top of page

Discipline versus Motivation

Jeremy Brodovsky

“It’s a beautiful day outside, I can’t wait to go for a bike ride today.”


“Awwww….it’s raining, I don’t want to run in the rain. Treadmill here I come. Gotta get it in.”



“I’m so excited to hit the weights today, I benched my max last time!”


“It’s Monday, gotta do legs.”


At the gym, these are the kind of statements that we as trainers hear (and say) all the time. They represent two important psychological aspects of your exercise programs---namely discipline and motivation. Discipline and motivation have a very strong influence over the effectiveness of your exercise program. If you look at them simply as black and white, you will think of them as opposite ends of the spectrum. The reality is that it is much more nuanced than that.


Discipline and motivation vary from person to person. They can vary for an individual over time as well. You may be more motivated at certain times of the year or certain times of the day or even certain days of the week. Do you want to workout at 500 AM on a rainy Tuesday? Not many people do.


The same applies with discipline. You may find yourself able to be more disciplined at certain times of the year or certain times of day or even on certain days of the week. Thanksgiving? New Years? Fourth of July? Discipline is out the window. Is it easier to be disciplined at 900 AM or 1100 PM? What about Monday versus Friday?


Some people will be highly motivated with no discipline while others can be the polar opposite, lots of discipline and no motivation. Similarly, you may see periods where your motivation goes up or down or you find yourself more or less disciplined.


Which is better? Which is more important? How do you improve either? Does it matter? Does it make a difference?


Over the next few weeks we will take a look at those factors, explain what they are, how they affect you, and ways to “rig the system” to improve both your discipline and motivation.

5 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


  • Facebook
  • Instagram

© Practical Coaching Solutions, Jeremy Brodovsky

Philadelphia and the Main Line, Pennsylvania, United States

bottom of page