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How to Be More DISCIPLINED - 6 Ways to Master Self Control: summary

How to Be More DISCIPLINED - 6 Ways to Master Self Control

Thomas Frank · Nov 3, 2018 · about 12 min

Uploaded Nov 3, 2018 · 3.3M views (as of Oct 30, 2026)

Good value given

He puts identity first: change how you see yourself, then your goals follow.
He tells the story of Jim Carrey writing himself a check for ten million dollars as a reminder of his goal.
He treats self discipline like a muscle, and uses cold showers as a daily 'rep' of choosing discomfort.
He says sleep, diet and exercise come first because your brain needs rest and fuel to resist impulses.
When tracking habits, he says to watch the overall trend instead of chasing perfect streaks.

How do you become more disciplined?

Thomas Frank gives six strategies: think of yourself as the kind of person you want to be, remind yourself often why you're doing it, practice choosing discomfort, fix sleep, food and exercise first, try meditation, and build small habits you track over time.

Worth watching?Good value given. A clear, well organized list with good examples. Near the end there's a long sponsor read for a learning site, which you can skip.

ActionableLessons

Actionable

Write your goal or identity on a sticky note by your desk.
Pick one small uncomfortable choice a day, like taking the stairs.
Fix your sleep before adding new goals.
Try ten minutes of sitting and focusing on your breath.

Lessons

How you see yourself drives what you do.
Discipline grows with practice.
Basic health habits support everything else.

Quick answer

Thomas Frank posted this video on Nov 3, 2018. Here's our summary in our own words: the answer to the title, a verdict, 5 takeaways, and Actionable and Lessons tabs.

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Watch the video

Watch on YouTube: How to Be More DISCIPLINED - 6 Ways to Master Self Control

Channel: Thomas Frank. Published Nov 3, 2018. About 12 minutes.

Start with identity. Pick who you want to be, like 'an athlete', and act the way that person would.

Quotes from the video

“start thinking about behavior change in terms of the identity that you want to embody rather than the goals that you want to achieve”
“every time you embrace discomfort, you're essentially doing a rep of the exercise that is self-discipline”

A note on this summary

This page reports what the video says, in our own words. Quotes are copied word for word from the video's transcript. Views are as of Oct 30, 2026.

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FAQ: questions people ask

What are Thomas Frank's six ways to be more disciplined?

Focus on identity, remember your why, embrace discomfort, fix the fundamentals, try meditation, and build habits.

Does he recommend cold showers?

Yes. He uses them as daily practice at choosing discomfort. Check with a doctor if you have a heart condition.

Is the video worth watching?

Good value given. It's organized and easy to apply.