Read Deep Work by Cal Newport. I’ve had problems my entire life up until the past year with self-discipline and bad habits. This book, among other factors, flipped a switch for me.
Other key factors were finding things in life that are worth the short term sacrifice for long term fulfillment. Surround yourself with ambitious folks. I’ve been the degenerate binge- watching Netflix till 5am, skipping college classes etc. And still have days almost that bad, but full-time employment changes people. Build good habits, adopt a growth mindset and we all can do it. Oh and sleep is extremely important. If I get less than 7 hours, I don’t have enough mental stamina and end up succumbing to all the short term desires.
"Lack of self discipline" is very often code for one of two things:
1. Unidentified problems, such as minor health issues.
2. A signifier of being Twice Exceptional, which I highly recommend you read up on because average performance that the individual finds frustrating while longing to do greater things is a standard hallmark of being 2e.
I raised and homeschooled two Twice Exceptional sons. One was a B student. The other made straight As. The B student has both a higher IQ and a lot more handicaps/other issues.
> 1. Unidentified problems, such as minor health issues.
What kind of minor health issues? Physical or mental?
> 2. 2e
I really don't think I fit in this area, just one example being because it's not
> average performance
that's my problem, because when I do something when I put in any amount of "effort", I nail it. The only time my performance is average, is when I don't do any work and just throw something together last second because I spent all my time playing video games.
The problem, of course, is that I find the majority of things I do fall into that latter camp where I can't muster the drive to put in effort.
Any number of things can trip one up if they haven't been identified, so aren't being proactively managed. It could be as simple as "I have allergies and I don't know it, so I can't connect the dots that when I do X, I am exposed to something I am mildly allergic to and then I accomplish a whole fat lot of nothing."
The problem, of course, is that I find the majority of things I do fall into that latter camp where I can't muster the drive to put in effort.
Please just start reading the resources I pointed you to.
Primary issue is my lack of self-discipline to be able to override desires for short-term pleasures.