Book SummaryThe Science of Self-Discipline, by Peter Hollins

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Science of Self-Discipline

Have you struggled to maintain discipline in your daily routine? In The Science of Self-Discipline, Peter Hollins explains how to build sustainable discipline through science-based habits and strategies. Developing discipline that lasts for the long run not only helps you accomplish your duties in day-to-day life, but Hollins argues it’s essential to achieving big-picture goals.

Hollins is a psychology researcher and the author of several self-improvement books, including Finish What You Start and _[The Science of...

The Science of Self-Discipline Summary Why You Need Discipline

In this section, we’ll discuss what discipline is and why Hollins believes it’s a critical component to accomplishing your goals. First, we’ll cover Hollins’s definition of discipline and the biological mechanisms that underlie our decision-making. After that, we’ll discuss why discipline is essential to success.

What Is Discipline?

Hollins explains that discipline is the willpower to resist things you desire in the short term in order to promote what’s best for you in the long term. Discipline isn’t to be confused with motivation, which is based on emotion and is typically fleeting. Motivation is complementary to discipline because it can be a catalyst for setting a goal and even inspire some action toward that goal, but it’s short-lived. In contrast to motivation, discipline is characterized by self-sustained habits that steadily lead you toward a goal, even when you don’t feel motivated. When motivation fades, Hollins explains, discipline carries you forward.

Can Discipline and Motivation Help You Reach Your Goals?

Although Hollins explains that discipline is more dependable than motivation when it comes to driving toward long-term goals,...

The Science of Self-Discipline Summary Develop Internal Discipline

It’s possible to improve discipline through practice, but you must also be careful not to overdo it. So, Hollins explains that taking a measured approach to developing discipline will make it sustainable. He provides a variety of internal strategies to improve your discipline for the long run. By becoming more self-disciplined, you’ll be able to endure the distractions life throws at you and steadily progress toward your goals. In this section, we’ll discuss Hollins’s emotional tools to improve your disciplined mindset, as well as logistical strategies to help you build disciplined habits.

Emotional Tools to Build Discipline

To develop a disciplined mindset, Hollins offers the following strategies.

Find Your Reason to be Disciplined

According to Hollins, if you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve through discipline, it will motivate you to keep your healthy habits on track and persevere through challenging moments.

Hollins explains that there are three main categories of motivation: independence, excellence, and service. A motivating goal will relate to at least one of these categories.

1. Independence: This is a sense that you have the freedom...

The Science of Self-Discipline Summary Build an External World That Encourages Discipline

Although it’s important to have a strong foundation for discipline in your mind and behaviors, your environment plays a large role in your success. If you’re constantly surrounded by unhealthy temptations, your discipline will be more likely to waver. In this section, we’ll discuss the importance of surrounding yourself with a pro-discipline environment and investing in relationships with people who bring out the best in you.

Build an Environment That Encourages Discipline

If you’re constantly having to grapple with temptations that draw you away from the things you need to be doing, you’ll eventually exhaust your willpower and give in. So, you should construct an environment that supports discipline instead. One way to do this is to remove distractions that tempt you throughout your day. For example, if you work from home and you’re tempted to do unnecessary house chores whenever your work presents an uncomfortable challenge, try working from a coffee shop, library, or any place that removes you from your home’s temptations.

(Shortform note: Sometimes the greatest distractions you face aren’t just the places you are, but the people you surround yourself with. If...

Shortform Exercise: Find Your Why

Hollins emphasizes the importance of having a goal to drive your disciplined pursuit. He explains that if your goal is meaningful to you, it can help you persevere when you might otherwise waver.

Take inventory of the goals that currently orient your daily habits.