There is a correlation between physical exercise and performance — physical exercise develops your self-discipline muscle. The discipline it takes to get up in the morning and go to the gym is the same discipline that it takes to make an extra sales call, study an hour longer and have patience with an individual you are managing.

So committing to flexing your self-discipline muscle by adopting a healthy, active lifestyle can benefit all aspects of your life.

Research shows that physical exercise allows for the release of endorphins that lift depression, banish stress and sharpen the mind. But with all these benefits, why do so many of us neglect exercise? People use the excuse of not having enough time, but if you get up earlier, watch less TV, work out at lunch, or wind down with exercise after work, you can reap the benefits and everyone around you will too!

The following tips may help you develop an exercise program to consistently develop your self-discipline muscle:

• Find an activity that you enjoy — It is better to “want” to exercise rather than feel you “have” to.
• Set small goals — Seeing results is a key influence in continuing a program, so set goals you can achieve and then move beyond with future goals.
• Find a buddy — It is often easier to stay committed if you are responsible for helping someone stick to the routine.
• Educate yourself — Read articles about the exercises you are doing and set out to learn new techniques that will add interest.
• Be aware of the improvements — Take time to notice the improvements in your stamina, health, energy level, and attitude. Take a look at the growth in your sales chart or productivity rate and feel good about it!

You can choose to go through life with a flabby, underdeveloped self-discipline muscle or you can choose to have a fit and trim one that everyone will respect. Get started today…your performance in life depends on it.

“You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” — Jerry West

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