Are you more likely to procrastinate and scramble at the last minute, or tackle some time-sensitive tasks ahead of time to avoid rushing later? Self-discipline keeps people on track, encouraging them to make choices that help them achieve their goals—even when it goes against their conscious desire. It’s waking up instead of pressing the snooze button. It’s closing the crisp packet when you’re full, despite wanting a few more because they’re so delicious.

Yet the ability to exert more control over your actions and reactions through self-discipline is easier for some than for others. AncestryDNA^® + Traits can help you discover whether you have a genetic leg up that predisposes you to self-disciplined behaviour.

How Does Self-Discipline Impact Performance?

Self-discipline directly impacts performance because of the skills it requires. It involves being able to maintain a level of conscious control that focuses on achieving successful outcomes, even in the face of obstacles.

Sometimes referred to as self-control, it's essentially your ability to keep yourself on task, maintain motivation, and act accordingly, even when your body and mind are resistant.

 

The benefits of self-discipline include:

• Giving you the extra push to achieve your most important long-term goals
• Improving physical health by encouraging healthy habits while resisting unhealthy ones
• Enhancing resilience by exerting conscious control over your behaviours
• Improving performance at school, work, or in sport by engaging in regular practice and diligence

The value of self-discipline also comes from the actions it encourages. For example, a self-disciplined university student with an essay due in a week may work on it a little bit each day rather than completing it all the night before. An athlete may get up and exercise at dawn, even when their body is urging them to catch a few more z’s.

There are two types of self-discipline:

• Proactive self-discipline, which refers to your ability to plan ahead so that you can maintain control over a situation. For example, you might put your clothes out the night before to make your morning easier or you might plan out your meals a week in advance.
• Reactive self-discipline, which is how you control your response to difficult or unforeseen challenges, such as getting stuck in traffic or accidentally breaking your phone. People with reactive discipline can remain level headed in these situations, which allows them to seek rational solutions instead of lashing out.

People skilled in self-discipline often exhibit other closely related personality traits, such as having a desire to succeed and regularly practising goal-setting. They are typically determined and optimistic about their outcomes.

Genetic Influence on Self-Discipline

Curious about the genetic influences on self-discipline, Ancestry^® scientists asked more than 230,000 people, “How self-disciplined are you?” Comparing people’s responses to their genetic make-up, the team found 488 DNA markers connected to self-discipline.

To further understand the connection between genes and self-discipline, the scientists calculated a polygenic risk score. This score helps them predict whether an individual may be more or less likely to be self-disciplined based on their unique DNA. The scientists also calculated the heritability of this trait. Notably, the team determined differences in DNA can only explain around 5% of the variation in self-discipline across the population. This suggests that environmental factors, such as how you grew up and the actions you choose to take, are much more influential than genetic ones.

What Else Do Scientists Say About Self-Discipline?

A Spanish study looked into the relationship between motivation, self-discipline, and academic performance in physical education by analysing 919 secondary school students. The results revealed that those who appeared to be self-motivated (as opposed to being motivated by outside factors) also tended to score better in discipline and academic performance. In other words, self-motivation goes hand-in-hand with self-disciplined behaviours.

Regardless of your upbringing, as an adult you can still learn self-discipline. By creating productive habits, self-reflecting, and setting achievable goals, you can develop a tendency toward more self-discipline over time.

Interesting Insights About Self-Discipline

The importance of self-discipline is emphasised by the fact that it predicts academic success more accurately than IQ. The American Psychological Association claims that students with higher levels of self-discipline tend to achieve better marks, better attendance, and higher standardised test scores.

Might your skills with self-discipline have some genetic influence? With an AncestryDNA^® + Traits test, you can gain insight into whether you have genetic markers for self-discipline and numerous other inheritable traits. If you've already taken a test, your results are now available with an Ancestry^® membership.

 

References

Claver, Fernando, et al. "Motivation, Discipline, and Academic Performance in Physical Education: A Holistic Approach From Achievement Goal and Self-Determination Theories." Frontiers in Psychology. July 30, 2020. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01808/full.

Parincu, Zamfira. Self-Discipline: Definition, Tips, & How to Develop It. The Berkeley Well-Being Institute. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/self-discipline.html.

Resnick, Ariane. "How to Be More Disciplined." Verywell Mind. November 17, 2022. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-be-more-disciplined-6374060.

"Self-Discipline." Mind Tools. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.mindtools.com/adjf7nz/self-discipline.

"What you need to know about willpower: The psychological science of self-control." American Psychological Association. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.apa.org/topics/personality/willpower.

Wilson, Tiffany. "Proactive Versus Reactive Discipline in Early Elementary Classrooms." Northwest University. July 2010. https://archives.northwestu.edu/handle/nu/25723.