Many students find themselves trapped in a cycle of laziness. They feel bad about it, regret it as time passes, yet remain stuck in that very state. I’ve experienced this firsthand, and it’s a terrible feeling—knowing all the things you need to do, all the things you could be doing, yet feeling almost paralyzed. You don’t move.

I’ve tried numerous study hacks and techniques, but I would often find myself right back where I started within days. While these methods can be effective, I realized that they won’t work until you address a more fundamental aspect of your life.

Reflect on this question: How are you living the rest of your life?

By “the rest of your life,” I mean your life outside of study time.

If your morning begins with mindlessly scrolling through Instagram or Facebook, and then you decide to study for a few hours, how much productive work do you really think you’ll get done? You’ve essentially fed your brain junk and then expect it to perform like it’s perfectly nourished.

I won’t dwell on why these over-stimulating habits are detrimental to our brains—this is self-explanatory. I’ve only mentioned an example to bring awareness to how these habits directly impact your productivity.

A quote that inspired me to write this piece says:

“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is that discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.” — Jim Rohn

Without discipline, life inevitably leads to regret. Generally, those who lack discipline in their lives are often lazy and have no goals. (No offense.) They let life pass by day after day without feeling the immediate pain of discipline, only to be crushed by the weight of regret later on.

To accomplish anything meaningful, you need discipline—whether it’s a little or a lot. It almost always requires doing something you don’t necessarily want to do, at a moment you don’t want to do it. It can be painful in the moment, but that’s the essence of discipline.

Think of self-discipline as a skill you need to master if you truly want to achieve your goals. Don’t see it as a temporary fix for a temporary course; make it part of who you are. Be a disciplined person. This message is not for those looking to tick off a quick task—it’s for those with big goals, who are committed to long-term self-improvement.

The reason I emphasize self-discipline, especially in the context of harmful habits that hinder our studies (like mindlessly scrolling), is because it’s the key to breaking those habits. Use self-discipline to transform your entire life, eliminate toxic habits, and watch your study habits improve. Setting big goals gives us the opportunity to change ourselves for the better, because to reach those goals, we must change.

You cannot expect to achieve the results of true change while continuing to live the same way.

Start by addressing your faults. What habits do you frequently engage in that are useless? Reflect on them and write them down. Then, work on eliminating them.

Next, create a plan. How can you improve your life? Maybe it’s adjusting your sleep schedule, specifying your goals, or dedicating an hour a day to reading.

Finally, execute your plan. Follow through on what you’ve committed to. The more consistently you do this, the more motivated you’ll become to continue.

It won’t be easy at first, but that’s where self-discipline comes in. Keep at it, and you will become a better version of yourself. The reason we strive to maintain these habits and make them a way of life is because of our ultimate goal—especially as students of the Deen. Our goal is to serve our religion, to please our Creator, and to follow the example of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ. Our work is never truly done; there is always more to do, whether before or after graduation, because our efforts are not for a certificate—they are for fulfilling our life’s purpose.

As a final point, mastering the skill of self-discipline is not just for students; it is essential for every Muslim. The way our religion teaches us to live requires discipline—whether it’s praying salah on time, fasting, or resisting the evil whispers of Shaytan. These acts often involve a battle with the nafs. The more you oppose your nafs, the weaker it becomes, ultimately strengthening your iman and good practices.