How the perception and impact of discipline varies from person to person
However, discipline doesn't look the same for everyone. To explore these different perspectives, I asked some of my peers what discipline means for them.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. For Taseen Dhrubo Bakht, a student of 12th grade from a reputed school in Dhaka, routine is the most important factor in managing his huge workload of six A level subjects on top of applications. "I feel absolutely out of place without a pre-planned set of events for the day," he shared. "Oftentimes, I find myself very energised and motivated, and finish a lot of workload efficiently with unwavering discipline. In contrast, sometimes I feel very disoriented and like to save things for later."
On the other hand, for Shaila Amin*, an AS level student at Maple Leaf International School, discipline involves a more holistic balance. "Getting out of bed early, doing what needs to get done, maintaining a balance between needs and wants, and making conscious choices that affect my mental and physical health would be the sort of discipline I seek in my day-to-day life. Even though I have been trying for a long time, I haven't learned to implement it yet."
On the nuances of discipline
As someone who has never thrived with a routine, I have always found it difficult to maintain "discipline" for myself. The most concrete parts of my daily life involve doing the basic tasks. Making sure to eat three times a day, and not burning myself out by sacrificing rest for work. Discipline, for me, is about prioritising my mental health, and trying to fulfil the goals that I have set to the best of my abilities.
However, discipline doesn't look the same for everyone. To explore these different perspectives, I asked some of my peers what discipline means for them.
For Taseen Dhrubo Bakht, a student of 12th grade from a reputed school in Dhaka, routine is the most important factor in managing his huge workload of six A level subjects on top of applications. "I feel absolutely out of place without a pre-planned set of events for the day," he shared. "Oftentimes, I find myself very energised and motivated, and finish a lot of workload efficiently with unwavering discipline. In contrast, sometimes I feel very disoriented and like to save things for later."
On the other hand, for Shaila Amin*, an AS level student at Maple Leaf International School, discipline involves a more holistic balance. "Getting out of bed early, doing what needs to get done, maintaining a balance between needs and wants, and making conscious choices that affect my mental and physical health would be the sort of discipline I seek in my day-to-day life. Even though I have been trying for a long time, I haven't learned to implement it yet."
Discipline rarely comes easy, and each person faces a different challenge when trying to find what works for them. For Taseen, fatigue and tiredness are issues he faces due to his intense workload. Shaila's journey, however, has been a difficult one in terms of managing her habits in addition to the pressure it exerts on her mental health.
Nabeeha Umama Khan, a student of 11th grade from a renowned English medium school, juggles the difficulty of managing her day-to-day discipline with the added pressure of her parents' expectations. "I definitely have felt pressured to adapt to a more disciplined routine by my parents, like with their preferred sleep schedule. Starting to have a more disciplined lifestyle itself is a challenge, and the biggest challenge for me has been trying to keep up my progress, which I still haven't managed to figure out."
In my experience, it is very easy to end up at harmful extremes of the spectrum of discipline. Pushing oneself to be disciplined in a harmful way is a problem most face while learning what works for them. Common experiences of dysfunctional practices include pulling all-nighters, skipping meals, overworking, and habitual procrastination. The takeaway here is to look out for our health first. It is much easier to focus on a task while accepting that it's okay not to get everything right immediately.
