Just Do the Thing: Why Waiting for the Perfect Moment Keeps Us Stuck
Feeling stuck? 🙃 That “why bother” mindset is sneaky—it keeps you scrolling, binge-watching, or avoiding the dishes instead of moving forward. Learn how to beat the “why bother” mindset, overcome brain overload, stop procrastinating, and take action—big or small—so you can finally move forward in life.
Introduction: Waiting for the Perfect Moment? Spoiler: It Doesn’t Exist
I’m not a doctor. I’m not here to fix your life. I’m not even a therapist. What I am is someone who’s done a lot of hard things badly, imperfectly, and without a clear plan—and survived.
If you’re waiting for the perfect moment to do the thing you’ve been avoiding… guess what? That moment doesn’t exist. Anyhoo.
Why We Avoid Doing Hard Things
Think about the stuff you keep putting off:
Weeding the garden
Going back to school
Calling a relative you don’t like
Doing the dishes
We naturally avoid discomfort. Tasks, people, new challenges—our brains are wired to skip pain when possible. But avoidance becomes a problem when it weighs on you or creates a cycle of guilt and procrastination.
You can put yourself in check by asking: is what I’m doing harming my relationships, my work, or how I feel about myself? If yes, then you are stuck in this cycle of choosing comfort over temporary stress, including fooling yourself that the perfect time exists.
Avoidance is sneaky. It convinces us to wait for the “right moment,” to delay hard conversations, big changes, or self-care. But every day we wait, stress builds, clarity fades, and opportunities slip by. The antidote? Start where you are, with what you’ve got, and trust that momentum grows from action.
The Myth of the Perfect Time
Big tasks—like going back to school—are often postponed because we lie to ourselves about “the perfect moment.” Cost, timing, logistics, fear of failure… suddenly, you’re waiting indefinitely.
Truth: perfect moments only exist in hindsight. Waiting for them is just procrastination dressed up nicely.
I went back to school for many reasons—some practical, some personal, some fueled by spite (kidding… mostly). Did I pick the perfect time? No clue. Even now, with my expensive piece of paper in hand, I couldn’t tell you. While I was doing it, I questioned my sanity regularly. I worried about failing. But here’s the thing—I don’t actually have a history of failure. The fear lived mostly in my head. I had to remind myself that I was capable of hard things.
Fear vs. Comfort: What’s Really Holding You Back?
Sometimes it’s not fear—it’s comfort.
Some real talk…. Avoidance often hides behind fear—or the lie of fear—but more often, it’s really discomfort we’re trying to dodge. Fear feels big and urgent, but discomfort is quieter: the awkward conversation, the unfamiliar step, the small risk that pushes us out of routine. Progress doesn’t come from avoiding discomfort, it comes from leaning in, taking action, and proving to yourself that you can handle more than you thought.
Take dishes: I’m not afraid of them. I just don’t want to do them. Reading, scrolling, or watching Zombie House Flippers is comfy. Dishes require effort.
Big or small, leaving your comfort zone is the same principle: act anyway.
Quick Takeaways:
Big things: Research, weigh pros and cons, then either do it or consciously let it go.
Small things: Just do them—or hire help. No help? Back to the dishes.
Pro tip: Mix pleasure with effort—watch your show while doing chores. Win-win.
Five Ways to Move From Comfort Into Action
Comfort keeps us stuck. Here’s how to break free:
Start Tiny – Break big tasks into micro-steps. Momentum comes from starting, not perfect execution.
Set a Timer – Commit even five minutes. Often the hardest part is simply beginning.
Mix Pleasure With Effort – Listen to music while cleaning, watch a show while exercising, or chat with a friend while tackling a task. Action becomes more enjoyable.
Reframe Discomfort – Recognize that discomfort ≠ danger. Feeling awkward or challenged is a sign you’re moving forward, not a signal to stop.
Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection – Every step counts. Even small wins build confidence and make the next action easier.
Should You Do the Thing or Not?
I don’t know that there’s a moral here beyond this: sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do, even when they scare us. Inaction will leave us frozen, regretful, anxious. Do you need some accountability and ideas on how to move out of your comfort zone and be more action-based? Contact us at nikki@returntobaselinellc.com to schedule your consultation. We can help.
Sometimes we just have to do it. Inaction leaves us frozen, regretful, and anxious.
Ask: If I don’t do this, will I regret it later? Once heard a quote about regrets—that they should be for things you did, not things you didn’t do. Ooooh! Consider that for a second. When I’m stuck, I ask myself: If I don’t do this, will I regret it later? Sometimes that helps. Sometimes I tell that voice to hush and call my sister.
Even small tasks matter: make the bed, wash that dish, apply for school, make that call. Regrets are for the things we didn’t do, not the things we tried.
Take Action With Support
Return to Baseline, LLC provides counseling and consultation to teach skills around organization, problem-solving, and moving past being stuck.
📧 Contact us: nikki@returntobaselinellc.com to take your first step toward action—big or small.
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