iscipline. Willpower. Self-control. Whatever you call it, self-discipline is difficult for many people. Some days you think you simply don't have it in you to make those 10 cold calls, and other days it seems much easier to drive by the gym than to go in and work out.

How do you become more self-disciplined and make your days more productive? There's good news and bad news. The good news is you don't have to do it all today; self-discipline is a process. The bad news is you can't do it all today; self-discipline is a process that lasts a lifetime.

However, don't be discouraged. Start working on the following things today to become more disciplined in your work and home life. These are not tasks to cross off as "completed"; instead, they are principles to use to guide your daily life:

Pace Yourself

Sometimes we have so much to do, we feel overwhelmed. For example, look at your business plan for the entire year. If it looks like an impossible undertaking, you might be tempted to give it a half-hearted effort. After all, it won't work anyway, so why try, right? If approaching a project on the global scale intimidates you, don't let it. Instead, take it one day, or if necessary, one hour at a time.

Organize

When lacking willpower, any minor setback will completely derail your efforts. Plan some preemptive strikes. Put your workspace in order to avoid falling back on the crutch of "I just can't find anything." Plan the day so you don't crisscross around town or otherwise waste time. Make a list of tasks or duties you need to accomplish.

Then, review the list and be realistic about what you can and will do. As you evaluate the tasks, look for any entries that are what you want to do, rather than what you need to do.

Be Patient

As you work to become more disciplined and productive, be patient with yourself and others. Even if you've organized, planned and scheduled, some factors are out of your control. Maybe your cell phone is out of range just when you are finally ready to make that call you've been putting off. Perhaps your boss forgets that you had scheduled a meeting with him to talk about your long-term goals.

Don't let one or two setbacks deter you. Resolve to get those tasks done, and schedule a specific time when that will occur.

Remember the Goal

If you have a moment of weakness and are tempted to "do it tomorrow" or "phone it in," think about your long-term goals. Consider the future, not only what you want for today. You might find the motivation you need to give that task some extra effort.

Be Honest

Self-discipline is powered by motivation; therefore, be honest about what motivates you. If it's money, admit it and don't think you need to apologize. If the admiration of others keeps you going, embrace that and use it to propel you even further. Don't try to fool yourself or others. In the end, you will only waste valuable time.

Be Flexible

Continually re-evaluate your list of tasks and do them because they are the right things to do, not because you might feel like a failure if you don't complete a task on your list.

Too many times we fall into a routine of doing things simply because it's what we've always done, without examining if the reasons why we did them are still valid.

Our goals and visions continually change, so our responsibilities might need to as well. If you lack willpower or self-discipline, it might be because you are trying to do something no longer inline with your goals and beliefs.

Take Responsibility

As you work toward your goals, be mindful of your effect on others. Take responsibility for your actions and, if necessary, apologize or change your behavior. If left unresolved, a sour experience will become much bigger than the original event. Handle it now, and it won't require a lot of willpower or discipline in the future.

Reward Yourself

Being self-disciplined is hard. You deserve credit for doing things you don't want to do, or don't feel like doing right now. Give yourself praise and kudos when you accomplish tasks. Don't wait for others to notice, go ahead and pat yourself on the back. You deserve it!