Psychologists often describe our decision-making processes using the “hot” and “cool” systems. The hot system is emotional, impulsive, and fast, while the cool system is rational, reflective, and slower. To strengthen self-discipline, it’s crucial to engage the cool system more frequently. According to a study by Metcalfe and Mischel (1999), training yourself to pause and think before reacting helps you resist impulsive decisions and maintain discipline. Try counting to ten or taking deep breaths when faced with the temptation to activate your cool system.