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

Mfonobong Umondia Developer Advocate & Community Manager @the_ladybella 

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

How many people here have said ‘I’ll do it when I feel motivated’ in the last week? 

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.” 

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 

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 

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. 

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. 

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.” 

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 

Vulnerability Moment low point → small act → shift in trajectory 

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 

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 

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 

Q&A Can’t think of questions now? Ask me on X (formerly Twitter) @the_ladybella 

Thank you!