PERSONAL DISCIPLINE

STORY BY BREANNA MANLEY

Success in academics, business, fitness and more requires personal discipline, and though success looks different for every individual, employing the advice of local leaders could be helpful in achieving goals.

Personal discipline is used in everyday life. Some people use it for fitness; others use it for academics or business. It’s used in just about every aspect of life, but selfdiscipline could alter how and if goals are achieved. Building selfdiscipline could be as simple as creating and maintaining routines targeted toward making your goal or goals reality.

For Russell Medical Center Total Fitness director Cara Tidwell, bettering yourself is easier if you have some help from friends, trainers or others who are trying to achieve similar goals.

“In my profession, I see people adhering to the program more if they’re involved in group exercises or group fitness classes. I also see excellent retention in personal training, most of which should be credited to personal discipline,” Tidwell said.

She highly recommends hiring a reputable trainer to hold you accountable while you work on achieving fitness goals. Tidwell stressed the importance of keeping an exercise plan that’s safe for those participating to get their desired results. “I’m self-disciplined because I love it. I know how it has affected my quality of life, and I hope to share that with others. I believe it is really important to navigate through your own fitness journey and find what safely works for you and what you enjoy,” she said. Lake Martin Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce president, Peggy Bullard echoed Tidwell’s remarks about personal discipline improving in a group setting. Bullard, who owns Little Lambs & Ivy Day School and Lakay’s Flower and Gift Shop in Dadeville,

Practice these tips said surrounding yourself with negativity creates obstacles to to help you achieve success. “You need positive people success in personal around. You need the good book,” life goals: Bullard said. In academics, one of life’s biggest challenges requires n Work with others with similar goals self-discipline in continuing n Create and maintain routines education at the collegiate level. n Make a plan that requires During the prime age of 18, most accountability to a trainer, teacher, students have participated in etc. extracurricular activities, class n Associate with others who have discussions and activities alike, all positive attitudes of which are guided by teachers, n Participate in classroom/business coaches and parents. Continuing discussions on to college brings on a whole n Engage in extracurricular/community new set of responsibilities that are civic activities up to the students to address. n Make a to-do list To maintain day-to-day n Keep a calendar schedule schedules, study times and classwork, students must draw on self-discipline. Central Alabama Community College president Jeff Lynn sees personal discipline in the students on campus every day. “I think personal discipline is critical for the success of the students in class and while they’re working. It creates a foundation for their success in the future for family and for other things they plan to do and aspire to do. Having the discipline to be there and be attentive is important,” Lynn said. Setting up schedules and using tools, like technology and to-do lists, could make a world of difference, he said. “It could be as simple as making a list of things you need to do, write them out,” he said. Lynn also believes extracurricular activities are a great way to further improve that discipline. It can enrich students, help them learn about the community and about budgeting time. Personal discipline is important to achieving success, and it’s made easier by finding what tools and techniques work best for you. How badly do you want to achieve your goals? Apply some self-discipline, as improving might be easier than you think.