Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Discipline is getting things done without relying on something as finicky as your motivation of the day. Some days you will be motivated and some days you won't be, but you want to try and have consistency in whatever goal you are trying to achieve. It helps you get there more reliably.


I've heard this explanation so many times but it feels like it has an enormous missing piece, like, maybe I just have fucking ADHD or something but never in my life has doing things and going places I don't want to ever gotten easier with repetition or consistency, it still needs motivation because ability to get up and do things is what motivation _is_.

Unless by discipline people mean literally disciplining myself when I fail I'm just gonna remain confused.


If you are doing things or going places you don't want to then they're clearly not things you want to achieve?


Sorry I wasn't clear about what I mean. I don't mean the ends, I mean the means. like exercising, or studying, or even brushing my fucking teeth have never in my life stopped being a manual decision. I want the ends obviously, like everyone else does, want them a lot in fact, but discipline just seems like an impossible thing for me because it _never_ seems to stop needing motivation to do things I need to do however long of a streak I do manage to build.




Consider applying for YC's Summer 2026 batch! Applications are open till May 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: