This Common Productivity Advice is Keeping you UNPRODUCTIVE
We live in a world that worships action.
We’re constantly told:
“Just do it.”
“Discipline over motivation.”
“If it matters to you, you’ll make time.”
And for some people, that works.
But if you're here—if you keep finding yourself frozen, staring at your to-do list, unable to start despite wanting to—then I’m going to tell you something that might feel both validating and frustrating:
That advice probably isn’t helping you.
In fact… it might be what’s keeping you stuck.
Because for people who deal with emotional overwhelm, perfectionism, or internal resistance… being told to “just do it” isn’t motivational—it’s paralyzing.
And today, I want to unpack why that is—and what we can do instead.
SECTION 1: Why “Just Do It” Backfires
The idea behind “just do it” is simple: override your resistance, and take action anyway.
But here’s the problem: if your resistance isn’t rational, then rational strategies won’t work.
Most people who freeze up when facing a task aren’t lacking desire. They care deeply.
They’re not lazy. They’re overwhelmed.
They’ve attached meaning to the task.
They’ve internalized that doing it wrong might say something about them.
They’ve hit a wall of fear, shame, or fatigue that no amount of self-talk can bulldoze through.
And then—when they can’t “just do it”—they spiral.
Because now they’ve not only failed to act, but also failed to respond to the advice that was supposed to fix everything.
That’s a dangerous loop. One that chips away at self-trust every time it repeats.
SECTION 2: What You Actually Need Instead
If you’ve been stuck in this loop, what you need isn’t more pressure.
You need a bridge.
A bridge is a small, emotionally-safe entry point into the task—one that your nervous system can actually say yes to.
But to build that bridge, you first need curiosity—not force.
Ask:
What’s actually making this hard to start?
What am I afraid might happen?
What part of this feels unsafe, unclear, or overwhelming?
From there, we shift into minimum viable steps.
Not “do the whole thing.” Not “finish it perfectly.”
Just:
One sentence.
One dish.
One minute of focused effort.
One choice that doesn’t demand perfection.
It’s not about lowering the bar. It’s about removing the emotional weight that’s making the bar feel so high in the first place.
SECTION 3: Real Change Comes from Self-Leadership
Here’s the reframe that changed everything for me and so many of my clients:
Discipline doesn’t mean pushing yourself through fear.
It means learning how to respond to your fear with leadership.
You don’t need to “crack the whip” on yourself.
You need to become the kind of inner leader who knows how to listen—and still move forward.
That’s what builds sustainable momentum.
That’s what helps you feel capable without burning out.
And most importantly, that’s what lets you finally trust yourself again.
If you’ve been stuck in cycles of overwhelm and self-blame—if you’re exhausted from trying to force your way through resistance that doesn’t respond to force…
Then maybe it’s time for a different approach.
Inside my program, I help ambitious, emotionally intelligent individuals untangle the root causes of their executive dysfunction so they can move through life with clarity, energy, and a sense of real peace.
We don’t focus on doing more. We focus on doing what matters, in a way that finally feels good to your body and mind.
If you’re curious about whether this kind of support is right for you, I’d love to invite you to apply for a free discovery call.
There’s no pressure—just a space for real conversation, where we can look at what’s been keeping you stuck and whether my work might be the support you’ve been missing.
I’m always in your corner.
