Your 'Bad Days' Aren't the Problem - Your Reaction Is
Just Push Forward
Ever feel like you're trying to run through quicksand? Yeah, we all have those days. You know the ones when your brain feels like it's running on Windows 95 and nothing quite clicks.
Maybe you've done everything "right." Hit your morning routine like clockwork: crushed that workout, made your protein smoothie, got that coffee brewing.
But something's still... off.
Your motivation meter's reading zero, and that to-do list might as well be written in hieroglyphics.
It's those moments when starting a new project feels like lifting a car. Or maybe you're staring at something you started yesterday, and suddenly it looks about as appealing as a gas station sushi roll. Your confidence has decided to take an unscheduled vacation.
Why Hitting Pause Isn't Always the Answer
Here's the thing, though – and I learned this the hard way – hitting the pause button isn't always the answer. Trust me, I used to be the king of "let's just take a mental health day." And sometimes, yeah, that's exactly what you need. But let's be honest: most of the time, all we're doing is playing kick-the-can with our problems.
Think about it. You bail on today's tasks. Cool. You watch some Netflix, scroll through X, maybe hit up that new coffee shop. But guess what's waiting for you tomorrow morning? Yep, all that stuff you didn't do today, now with a side order of extra pressure.
Congratulations, you've just upgraded your regular-sized problem to a super-sized one.
Finding Your Window of Opportunity
Now, I'm not saying push through when you're genuinely sick or running on fumes. That's different. But even on those days, there's usually a window – maybe it's just an hour where your energy kicks back in. That's your moment. That's when you've got to grab the wheel and just... start.
Because this shit isn't easy. Anyone who tells you different is probably trying to sell you something. But it is simple. Not easy, but simple.
The formula isn't complicated: you just have to do the work.
Start Stupid Small
And sometimes that work starts stupid small. We're talking "open the laptop" small. "Write one sentence" small. "Code for five minutes" small. It's like that old saying about eating an elephant – one bite at a time (weird saying, but you get the point).
The crazy part? Once you start, once you get past that first step that feels like pushing a boulder uphill, things usually start flowing. It's like your brain goes, "Oh, right, we know how to do this." The rhythm comes back.
The Choice Is Yours (But Tomorrow's Coming Either Way)
Look, at the end of the day, we've got two choices. We can either push forward or we can throw in the towel. And sure, option B feels pretty good in the moment.
But tomorrow? Tomorrow you're right back where you started, except now your problems have multiplied.
The more you dodge, the bigger the mountain gets. Every choice we make is either moving us forward or holding us back. Simple as that.
Sometimes the only way out is through.
Quote of the Day:
"We suffer more often in imagination than in reality." - Seneca
👉 If you enjoy reading this post, feel free to share it with friends!
Or feel free to click the ❤️ button on this post so more people can discover it on Substack 🙏
You can find me on X and LinkedIn.