until you feel like doing something then it’s probably not going to happen.

Discipline is the system. The Routine. The program. The need to be accountable.

Motivation is related to feelings and emotions and has more emphasis on your goals.

If you can’t find a way to motivate yourself then you need to ensure that you are disciplined.

Get yourself a program. Get yourself a coach (online coaches are great!). Get yourself a battle buddy.

If you would like more advice on improving your fitness for the ADF then please feel free to get in touch with The Barracks Gym.