Triathlons No 1 Discipline: Are you on the right Path

The No 1 discipline in Triathlon is ‘Self-Discipline’ and rightly so. Self-discipline is an essential foundation for the sport of triathlon, it builds a triathlete’s character to help them set their mind to achieve great things. There are many important qualities that can contribute to triathletes’ achievements and happiness, but there is only one that begets sustainable, long-term success in all aspects of triathletes’ life: self-discipline.

Self-discipline in triathlon, can be defined as the ability for an individual to exert self-control and be complaint with the rules of the sport. Therefore, its basis starts from a mental decision to comply and adhere to instructions and rules required to achieve the most from the sport. This means self-discipline can be often learnt or encouraged.

Human beings have a natural instinct towards self-preservation, with centre traits of selfishness and self-gratification without any rules or boundaries. Self-discipline enables a person to think past his or herself and how their behaviour can affect their progress in the long term. The self-disciplined do not allow their choices to be dictated by impulses or feelings, instead, they make informed, rational decisions on a daily basis without feeling overly stressed or pressured.

To improve your own self-discipline, outlined below are 5 methods for gaining better control. This regimen will help you to establish good habits, break bad ones, and improve your control by making simple changes to your everyday routine. Improved self-discipline will allow you to make rationale choices, not emotional ones. Give it a shot. It starts with you!

1) Forgive yourself and move forward. Instituting a new way of thinking won’t be easy. To thrive, new thinking needs to be protected while it roots. So be prepared to have your ups and downs, your successes and flat-out failures. Don’t get wrapped up in guilt, anger, or frustration, as these emotions will not help build self-discipline. When you have a set-back look at it as a learning curve, identify what caused it, correct it and move on. The key to success is to keep moving forward.

Self-discipline is a learned behaviour. It requires practice and repetition in your day-to-day life and training schedule. Use the mistakes to your advantage by learning from them and then forgive yourself and get back in the saddle and go again. The longer you’re off your game, the harder it is to keep going in a positive direction..

2) Remove temptations. Self-control is often easiest when abiding by the old saying, “out of sight, out of mind.” Removing all temptations and distractions from your environment is a crucial first step when working to improve your self-discipline. If you are trying to have better control of your eating, toss the junk food. 

If you want to improve your focus while training, turn off your cell phone and remove any distracting clutter . If you’re really having trouble, download a Self-Control app on your phone to block distractions -Facebook, Instagram, even e-mail – for your training duration. Set yourself up for success by ditching the bad influences.

3) Eat regularly and healthily. Studies have shown that low blood sugar often weakens a person’s resolve. When you’re hungry, your ability to concentrate suffers as your brain is not functioning to its highest potential. Hunger makes it difficult to focus on the tasks at hand, not to mention making you grumpy and pessimistic. 

You are much more likely to have a weakened sense of self-control in all areas of our life – diet, exercise, work, relationships – you name it. In order to stay on track, make sure that you are well fuelled throughout the day with healthy snacks and meals every few hours. Eating often regulates your blood sugar levels and improves your decision-making skills and concentration. Allow you brain to focus on your goals and priorities instead of on your growling stomach.

4) Change and break bad habits: Improving your self-discipline means changing up your normal routine, which can be uncomfortable and awkward. When a behaviour becomes habit, we stop using our decision-making skills and instead function on auto-pilot. Therefore, breaking a bad habit and building a new habit not only requires us to make active decisions, it will feel wrong. 

Your brain will resist the change in favour of what it has been programmed to do. The solution? Embrace the wrong. Acknowledge that it will take a while for your new regime to feel right or good or natural. Keep chugging along. It will happen.

5) Rewards for yourself. Self-discipline does not mean your new regimen needs to be entirely hard core. In fact, giving yourself zero leisure time often results in failures, disappointments, and giving into your old ways. While practicing self-control, schedule specific breaks, treats, and rewards for yourself. 

Designate a day and/or some time periods to treat yourself after a week’s hard training schedule, whether that’s a trip to the pub, a meal out or going to the theatre. Self-discipline can be hard. Reward your effort.

Self-discipline is important for any triathlete to achieve the results they require, either in training or during competition. It is the fuel that drives development and growth but more importantly it contains the crucial factor for success: your commitment!