Inspiration is overrated. Consistency beats all. When you build a habit of showing up, you teach your mind to bind that place and time with something you need to do. Waiting for inspiration is like gambling—you can win big, but if inspiration doesn’t come, you achieve nothing and sometimes lose.
With working from home and different time zones, not having a work schedule becomes a problem. It sounds intriguing to choose when to work, but in reality, you end up with a pile of work you don’t want to do but still need to finish.
Simply building a routine of doing something at a specific time can help you focus more on the task at hand. It forces your brain to just focus on the given task, which increases productivity.
Today, with so many distractions, focused work is becoming increasingly scarce.
I write every Monday and Thursday. It doesn’t matter if I feel like writing or not—I have to do it. When I sit and start writing, the focused state helps me. Over time, I’ve made a habit out of it.
Even on days when I don’t want to write, I still show up and write. That gives my brain a boost of dopamine because I completed something. I achieved something. I kept my commitment.
It doesn’t matter if I write a short or long article. What matters is that I show up and write.
There is a step by step process to build consistency
1. Choose a Task You’re Putting Off
Identify a piece of work you’ve been avoiding and commit to starting it.
2. Start Working on It Routinely
Even if you don’t feel like working, still do it—even if only for a limited time. This will give you a sense of accomplishment.
3. Start Small
When I started writing, I wrote one article a week because daily writing was too hard to keep up. Once I got comfortable with that, I started writing two articles a week. I’ll keep pushing myself until I hit a point I’m satisfied with.
4. Gradually Increase the Workload
Build consistency first, then start adding more.
You Can Apply This to Anything
• Can’t sleep on time? Pick a time you’re comfortable with and stick to it.
• Work piling up? Work on one piece at a time daily, then add more gradually.
• Struggling to ship your product? Make a schedule that’s easy for you, commit to shipping, and adjust the pace as needed.
Show up. Keep your commitments. Be consistent.
It’s not about doing a lot or waiting for inspiration. It’s about forming the habit of showing up, no matter what. That alone is enough to get you started.