discipline > financial literacy
how to build science-backed discipline | fhg #53
Have you heard of this quote from Abraham Lincoln?
"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."
It perfectly describes why I think building the skill of discipline is more important than financial literacy. Those four hours sharpening the skill of discipline are important before you build financial literacy. Being financially literate and going after your goals requires lifelong discipline.
Investing for 20+ years requires discipline. Spending less than you earn requires discipline. Building wealth requires a disciplined mind. That’s why discipline is a core principle here at Financial Hot Girl.
Most goals I had (between being financial, physical, spiritual or mental) have all been catapulted into progress by me building the skill of discipline. It was hard, and I really struggled with discipline for over 20 years.
Spending more time building discipline is a higher leverage task to do, instead of trying to white-knuckle your way through a financial/mental/physical goal.
Discipline is highly transferable and is one of the most high value traits you can have. I believe that more And with just under 5 months left in the year, let’s talk about the easiest, science-backed, legit ways to start building it today.
𝜗ৎ In this issue:
Method 1: Make it easy
James Clear talks about this a lot in his book Atomic Habits but the method I propose to you is to actually map out a system that allows you to always have a backup plan.
For absolutely any task, you can implement an easy, medium or hard version of it.
For example when it comes to having focus sessions:
Easy: do one round of pomodoro (25 mins 5 mins break)
Medium: do 2 rounds of pomodoro + doodle break
Hard: 1x 90 minute deep-focus session
I often implement this system for the gym:
Low energy: at-home mat pilates
Medium: 30 minutes zone 2 cardio and 3x rounds of an ab circuit
Hard: strength workout + cardio finisher
Always give yourself an option to do a stripped down version of something to allow that consistency to build. Another easy way to implement this is if you can’t do the hard (or normal) version, do just 2 minutes of it. Super easy.
You're literally rewiring your brain to associate the action with success instead of failure. Every time you do your tiny habit, you're proving to yourself that you can keep promises to yourself. And building discipline.
Method 2: Habit stack (cleverly)
When I tell you my house, mind and body would be a MESS without this trick… I’m not lying. I absolutely hate housework and chores. It’s the one thing I could procrastinate forever, and I low-key know it’s because I’ve never lived somewhere I absolutely adore (I love my little Edinburgh flat, but it needs a lot of work!)
So when it comes to doing this work, which honestly can’t not be done, I have learned to attach a fun task to each chore as a way to make it enjoyable.
This is also referred to as dopamine habit-stacking, and it works because your brain is using your existing neural pathways as anchors. Your brain already knows the first habit, so it learns the second one faster.
The two main ways I do this are:
As I do dishes, scrub the toilet, or do anything housework related → I listen to true crime podcasts (which I don’t listen to at any other time)
When I iron or steam → I’m allowed to watch Married At First Sight
My non-housework habit stacks (one habit I procrastinate paired with an activity I love):
When I make a hot drink, I add creatine by keeping my creatine next to the sweetener
When I get ready to film content, I use my nice, expensive makeup
When I go out on a walk solo, I call someone to catch up
When I do my monthly budget, I make a very bouijie, fatty, sweet matcha drink 🤣 (I look forward to this way too much)
When I strength train, I start off with a specific warm-up routine (I’ve been doing this one since a bad back injury 10+ years ago and it’s proof that neural pathways work - I don’t even think before starting the warm-up routine!)
New one I’m trialling: when I do my emails and invoice admin, I treat myself to a new coffee place in Edinburgh. Recs here:
Watch now on TikTok / @devamshagunput / where should I go I feel so new!!!
The beauty is once you've mastered habit stacking in one area, you can apply it everywhere. As you can see I use the exact same method for physical fitness, money tracking, and even business tasks.
Method 3: Make it a streak (but make it forgiving, like this)
The final thing that has really helped me build discipline is keeping a visual record of my consistency, but with built-in flexibility so I don't give up after one bad day.
Use a calendar, app, or simple chart. But the key thing is - you're allowed to miss one day and still keep your streak alive. Two days in a row breaks it. This is also based on James Clear’s Never Miss Twice principle, which I adore.
A streak with built-in flexibility is fact that you're building evidence of your own reliability. Every day you mark progress is proof that you can stick to things. Implementing method 1 makes this visual streak easier to build too.
This more evidence of your own reliability you have, the more confidence compounds and makes you more likely to tackle bigger challenges (like big physical or financial goals!)
When I started tracking my gym streak, I became more confident about making business decisions too. Why? Because I had concrete evidence that I could commit to things and follow through. Building confidence in myself is the sole reason I quit my corporate job.
The app I love for my steps is Pedometer (which also allows you to have a cute home screen widget) and there’s a setting in there that doesn’t break your streak if you miss 1 day after a 6 day streak.
This method alone has kept me consistent. Duolingo even uses this element of psychology with their streak freeze capability.
If you miss a day, you get a streak freeze, but you don’t lose your entire streak and you’re more likely to come back and keep going.
Build that discipline, financial hotties. It will pay off in more ways than you know.
Until next week,
—Dev xo