Do You Wait? How to Stop Waiting and Start Taking Action

Do you find yourself waiting? Waiting for the perfect time to make that career pivot that will transform your business. Waiting to get organized and tackle life admin. Waiting to set boundaries and reclaim your family time. Waiting to implement healthier lifestyle habits.

Here’s the truth: it’s not the task, the work, or even the personal situation that’s holding you back.
It’s about the belief that you must remove all obstacles, anxiety, or fear before you can start.
But waiting for readiness is like waiting for the sea to part before you cross it.

The Problem With Waiting

Every time you’ve waited, what happened? You found yourself doing everything but the task at hand. You end up:

• Hoovering the lawn.

• Organizing the bookshelf.

• Tinkering with DIY projects.

• Crafting an intricate schedule to plan the work.

• Scrolling through social media, or worse, turning to smoking, drinking, or overeating.

Your brain is masterful at creating distractions, even at your own expense. Why? Because your mind is trying to protect you. It senses discomfort and decides the conditions aren’t right. It nudges you back to your comfort zone, where things are familiar and safe.

Why Waiting Feels Safe But Leaves You Frustrated

The comfort zone feels safe, but it comes with a cost. You’ll end up frustrated, regretting the inaction and wasted time. That angst of knowing you could’ve done more, achieved more, becomes a constant companion.
You even try to soothe yourself by blaming fate: “Some people are born with motivation, but I’m not.”
Here’s the issue: by blaming fate, you dis empower yourself. You feed the belief that action is hopeless.

The Truth About Readiness

Here’s the hard truth: that magical feeling of being “ready” isn’t coming.

The perfect time you’re waiting for will never arrive. Those thoughts are delusions your mind generates to shield you from present discomfort. Resistance and fear will always exist. The key isn’t waiting for them to disappear; it’s learning to act despite them.

How People Who Succeed Take Action

You might think those who pursue their dreams are rare exceptions—freaks of nature, blessed with some extraordinary genetic trait.
The reality is far simpler: they have self-control. And that self-control comes from emotional regulation.

These individuals:

1. Choose discomfort intentionally – They impose acts of discipline, doing things they’d rather not do. This strengthens the part of the brain responsible for willpower.

2. Acknowledge their feelings but don’t obey them – They recognize fear and resistance but act anyway.

3. Follow routines, not emotions – Their routines dictate their actions, ensuring consistency regardless of how they feel.

This ability to act, even when it’s hard, is how they accomplish their goals.

Overcoming the Wait

To break free from the cycle of waiting:

1. Recognize the pattern – Be honest with yourself about how you’ve avoided tasks in the past.

2. Reframe discomfort – View it as a sign of growth, not something to fear.

3. Create a routine – Build systems that guide your actions, so you rely less on fleeting motivation.

4. Take small steps – Start with manageable tasks to build momentum and confidence.

Final Thoughts

Waiting for the perfect moment is an illusion. Fear and resistance will always be present, but they don’t have to dictate your life.

The people who succeed aren’t superhuman—they’ve simply trained themselves to take action regardless of how they feel.

Stop waiting. Start building the habits that will lead to the life you’ve always dreamed of.

Remember: The perfect time is now.