Mental resistance isn’t in doing the task. It’s in getting started.

When I’m in LA, my morning routine is to wake up at 6:30 and drive to the ocean for a run. Many mornings, I don’t feel like running at all. The moment I wake up, a mental negotiation begins: stay in bed longer, or get up and get dressed?

When I don’t feel like running, I convince myself by saying I’ll just go for a walk. Breathe the ocean air, listen to the waves, be outside. That feels enjoyable and easy.

When I get to the ocean, I start by walking. After five minutes, my body wakes up. The sun starts to heat up, and running feels like the natural next step. There hasn’t been a single day when I went to the beach “just to walk” and didn’t end up running.

The trick isn’t to lie to yourself or force discipline. You genuinely give yourself permission to stop after the easy version. Once you’ve started, momentum takes over. And more often than not, you’ll find that continuing is easier than stopping.

This same principle applies to almost anything:

• Don’t feel like reading? Commit to one page.
• Dreading the dishes? Wash one item.
• Avoiding a workout? Put on your shoes and step outside.

Lowering the bar removes mental resistance.