Think back again to the mountain analogy. Not many hikers set out to just reach the summit without stopping. Instead, they plan for breaks along the way. They pack snacks and take breaks, enjoying the beauty around them as they climb.

At some point during the pandemic, I realized that I was starting to wonder why I even bothered at all. Why did I get dressed every morning? Why did I shower? Put on a little makeup? Brush my hair?

The above are all very real conversations I’ve had with myself, and two of them happen pretty regularly. Talking to ourselves is something we all do, maybe the most when we’re by ourselves.

This can be for other tasks that you keep procrastinating on because they look too big or overwhelming. Start small. Break the large job down into small tasks and take them one step at a time.

But, not all of us view breaks the same. For some of us, it may be harder to take breaks than others. Some personalities have a running list in their head of what needs to get done and have to fight against the voice telling them they can’t rest until everything is complete and in its place.

You’ve almost certainly had a dilemma like this before. You’ve looked forward to something in the future, which ultimately caused you to not want to do what you had to get done.

You might ask. “What’s a vision board?” Well essentially it’s a collage, but it’s a collage that you create with specific goals in mind. The idea behind a vision board is that if you create strong visual representations of where you want to be in your life within a certain timeframe or what you want to do by a certain date, you’re more likely to do it.

My dad was onto something there. He knew that by turning a chore we had to do into a game, we’d actually get it done a lot more quickly and with far less complaining.

I had a goal, but day after day, I couldn't seem to get to it. But don't worry. I'll get to it tomorrow. Today was just a busy day. I want to run, so that's a start. I feel motivated, but I just can't do mornings. I'm not wired that way. 

It sounds harsh. Trust me, it felt harsh. But they explained, “Only you can choose to make the right decisions for yourself each day. No one is going to call when you pick up that unhealthy snack and tell you to put it down. No one is going to text you to get out of bed in time for work, or to work out, or to make breakfast, or to read that book you’ve been wanting to. You have to make those decisions for yourself. Every day. No excuses. It’s only up to you.”