1-Sentence-Summary: The Self-Discipline Blueprint delves into the subject of self-actualization and why it is crucial for humans to achieve a fulfilled and successful life by creating a routine and becoming focused, self-disciplined and hard-working.
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Favorite quote from the author:
Our society is becoming more and more accustomed to the myth of overnight success. People idealize the idea of quick money and a fast-paced, luxurious life, without realizing that the people who happen to live that way have either worked hard for a sustained period of time or got lucky in their endeavors.
Success is most often determined by one’s disciplined routine, a lot of determination, and the ability to stick to healthy habits. Moreover, one’s response to failures is also a great indicator of future success. Learning to fail productively and analyzing mistakes will generate more successful attempts.
The Self-Discipline Blueprint by Patrik Edblad will teach you how to become more disciplined, so you can see your dreams through to completion. With a few simple tweaks to your daily routine, you too can take charge of your life.
Here are my 3 favorite lessons from this book:
- Mastering the four fundamentals of your life will make you more productive.
- Establish your “why” and define your competence circle.
- Forget about motivation, and just start working on your growth mindset instead.
Let’s discuss these in detail!
Lesson 1: Being disciplined when it comes to the four fundamentals will help you achieve success.
There are four fundamentals to consider when it comes to mastering your routine: sleep, nutrition, movement, and mindfulness.
Sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. Aim for eight hours of sleep every night, and don’t try to do shortcuts. Why? Because sleep debt is cumulative. For example, let’s say you’ve slept only seven hours each night for a week. At the end of the week, you have a sleep debt of 7 hours. This means that your body and mind will function as if you haven’t slept one night at all. This all happens without you even realizing it.
Nutrition may seem complicated nowadays, but it is really quite simple. Forget about super diets and change your lifestyle for the better instead. Choose foods that have a good nutrient-to-calorie ratio, such as leafy greens, lean proteins, and complex carbs. Always include vegetables and fruits in your daily meals, limit your junk food intake, and try to eat at least three hours before bedtime.
Movement is not always about going to the gym. Your body moves all the time, even as you’re reading this. However, you have to give yourself as many opportunities to stay physically active as you can. Find ways to move around by taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Go running or swimming in your time off, or practice a hobby that includes physical activity.
Mindfulness implies quieting your mind chatter. As you go through your day, you have two minds ― the thinking mind and the observing mind. The first one makes it so hard to quiet everything in your head, as it always produces thoughts. Meditation, acknowledging the present, focusing on your breath, and other techniques can help you respond to your thinking mind better.
Lesson 2: Work on your individual fundamentals and find your why.
Our unique traits define what it is that we can bring to the world. Focus on creating competencies based on what you like to do, what you are good at, and what you can get paid for. Find the common point where these aspects overlap.
Figuring out what you like to do is easier if you ask yourself what you can do for hours without keeping track of time, or what you would do if money weren’t an issue. To find what it is that you’re good at, you can take a personality test, such as the Big-Five, or ask the people around you what their perspective is.
Figure out how to get paid for those by looking at what jobs may interest you the most according to your strengths, or what are the problems that you can solve for people. Now, a bigger question you have to ask yourself is why are you doing all of this. Most people can tell you what they’re doing or how they’re doing it.
However, few can answer why, which is a question of great importance, as it defines your source of inspiration for all your endeavors. Moreover, finding your why can help you stay more disciplined by firing you up when you feel discouraged or don’t feel like putting in the work.
Define it using the Golden Circle rule, which consists in writing down your:
- What — meaning your job or function.
- How — these are the actions that set you apart.
- Why — this is your inspiring cause and personal belief.
Doing so will make you perceive the world differently, and give you a deeper sense of purpose in life.
Lesson 3: Develop a growth mindset and stay consistent in your actions.
No one feels motivated all the time, and that’s alright. If you were to work only when you feel inspired, that’ll get you nowhere. The secret to success is showing up every day. Having the same work ethic and quality of your deliverables, and maintaining that over a sustained period of time.
The key to achieving this quality of work lies within your mentality. If you develop a growth mindset, meaning that you have a strong belief that your brain can develop and achieve remarkable qualities through hard work, it will happen. This is the opposite of a fixed mindset, which can be found in people who believe that their basic qualities, like intelligence, are fixed and unchangeable.
To achieve the growth mindset, you have to first be aware of your thoughts when you encounter a new situation. The fear of the unknown can sometimes take over and make you feel overwhelmed or scared. Learn to quiet those negative thoughts through mindfulness. Then, recognize that you have a choice. Interpret the thoughts in the way you want to, by embracing the challenge.
Then, talk back with a growth mindset voice. For example, when you encounter a new challenge, your brain might tell you that you will fail. The best way to respond is with a positive note, such as acknowledging that failure is part of a successful process. When you realize that your brain is “plastic”, meaning that you can mold it and use it in your favor, achieving the growth mindset becomes easier.
The Self-Discipline Blueprint Review
The Self-Discipline Blueprint delivers straight-to-the-point, useful practices that can turn anyone’s life around for the better. Reading this book will teach you to commit to doing the work every day thanks to a few simple rules. Highly recommended!
Who would I recommend The Self-Discipline Blueprint summary to?
The 25-year-old who wants to establish a healthier, more productive routine, the 30-year-old entrepreneur who wants to make the most out of their day, and anyone who finds it hard to set and achieve both personal and professional goals.
Last Updated on May 19, 2023
