OMG. Okay. So, you know that thing where you swear you’re gonna start something tomorrow? Like, “Tomorrow, I’m totally waking up early and going for a run.” Or “Monday, I’m finally starting that side hustle.” Or—my personal favorite—”Next month, I’m going to get my life together.”
Yeah. Same.
But here’s the thing (brace yourself): Tomorrow is a scam. A beautifully wrapped, incredibly convincing, ultimate procrastination scam. And I know this because I have literally fallen for it a million times.
Like, this morning? I woke up, stared at my to-do list, and immediately decided future me would handle it. Future me is, of course, a productivity goddess with boundless energy and the ability to resist YouTube rabbit holes. Except… future me is also just me but more tired and slightly more guilty.
So let’s talk about how to break out of this nonsense right now.
Step 1: Catch Yourself in the Act
The first thing you gotta do? Notice when you’re about to fall into the “tomorrow” trap.
Seriously. Pause. Breathe. Ask yourself:
👉 Am I genuinely waiting for a better time, or am I just avoiding discomfort?
Because 9 times out of 10, it’s the second one. And listen—I get it. Doing new things is hard. Changing habits is uncomfortable. And there’s this little gremlin in your brain whispering, “Eh, let’s just start fresh later.” That gremlin is a liar.
Step 2: The “Do It Ugly” Method
This one changed my life, and I’m not even being dramatic.
Instead of waiting for the perfect time, the perfect plan, or the perfect motivation… just start.
- Wanna write a book? Type three terrible sentences right now.
- Thinking about working out? Do five push-ups next to your couch.
- Planning to organize your life? Delete one useless email.
It doesn’t have to be polished. It doesn’t have to be big. It just has to exist.
I call this the “Do It Ugly” method because, trust me, your first attempt will be a hot mess. And that’s fine! Momentum beats perfection every time.
Step 3: Shrink the Task Until It’s Stupidly Easy
Okay, real talk. If something feels overwhelming, you’re not gonna do it. Your brain is like, “That looks hard. Let’s scroll Instagram instead.”
So, hack the system: Make it so easy it’s kinda laughable.
- Want to read more? Read one sentence.
- Need to clean? Pick up one sock.
- Trying to meditate? Breathe deeply once.
Because once you do that tiny thing? Your brain goes, “Oh. That wasn’t bad. Maybe I’ll do a little more.” And BOOM. You’re in motion.
Step 4: Commit to the “Now” Rule
This is my secret weapon. Any time I catch myself saying, “I’ll do it later,” I ask:
“Can I do at least 30 seconds of it right now?”
Almost always, the answer is yes. And once I start? I usually keep going.
Example:
Me: Ugh, I should really reply to that email.
Brain: Let’s do it later.
Me: Or… I could just open the email and type ‘Hey, got it!’ right now.
Brain: Fine.
Me: Ends up writing the entire response in 2 minutes.
It’s like tricking your own brain into cooperating.
Step 5: Set an Embarrassingly Small Deadline
Here’s another sneaky trick: Give yourself less time than you think you need.
Most people are like, “I’ll start my project next week when I have more time.” But the truth? Time expands to fit the space you give it.
So instead of saying, “I’ll do this later,” try:
- “I’ll spend 3 minutes on this right now.”
- “I’ll finish this by lunchtime.”
- “I have 24 hours to make progress, or I owe my friend $5.”
For some reason, making it urgent forces your brain to focus.
Step 6: Embrace the Messy Middle
Look, starting is great. But the middle part? The part where things get hard, and you don’t see results yet? That’s where most people quit.
Here’s what helps me:
Instead of focusing on how far you have to go, focus on how far you’ve come.
- Wrote one page? That’s one page more than yesterday.
- Went for a 5-minute run? That’s 5 minutes more than nothing.
- Sent that awkward networking email? Congrats, you’re now 100% more connected than you were before.
Progress is progress—even when it’s tiny.
Final Thoughts (AKA: The Part Where I Pep-Talk You)
Listen. You don’t need more time. You don’t need more motivation. You just need to start. Right now. In whatever messy, imperfect way you can.
Because the truth is? “Tomorrow” is a myth. And every time you push something to the future, you’re just delaying the version of yourself you actually want to be.
So, let’s do this. Pick one thing—just one—and take any action on it. Right now. Even if it’s tiny. Even if it’s messy.
And when your brain tries to tell you to wait? Just smile and say, “Nah. I got this.”
🚀 LET’S. GO. 🚀
