Let’s be real — stopping my own excuses has been a long, bumpy road. I used to be that person who could talk myself out of almost anything. “I’ll work out tomorrow,” or “It’s just not a good time”—I had a mental library of these little excuses that kept me from actually doing what I wanted.

The turning point came when I realized that these small things were adding up, and they were creating this low-level stress that I just couldn’t shake. I was getting frustrated with myself and feeling like I couldn’t get my act together. So, I decided to try something different.

I started making deals with myself to just do a tiny bit. Like, “You only have to fold five shirts,” or “Just wash the dishes for five minutes.” It sounds ridiculously small, but once I got going, I’d usually just keep going. Five minutes would turn into fifteen. It made the whole thing feel way less overwhelming and I started to trust myself more to get things done.

Then, I began learning how to gently call myself out. When I’d start saying, “I’ll do it tomorrow,” I’d respond with, “You know that’s just an excuse.” I wouldn’t beat myself up, but I’d remind myself of how good it felt if I actually followed through.

Yes, I still have lazy days, but now I know that starting small and staying kind to myself works better than any big motivation boost.