7 Things to Quit If You Want to Build Real Self-Discipline

If you’re sitting there watching your dreams turn into years, it’s time for a wake-up call. One of the biggest reasons people don’t make progress—whether it’s in business, fitness, or life—is a lack of self-discipline. And that often comes down to subtle (and not-so-subtle) self-sabotage.

As a coach, I’ve worked with entrepreneurs and athletes alike. The patterns are the same: people do everything right Monday through Friday… then blow it all up on the weekend. They say they want results but sabotage them with poor decisions, excuses, or distractions.

So today, I’m laying out seven things you need to quit immediately if you want to build true self-discipline and stop wasting your potential.

1. Quit Drinking Alcohol

Let’s just be honest: alcohol isn’t helping you. You might think you’re not drinking that much, or you’re doing it “in moderation.” But if you’re drinking at night, you’re wrecking your sleep. Poor sleep leads to poor decision-making, decreased energy, and diminished performance across the board.

If you’re serious about showing up every day as your best self—whether in business, as a parent, or in your fitness—you need to cut alcohol out completely. Not reduce. Quit. Full stop.

2. Quit Staying Up Late

This isn’t college. You don’t need to be up all night to prove anything. You need good sleep to recover, stay sharp, and be consistent. Staying up late kills your momentum and makes you sluggish the next day. It’s not worth it.

If you’re staying up late to “get work done,” it’s a sign your systems are broken—or your priorities are. Fix that. Self-discipline starts with structure, and structure requires sleep.

3. Quit Skipping Workouts

Stop telling yourself that this is the week you’ll get back on track—only to flake again. Your workouts are a non-negotiable. They are not optional. They are more important than almost anything else on your calendar.

You need to treat your fitness like a critical meeting with your future self. Don’t skip it. Self-discipline is a muscle, and training your body helps train your mind.

4. Quit Putting Yourself Last

I get it—you’re a parent, a spouse, a business owner. Everyone else always seems to need something from you. But if you always put yourself last, eventually there won’t be much left to give.

Self-discipline means carving out time for your own development, your health, your growth. It’s not selfish. It’s necessary. Your family and your business need you strong, not burned out and buried.

5. Quit Sleeping In

I’m not saying you need to wake up at 4:00 a.m. every day like some hustle guru. But if hitting snooze is costing you a workout, a writing session, or a moment of peace—you’re stealing time from your future self.

Even 30 extra minutes each morning can be a game-changer. You could write, plan your day, move your body, or knock out a key task before the chaos begins. Get to bed earlier, wake up on purpose, and reclaim your mornings.

6. Quit Thinking You Deserve Something

You don’t “deserve” anything. Not success. Not followers. Not money. Not respect. You earn those things.

A lot of people enter entrepreneurship thinking they’ve already paid their dues somewhere else, so success should come easy. It won’t. The game resets. You have to show up and earn every inch. Self-discipline thrives in that reality—where nothing is handed to you and everything is built through effort.

7. Quit Pretending You “Know”

Knowing what to do doesn’t matter. Doing it does.

I talk to people all the time who say, “Yeah, I know I need to quit drinking… I know I should work out more…” But they’re not doing it. If you’re not taking action, you don’t know anything. You have information, not experience.

Real self-discipline means humbling yourself, meeting yourself where you are, and proving what you know through action—not empty statements.


Time-Stamped Show Notes

00:30 – Introduction: Why self-sabotage destroys momentum
02:00 – Why alcohol is killing your progress
04:00 – The hidden cost of staying up late
05:30 – Stop skipping workouts if you want results
07:30 – You can’t always put yourself last
09:00 – How sleeping in robs you of consistency
10:30 – Nobody “deserves” anything—earn it
12:00 – Why pretending you know isn’t the same as doing
14:00 – Building a better future starts with quitting these 7 things