Have you heard this phrase: "the first thing you need to do when you wake up is to make your bed."? This statement explains that when you fix your bed first when you wake up, you accomplish a task, and when you complete a job, you will do more to achieve the duties you have set for the day.

What about this? Have you heard this phrase: "prepare everything you need for the upcoming day before you go to bed at night"? I just made this statement because preparing everything you need at night for the upcoming day is what I learned from the day I forgot something at work.

Here's what I learned that day:

We weren't born with self-discipline; it is a learned behaviour. Self-discipline took me a while to learn and get into the habit of taking these actions.

• Before you sleep at night, ensure you have everything you need for the next day; your work uniform, school uniform, and the clothes you will wear. You have to prepare what you will wear tomorrow, so you don't have to rush and get anxious when you wake up. My brother taught me about this a long time ago, and he said that a part of self-discipline is preparing the clothes you will wear for the next day. Hang them where you can see them or equip them with everything you will wear; your socks, ties, jackets, and even your hair ponytail. It is better to prepare everything you will need in one place than you have to look for them anywhere when you're in a rush.
• Prepare everything you need in your bag. It might be your wallet, pens and notebooks, book, and other things you will need for the next day. You must prepare everything you will need for tomorrow, so you don't forget anything. Make sure you double-check everything before you close your bag. Yesterday, I thought I had forgotten something I needed for school. We had a swab test we needed to do at home, and I didn't remember the swab test tubes until I got to my college building. I had prepared it over the weekend and put it in my bag. It was early in the morning, and I couldn't think of anything. I'm glad that I put the tubes I needed for school in my bag before I forgot them.
• When you set an alarm clock on your phone, put a label on it as your reminder; if you need to remind yourself of some things in the morning. I know that some of you get tired at night and have to wake up early morning, and you don't have time to prepare your stuff for tomorrow. So, you have to set an alarm clock and when your alarm clock rings, you will be able to see the label on it. Just like this:

Sometimes you are in a rush to go to work; to avoid forgetting something, you can set a reminder when your alarm clock rings. Self-discipline requires practice, and writing things down to remind yourself can help you.

• Don't argue with the plan. Every night before I sleep, I plan to prepare everything for the next day, and I cannot change it. I will never forget the day I screwed up a little at work for lacking self-discipline. When you create a plan, stick to it. Think about the consequences if you didn't stick to your project. Let's say you're studying and planned to study for an hour, but you don't feel like reading. Think about the consequences if you didn't review your notes. You may feel anxious while answering the test because you didn't study, and you may fail the test. But if you stick to your studying plan, you will feel better, and you feel confident knowing that you know every question in the exam. Therefore, make a plan, stick to it, and don't argue with the thoughts of not doing it.
• Make your own rules for yourself. To be disciplined, you have to make rules for yourself. The first four tips I have above are the rules I have made for myself, and they helped me. You may not need these four rules I have made, but I'm sure you need to hear the number 5 rule. As part of self-discipline, you have to change your mindset and make some rules for yourself. Don't make complex rules when you cannot do them. Don't be too hard on yourself when you discipline yourself. Make small rules that you know you can do it.

The Story Behind The Title: That Important Day At Work Was The Day It Taught Me About Self-Discipline.

You are probably wondering why I include the tips I have for self-discipline first before my story. I honestly don't want to waste your time since this story is about me, and the tips I have are for you. If you don't want to read a story, then at least you have read my advice. Anyway, I don't work for this company any more, but I want to share this hilarious moment of how I learned about self-discipline.

The momentous day at work was when I wanted to be eaten alive and disappear for forgetting the most prominent and essential thing at work: my work uniform!

How can I forget a work uniform if I'm going to work? Isn't that obvious that I needed to bring my uniform to work? I worked for three years at that company, and I forgot my work uniform. Well, I didn't have self-discipline!

My shift started at 6:00 in the morning, and I woke up at 5:30 in the morning. That means no breakfast and showers. I just brushed my teeth, put on deodorant, and changed my sleepwear to casual clothes, and I ran as fast as I could to catch the bus leaving at 5:43 in the morning. I got to my workplace at 6:03 AM, which was acceptable.

I didn't touch my bag all weekend, my dirty jacket and dirty pants, and visor were still there in my bag, but I didn't have my whole uniform. I took the top uniform out before the weekend, and I didn't know why I didn't take everything out for laundry. The dirty work jacket, dirty pants, and casual shoes have saved me for reasons until the assistant manager noticed my sleeveless shirt showing through my work jacket and my casual shoes that are non-slip shoes. She asked me if I was wearing a uniform. Well, I was screwed!

I worked at a fast-food restaurant, and we had three audits in one year. Oh, God! We all have 365 days in a year, yet the auditors decided to audit when I didn't prepare for work. I wanted to disappear or act like I wasn't feeling well, but it was too late. I had my coffee already and some sweet, unhealthy breakfast, and I didn't look like I was sick. There was no way of escape! I had to deal with the consequences and the fact that we would fail the audit because of me. You probably think where I got that "some sweet, unhealthy breakfast," well, we had sweet stuff at our store, so I sneaked in to get something to eat when there was no customer.

Before the Auditors came, I asked the senior assistant manager to give me a new uniform, and a belt, and I asked them to provide me with a new pair of shoes, and I would pay for the work shoes since I needed a new one, anyway. The manager from another store had to deliver them to our store, and I had to wait for them. I worked for three hours without wearing a proper uniform. I was praying that the auditors wouldn't come until my new uniform had arrived. I was gritting my teeth for being nervous. The more we wait for the audit, the more it makes me nervous. Plus, I had a coffee that morning, making my nerves alive and my body shakes.

I took my thirty-minute break; my uniform and shoes weren't there yet. I saw a white car parked in front of our store, and I thought it was the big boss's car. I ran to the washroom because I couldn't take the pressure. I wanted to cry; I didn't want the auditors to see me without wearing a proper uniform.

I felt like I humiliated myself and my inner critics started to kick in for not wearing my uniform while working. My co-worker asked if I was okay, and I told them that I was not OK, with all honesty. I had to admit that I was nervous and didn't have my uniform with me.

A few hours after my break time the miracle happened! The manager from another store arrived, and she brought my new uniform and a pair of shoes. I was so grateful to them for bringing it to me.

The night before that day:

I scrolled mindlessly on social media and watched inspirational videos on YouTube until the clock hits 2:00. I was watching inspirational videos about success and leadership on how you could be better. Without action, your time watching and reading inspirational videos and books would be nothing if you would not take action.

Final thoughts:

Since the day I felt pressured for not wearing my uniform while working and waiting for the auditors to come in, I promised myself that it would never happen again. I promised myself that I would prepare everything I needed for the next day and organize my things. Self-discipline is rigid for people like me who are lazy and waiting for something to "feel right." But I have built a routine to organize and be prepared for the upcoming day. You have to make rules for yourself. You may have to write down the rules and read them daily and night to remind you.

Every day, we all have decisions to make. Make sure that your decisions are the right ones and decisions that will benefit you. When you decide not to follow the right thing, think about the consequences you may have to face if you don't do it.

Remember: Nobody will do these things for you; you must do it yourself. I know these things may be so little, but they would impact your life.