You are your own coach. It’s your job to guide, support, and motivate yourself before anyone else does.

Create the best environment for yourself. What do you need to thrive? Maybe it’s putting your phone in another room or taking your laptop outside. If going to the gym alone is hard, find a buddy. Struggling to study because of constant distractions? Set boundaries. You certainly know what you need to change about your environment, and if you don’t, experiment. Analyze what’s working. Be ready to change what doesn’t. Double down on what does.

Take care of yourself. Stop the negative self-talk. Make it positive. Our minds love to criticize, but give yourself credit for even minor achievements. It might feel cheesy at first, but that’s just your mind resisting. If it is easier, you could imagine your coach as a separate person living inside you. He must be healthy, supportive, and fun. Let him protect you from self-criticism, turning it into constructive feedback.

But a coach isn’t a kiss ass. He must tell the truth. He knows your areas for growth—usually what you fear the most—and pushes you toward them. He sets achievable goals. And supports you all the way. A good coach believes in you and sticks with you until the end. He turn failures into lessons and help you start over with new knowledge.

Make your journey fun. Don’t be a tyrant to yourself. The best way to learn and live is to play.