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Discipline Over Inspiration: How to Get the Wor...

Discipline Over Inspiration: How to Get the Work Done Even When You’re Not Feeling It.

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Mfonobong Umondia

July 31, 2025
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Transcript

  1. How many people here have said ‘I’ll do it when

    I feel motivated’ in the last week?
  2. Why This Topic Matters… Balancing tech, jobs, life = hard

    Most people wait to “feel” ready But consistency isn’t built on feelings ✔ ✔ ✔ Remember: “You’re not lazy, you’re just human.”
  3. The Gap Between Intention and Action in … (tech? life?)

    • Most tech learners and builders juggle careers, learning, family, and life obligations. • Deadlines and growth require consistency. • The “I’ll wait until I feel it” loop leads to procrastination, self-doubt, and stalled progress. • Discipline is not punishment, it’s a bridge between who you are and who you want to become. Lagos
  4. Why Waiting to “Feel It” Keeps You Stuck • Motivation

    is reactive (it comes after inspiration), not proactive. • Real work happens when you don’t feel like it, because consistent action builds momentum, not moods. Examples: The engineer who ships daily bug fixes vs. the one who waits for “the perfect coding day.” • Research shows that habits and cues automate behavior; feelings don’t. Lagos
  5. What Discipline Looks Like in Practice Truth is, It’s Less

    Glamorous, More Reliable • Showing up for 15 minutes consistently > waiting to do 3 hours once a month. • Setting micro-commitments: “Open the project and add one comment.” • Creating accountability (public check-ins, streak tracking, a buddy). • Defining “minimum viable progress” for low-energy days. Discipline isn’t waking up at 4am daily or crushing yourself, it’s honoring a commitment to yourself, even if it’s small.
  6. Designing Routines That Stick • Anchor new habits to existing

    routines (habit stacking). • Example: After morning coffee, open your learning platform for 5 minutes. • Use “starter rituals” to prime the brain (e.g., opening a specific notebook, playing a track, lighting a candle, setting a 10-minute timer). • Reduce friction: pre-open tools, have templates, eliminate decision fatigue (e.g., “Today I work in Focus Mode from 6–7pm; no checking socials”). Choose a trigger, define the smallest action, and commit to it for 7 days. If it’s easy to start, you’ll often keep going.
  7. Mindsets That Sustain Discipline… Done is better than perfect.” (Ship

    prototypes, iterate later.) Progress, not perfection. Future me will thank me.” (Short-term discomfort for long-term gain.) Identity shift: “I’m the kind of person who shows up,” not “I’m trying to be disciplined.” Mindset shift: “I can’t” → “I can try” or “I’ll wait until I feel it” → “I start and feelings follow.”
  8. And when you hit a block… How do you know

    you have hit a blocker or about to? you’d begin to feel a lot of overwhelm, creative fatigue, second-guessing, decision paralysis etc. Here are things that have worked for me: • Change context (walk, move to a different space). • Break it down (what’s the literal next 3 words / line of code / step?). • Time-box the struggle (e.g., 5 minutes to brainstorm, then switch). • Reconnect with purpose (why this matters to you). • Use “temporary abandonment” (park the task, return with fresh eyes). Normalize “getting stuck”, it’s part of doing meaningful work. Reset, Recharge, Restart
  9. You Don’t Need to Do Everything. Start with One Thing.

    • Choose one skill, one task, one micro-habit. • Define a “minimum viable action” (e.g., open the code editor for 5 mins, write 50 words). • Use the “two-minute rule”: If it takes less than two minutes, do it now. • Remove the word “start” pressure: “I’m going to explore” / “I’m going to try” vs. “I have to launch a project.” Right now, write down the one thing you can do for 5 minutes after this talk. Lagos
  10. Practical Toolkit • Timers (Pomodoro), habit trackers, minimal project boards

    (Trello/Notion templates) • Bullet journals, “brain dump” notebooks, sticky-note priority lists • Rituals: start-of-work playlist, “two-deep breaths” before opening a task, daily “review & plan” • Accountability: public mini-updates, accountability buddy, weekly reflection Lagos
  11. Always remember… • Discipline is a muscle. Start with small

    reps. • Systems beat moods. Design your environment. • Progress > Perfection. Action compounds. • Blocks are temporary; you have a toolbox. • You’re not alone, consistency is a shared struggle. Lagos
  12. Q&A Can’t think of questions now? Ask me on X

    (formerly Twitter) @the_ladybella