1<!DOCTYPE html> 2<html lang="en"> 3 4<head> 5 <meta charset="utf-8"> 6 <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> 7 <title>When You Don't Want to Do It: Make it Easier</title> 8 <link rel="icon" type="image/svg+xml" href="/assets/images/logo.svg?v=kiUakJw4SKjDDVnb"> 9 <style>:root{--font-title: "EB Garamond", Georgia, serif;}</style> 10 11<style>:root{--font-body: "Source Serif 4", Georgia, serif;}</style> 12 13 14 <link rel="preload" href="/assets/fonts/InterVariable.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin> 15 <link rel="preload" href="/assets/fonts/eb-garamond-normal.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin> 16 <link rel="preload" href="/assets/fonts/source-serif-4-normal.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin> 17 <link rel="stylesheet" href="/assets/built/screen.css?v=Yui_AwYUCcdgpbfD"> 18 <style> 19/* Inter variable font â Latin subsetted, all weights */ 20@font-face { font-family: "Inter"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 100 900; font-display: swap; src: url("/assets/fonts/InterVariable.woff2") format("woff2"); } 21 22@font-feature-values Inter { 23 @character-variant { 24 cv01: 1; cv02: 2; cv03: 3; cv04: 4; cv05: 5; cv06: 6; cv07: 7; cv08: 8; 25 cv09: 9; cv10: 10; cv11: 11; cv12: 12; cv13: 13; 26 alt-1: 1; /* Alternate one */ 27 alt-3: 9; /* Flat-top three */ 28 open-4: 2; /* Open four */ 29 open-6: 3; /* Open six */ 30 open-9: 4; /* Open nine */ 31 lc-l-with-tail: 5; /* Lower-case L with tail */ 32 simplified-u: 6; /* Simplified u */ 33 alt-double-s: 7; /* Alternate German double s */ 34 uc-i-with-serif: 8; /* Upper-case i with serif */ 35 uc-g-with-spur: 10; /* Capital G with spur */ 36 single-story-a: 11; /* Single-story a */ 37 compact-lc-f: 12; /* Compact f */ 38 compact-lc-t: 13; /* Compact t */ 39 } 40 @styleset { 41 ss01: 1; ss02: 2; ss03: 3; ss04: 4; ss05: 5; ss06: 6; ss07: 7; ss08: 8; 42 open-digits: 1; /* Open digits */ 43 disambiguation: 2; /* Disambiguation (with zero) */ 44 disambiguation-except-zero: 4; /* Disambiguation (no zero) */ 45 round-quotes-and-commas: 3; /* Round quotes & commas */ 46 square-punctuation: 7; /* Square punctuation */ 47 square-quotes: 8; /* Square quotes */ 48 circled-characters: 5; /* Circled characters */ 49 squared-characters: 6; /* Squared characters */ 50 } 51} 52/* Source Serif 4 â variable, latin */ 53@font-face { 54 font-family: "Source Serif 4"; 55 font-style: normal; 56 font-weight: 200 900; 57 font-display: swap; 58 src: url('/assets/fonts/source-serif-4-normal.woff2') format('woff2'); 59} 60@font-face { 61 font-family: "Source Serif 4"; 62 font-style: italic; 63 font-weight: 200 900; 64 font-display: swap; 65 src: url('/assets/fonts/source-serif-4-italic.woff2') format('woff2'); 66} 67/* EB Garamond â variable, latin */ 68@font-face { 69 font-family: "EB Garamond"; 70 font-style: normal; 71 font-weight: 400 800; 72 font-display: swap; 73 src: url('/assets/fonts/eb-garamond-normal.woff2') format('woff2'); 74} 75@font-face { 76 font-family: "EB Garamond"; 77 font-style: italic; 78 font-weight: 400 800; 79 font-display: swap; 80 src: url('/assets/fonts/eb-garamond-italic.woff2') format('woff2'); 81} 82</style> 83 84 <meta name="description" content="I stopped going to the gym because I dreaded long workouts. By making them easier, I found a way to stick with them."> 85 <link rel="icon" href="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/content/images/size/w256h256/format/png/2026/06/Publication-Icon-3.svg" type="image/png"> 86 <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/when-you-dont-want-to-do-it-make-it-easier/"> 87 <meta name="referrer" content="origin-when-cross-origin"> 88 89 <meta property="og:site_name" content="It's Me Waldi"> 90 <meta property="og:type" content="article"> 91 <meta property="og:title" content="When You Don't Want to Do It: Make It Easier"> 92 <meta property="og:description" content="I stopped going to the gym. Then I discovered how to go again."> 93 <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/when-you-dont-want-to-do-it-make-it-easier/"> 94 <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/content/images/2025/12/Facebook-Card--Blog-Post-.jpg"> 95 <meta property="article:published_time" content="2025-12-31T17:33:17.000Z"> 96 <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2026-06-02T19:12:43.000Z"> 97 <meta property="article:tag" content="Avoidance"> 98 99 <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> 100 <meta name="twitter:title" content="When You Don't Want to Do It: Make It Easier"> 101 <meta name="twitter:description" content="I stopped going to the gym again until I found a way to make it so easy that I wanted to go."> 102 <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/when-you-dont-want-to-do-it-make-it-easier/"> 103 <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/content/images/2025/12/Twitter-Card--Blog-Posts-.jpg">
104 <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Written by"> 105 <meta name="twitter:data1" content="Waldi"> 106 <meta name="twitter:label2" content="Filed under"> 107 <meta name="twitter:data2" content="Avoidance"> 108 <meta name="twitter:site" content="@itsmewaldi"> 109 <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@itsmewaldi"> 110 <meta property="og:image:width" content="1200"> 111 <meta property="og:image:height" content="630"> 112 113
113<script type="application/ld+json"> 114{ 115 "@context": "https://schema.org", 116 "@type": "Article", 117 "publisher": { 118 "@type": "Organization", 119 "name": "It's Me Waldi", 120 "url": "https://www.itsmewaldi.com/", 121 "logo": { 122 "@type": "ImageObject", 123 "url": "https://www.itsmewaldi.com/content/images/2026/06/Publication-Logo-3.svg", 124 "width": 60, 125 "height": 60 126 } 127 }, 128 "author": { 129 "@type": "Person", 130 "name": "Waldi", 131 "image": { 132 "@type": "ImageObject", 133 "url": "https://www.itsmewaldi.com/content/images/2023/04/new2right.png", 134 "width": 1000, 135 "height": 1000 136 }, 137 "url": "https://www.itsmewaldi.com/author/waldi/", 138 "sameAs": [ 139 "https://www.itsmewaldi.com", 140 "https://x.com/itsmewaldi" 141 ] 142 }, 143 "headline": "When You Don't Want to Do It: Make it Easier", 144 "url": "https://www.itsmewaldi.com/when-you-dont-want-to-do-it-make-it-easier/", 145 "datePublished": "2025-12-31T17:33:17.000Z", 146 "dateModified": "2026-06-02T19:12:43.000Z", 147 "keywords": "Avoidance", 148 "description": "Ease as an antidote to dread.", 149 "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.itsmewaldi.com/when-you-dont-want-to-do-it-make-it-easier/" 150} 151 </script>
151 152 153 <meta name="generator" content="Ghost 6.63"> 154 <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="It's Me Waldi" href="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/rss/"> 155
155<script defer src="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/content/files/ghost-apps/portal/portal.min.js" data-i18n="true" data-ghost="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/" data-key="6ef724475a1d931b77dd0c0aeb" data-api="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/ghost/api/content/" data-locale="en" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
155<style id="gh-members-styles">.gh-post-upgrade-cta-content, 156.gh-post-upgrade-cta { 157 display: flex; 158 flex-direction: column; 159 align-items: center; 160 font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; 161 text-align: center; 162 width: 100%; 163 color: #ffffff; 164 font-size: 16px; 165} 166 167.gh-post-upgrade-cta-content { 168 border-radius: 8px; 169 padding: 40px 4vw; 170} 171 172.gh-post-upgrade-cta h2 { 173 color: #ffffff; 174 font-size: 28px; 175 letter-spacing: -0.2px; 176 margin: 0; 177 padding: 0; 178} 179 180.gh-post-upgrade-cta p { 181 margin: 20px 0 0; 182 padding: 0; 183} 184 185.gh-post-upgrade-cta small { 186 font-size: 16px; 187 letter-spacing: -0.2px; 188} 189 190.gh-post-upgrade-cta a { 191 color: #ffffff; 192 cursor: pointer; 193 font-weight: 500; 194 box-shadow: none; 195 text-decoration: underline; 196} 197 198.gh-post-upgrade-cta a:hover { 199 color: #ffffff; 200 opacity: 0.8; 201 box-shadow: none; 202 text-decoration: underline; 203} 204 205.gh-post-upgrade-cta a.gh-btn { 206 display: block; 207 background: #ffffff; 208 text-decoration: none; 209 margin: 28px 0 0; 210 padding: 8px 18px; 211 border-radius: 4px; 212 font-size: 16px; 213 font-weight: 600; 214} 215 216.gh-post-upgrade-cta a.gh-btn:hover { 217 opacity: 0.92; 218}</style>
218<script async src="https://js.stripe.com/v3/"></script>
218 219
219<script defer src="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/content/files/ghost-apps/sodo-search/sodo-search.min.js" data-key="6ef724475a1d931b77dd0c0aeb" data-styles="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/content/files/ghost-apps/sodo-search/main.css" data-sodo-search="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/" data-locale="en" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
219 220 221 <link href="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/webmentions/receive/" rel="webmention"> 222
222<script defer src="/public/cards.min.js?v=ShRHxgy4po8zN-Wf"></script>
222 223 <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/public/cards.min.css?v=WwnU9jw5ancNC8Gc"> 224
224<script defer src="/public/member-attribution.min.js?v=AKG4hWena9j3yX3I"></script>
224 225
225<script defer src="/public/ghost-stats.min.js?v=vFcCUf6ZQ0Hyhc8h" data-stringify-payload="false" data-datasource="analytics_events" data-storage="localStorage" data-host="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/.ghost/analytics/api/v1/page_hit" tb_site_uuid="9329650e-72b0-46f2-b66f-bc65fe2f1fae" tb_post_uuid="3418d524-ebd8-48ae-9f7a-b51e1c61e8c2" tb_post_type="post" tb_member_uuid="undefined" tb_member_status="undefined" tb_gift_link=""></script>
225<style>:root {--ghost-accent-color: #0aa4e6;}</style> 226 <meta name="google-site-verification" content="awejpJiVC_4AUPhUaJ3vjbBABlh0zIJYKtJfXHFyeYM" /> 227</head> 228 229<body class="post-template tag-avoidance"> 230 <a class="skip-link" href="#main">Skip to content</a> 231 <svg width="0" height="0" style="display: none;"> 232 <symbol xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32 32" id="arrow-left"> 233 <path d="M26.667 14.667v2.667h-16L18 24.667l-1.893 1.893L5.547 16l10.56-10.56L18 7.333l-7.333 7.333h16z"></path> 234 </symbol> 235 <symbol xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32 32" id="arrow-right"> 236 <path d="M5.333 14.667v2.667h16L14 24.667l1.893 1.893L26.453 16 15.893 5.44 14 7.333l7.333 7.333h-16z"></path> 237 </symbol> 238 <symbol xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32 32" id="chevron-left"> 239 <path d="M20.547 22.107L14.44 16l6.107-6.12L18.667 8l-8 8 8 8 1.88-1.893z"></path> 240 </symbol> 241 <symbol xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32 32" id="chevron-right"> 242 <path d="M11.453 22.107L17.56 16l-6.107-6.12L13.333 8l8 8-8 8-1.88-1.893z"></path> 243 </symbol> 244 245 <symbol xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 320 512" id="facebook"> 246 <path d="M279.14 288l14.22-92.66h-88.91v-60.13c0-25.35 12.42-50.06 52.24-50.06h40.42V6.26S260.43 0 225.36 0c-73.22 0-121.08 44.38-121.08 124.72v70.62H22.89V288h81.39v224h100.17V288z"/> 247 </symbol> 248 <symbol xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32 32" id="magnify"> 249 <path 250 d="M12.667 4a8.667 8.667 0 0 1 8.667 8.667c0 2.147-.787 4.12-2.08 5.64l.36.36h1.053l6.667 6.667-2 2-6.667-6.667v-1.053l-.36-.36a8.689 8.689 0 0 1-5.64 2.08C7.88 21.334 4 17.454 4 12.667S7.88 4 12.667 4zm0 2.667c-3.333 0-6 2.667-6 6s2.667 6 6 6 6-2.667 6-6-2.667-6-6-6z"> 251 </path> 252 </symbol> 253 <symbol xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 448 512" id="r
253ss"> 254 <path d="M25.57 176.1C12.41 175.4 .9117 185.2 .0523 198.4s9.173 24.65 22.39 25.5c120.1 7.875 225.7 112.7 233.6 233.6C256.9 470.3 267.4 480 279.1 480c.5313 0 1.062-.0313 1.594-.0625c13.22-.8438 23.25-12.28 22.39-25.5C294.6 310.3 169.7 185.4 25.57 176.1zM32 32C14.33 32 0 46.31 0 64s14.33 32 32 32c194.1 0 352 157.9 352 352c0 17.69 14.33 32 32 32s32-14.31 32-32C448 218.6 261.4 32 32 32zM63.1 351.9C28.63 351.9 0 380.6 0 416s28.63 64 63.1 64s64.08-28.62 64.08-64S99.37 351.9 63.1 351.9z"/> 255 </symbol> 256 <symbol xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32 32" id="star"> 257 <path 258 d="M16 23.027L24.24 28l-2.187-9.373 7.28-6.307-9.587-.827-3.747-8.827-3.747 8.827-9.587.827 7.267 6.307L7.759 28l8.24-4.973z"> 259 </path> 260 </symbol> 261 <symbol xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24" id="table-of-contents"> 262 <path d="M3 9h14V7H3v2m0 4h14v-2H3v2m0 4h14v-2H3v2m16 0h2v-2h-2v2m0-10v2h2V7h-2m0 6h2v-2h-2v2z"></path> 263 </symbol> 264 <symbol xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512" id="twitter"> 265 <path d="M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z"/> 266 </symbol> 267 <symbol xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32 32" id="window-close"> 268 <path 269 d="M17.947 16l7.387 7.387v1.947h-1.947L16 17.947l-7.387 7.387H6.666v-1.947L14.053 16 6.666 8.613V6.666h1.947L16 14.053l7.387-7.387h1.947v1.947L17.947 16z"> 270 </path> 271 </symbol> 272 <symbol xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24" id="whatsapp"> 273 <path d="M12.031 6.172c-3.181 0-5.767 2.586-5.768 5.766-.001 1.298.38 2.27 1.019 3.287l-.582 2.128 2.182-.573c.978.58 1.911.928 3.145.929 3.178 0 5.767-2.587 5.768-5.766.001-3.187-2.575-5.77-5.764-5.771zm3.392 8.244c-.144.405-.837.774-1.17.824-.299.045-.677.063-1.092-.069-.252-.08-.575-.187-.988-.365-1.739-.751-2.874-2.502-2.961-2.617-.087-.116-.708-.94-.708-1.793s.448-1.273.607-1.446c.159-.173.346-.217.462-.217l.332.006c.106.005.249-.04.39.298.144.347.491 1.2.534 1.287.043.087.072.188.014.304-.058.116-.087.188-.173.289l-.26.304c-.087.086-.177.18-.076.354.101.174.449.741.964 1.201.662.591 1.221.774 1.394.86s.274.072.376-.043c.101-.116.433-.506.549-.68.116-.173.231-.145.39-.087s1.011.477 1.184.564.289.13.332.202c.045.072.045.419-.1.824zm-3.423-14.416c-6.627 0-12 5.373-12 12s5.373 12 12 12 12-5.373 12-12-5.373-12-12-12zm.029 18.88c-1.161 0-2.305-.292-3.318-.844l-3.677.964.984-3.595c-.607-1.052-.927-2.246-.926-3.468.001-3.825 3.113-6.937 6.937-6.937 1.856.001 3.598.723 4.907 2.034 1.31 1.311 2.031 3.054 2.03 4.908-.001 3.825-3.113 6.938-6.937 6.938z"/> 274 </symbol> 275 <symbol xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24" id="email"> 276 <path d="M0 3v18h24v-18h-24zm21.518 2l-9.518 7.713-9.518-7.713h19.036zm-19.518 14v-11.817l10 8.104 10-8.104v11.817h-20z"/> 277 </symbol> 278 <symbol xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 448 512" id="instagram"> 279 <path d="M224.1 141c-63.6 0-114.9 51.3-114.9 114.9s51.3 114.9 114.9 114.9S339 319.5 339 255.9 287.7 141 224.1 141zm0 189.6c-41.1 0-74.7-33.5-74.7-74.7s33.5-74.7 74.7-74.7 74.7 33.5 74.7 74.7-33.6 74.7-74.7 74.7zm146.4-194.3c0 14.9-12 26.8-26.8 26.8-14.9 0-26.8-12-26.8-26.8s12-26.8 26.8-26.8 26.8 12 26.8 26.8zm76.1 27.2c-1.7-35.9-9.9-67.7-36.2-93.9-26.2-26.2-58-34.4-93.9-36.2-37-2.1-147.9-2.1-184.9 0-35.8 1.7-67.6 9.9-93.9 36.1s-34.4 58-36.2 93.9c-2.1 37-2.1 147.9 0 184.9 1.7 35.9 9.9 67.7 36.2 93.9s58 34.4 93.9 36.2c37 2.1 147.9 2.1 184.9 0 35.9-1.7 67.7-9.9 93.9-36.2 26.2-26.2 34.4-58 36.2-93.9 2.1-37 2.1-147.8 0-184.8zM398.8 388c-7.8 19.6-22.9 34.7-42.6 42.6-29.5 11.7-99.5 9-132.1 9s-102.7 2.6-132.1-9c-19.6-7.8-34.7-22.9-42.6-42.6-11.7-29.5-9-99.5-9-132.1s-2.6-102.7 9-132.1c7.8-19.6 22.9-34.7 42.6-42.6 29.5-11.7 99.5-9 132.1-9s102.7-2.6 132.1 9c19.6 7.8 34.7 22.9 42.6 42.6 11.7 29.5 9 99.5 9 132.1s2.7 102.7-9 132.1z"/> 280 </symbol> 281</svg> 282 <div class="site"> 283 <header class="site-header"> 284 <div class="header-left"> 285 <a class="logo" href="https://www.itsmewaldi.com"> 286 <img class="logo-image" src="/content/images/2026/06/Publication-Logo-3.svg" alt="It's Me Waldi" width="50" height="50"> 287 </a> 288 </div> 289 <nav class="main-nav hidden-xs hidden-sm hidden-md" aria-label="Main"> 290 <a class="menu-item menu-item-start-here" 291 href="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/start-here/">Start Here</a> 292 <a class="menu-item menu-item-letters" 293 href="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/ideas/">Letters</a> 294 295 </nav> 296 <button class="button-icon hidden-lg hidden-xl" data-ghost-search aria-label="Search"> 297 <svg class="icon"> 298 <use xlink:href="#magnify"></use> 299 </svg> 300 </button> 301 <div class="hidden-lg hidden-xl mobile-social-icons-wrap"> 302 <a href="https://x.com/itsmewaldi" class="social-icon social-icon-mobile" aria-label="Twitter"> 303 <svg class="icon icon-twitter"> 304 <use xlink:href="#twitter"></use> 305 </svg> 306 </a> 307 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/itsmewaldi/" class="social-icon social-icon-mobile" aria-label="Instagram"> 308 <svg class="icon icon-instagram"> 309 <use xlink:href="#instagram"></use> 310 </svg> 311 </a> 312 </div> 313 <button class="burger hidden-lg hidden-xl" type="button" aria-label="Menu" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="mobile-menu">
314 <span class="burger-bar"></span> 315 <span class="burger-bar"></span> 316 </button> 317 318 <div class="mobile-menu hidden-lg hidden-xl" id="mobile-menu"> 319 <div class="container"> 320 <nav class="mobile-nav" aria-label="Mobile"> 321 <a class="menu-item menu-item-start-here" 322 href="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/start-here/">Start Here</a> 323 <a class="menu-item menu-item-letters" 324 href="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/ideas/">Letters</a> 325 326 </nav> 327 </div> 328 </div> 329 <div class="header-right hidden-xs hidden-sm hidden-md"> 330 <button class="button-icon menu-item-button menu-item" data-ghost-search aria-label="Search"> 331 <svg class="icon"> 332 <use xlink:href="#magnify"></use> 333 </svg> 334 </button> 335 <a href="https://x.com/itsmewaldi" class="social-icon menu-item" target="_blank" aria-label="Twitter"> 336 <svg class="icon icon-twitter"> 337 <use xlink:href="#twitter"></use> 338 </svg> 339 </a> 340 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/itsmewaldi/" class="social-icon menu-item" target="_blank" aria-label="Instagram"> 341 <svg class="icon icon-instagram"> 342 <use xlink:href="#instagram"></use> 343 </svg> 344 </a> 345 </div> 346</header> 347 348 <div class="site-content" id="main" tabindex="-1"> 349 350<div class="content-area"> 351 <main class="site-main"> 352 <article class="single post tag-avoidance no-image"> 353 <header class="single-header container"> 354 <h1 class="single-title">When you don't want to do it: make it easier</h1> 355 <div class="single-excerpt"> 356 Ease as an antidote to dread. 357 </div> 358 <div class="single-meta"> 359 <span class="single-meta-item single-meta-length"> 360 1 min read 361 </span> 362 </div> 363 <div class="single-meta-tag-wrap"> 364 <span class="single-meta-item single-meta-tag"> 365 <a class="post-tag post-tag-avoidance" href="/tag/avoidance/"> 366 Avoidance 367 </a> 368 </span> 369 </div> 370 </header> 371 <div class="single-content gh-content kg-canvas"> 372 <p>I recently stopped going to the gym. Again.</p> 373<p>When I thought about going, I felt dread.</p> 374<p>Dread about getting ready, driving to the gym, doing a full workout, changing, driving back and showering. Dread of investing well over 1 hour to do all this. Dread of doing this again in a couple of days.</p> 375<p>I soon realized that the reason I felt this dread was that my workout typically takes 45-50 minutes.</p> 376<p>I rarely felt energized enough to workout for that long.</p> 377<p>The solution was simple: Cut down the time it takes to workout.</p> 378<p>Together with my trainer, I divided my 50-minute workout into 3 smaller workouts. One that has only the 3 most essential exercises. One that has 3 more and one that has all the rest.</p> 379<p>This allows me to exercise for anywhere between 10 and 60 minutes, depending on how I feel. If I really don't want to go, I do my 3 exercises and return home. If I feel like I can do more after those 3, I can do 3 more. They just add 10 more minutes. And when I feel like I really want to get after it, I can workout for the whole 60 minutes.</p> 380<p>While this might seem like a small change, it had a huge impact.</p> 381<p>The dread vanished.</p> 382<p>If I want to go to the gym, I can go for 10 minutes. That's more than fine with me on most days. It's also all I need to do to get a workout in. That's small and achievable.</p> 383<p>The bigger lesson I've learned from this is that when I don't want to do something, I should make it easier until I do.</p> 384<p>A 45-minute workout filled me with dread, so I avoided it.</p> 385<p>A 10-minute workout feels easy and good, so I do it.</p> 386<p>Of course, this change isn't limited to doing something for a shorter duration.</p> 387<p>It can mean to do it with less expectations, with less money, or less intensity.</p> 388<p>The key point is to make what you dread about it easier until you want to do it.</p> 389<p>So, the next time you don't want to do something, make it easier until you do.</p> 390
391 <span class="single-meta-item single-meta-date"> 392 <time datetime="2025-12-31"> 393 31st of December 2025 394 </time> 395 </span> 396 </div> 397 <footer class="single-footer container medium"> 398 <div class="single-footer-left"> 399 </div> 400 <div class="single-footer-middle"> 401 </div> 402 <div class="single-footer-right"> 403 </div> 404 </footer> 405</article> <section class="related-wrapper"> 406 <div class="container medium"> 407 <h2 class="related-title">You might also like...</h2> 408 <div class="related-feed"> 409 <article class="feed post no-image"> 410 <div class="feed-calendar"> 411 <div class="feed-calendar-month"> 412 Mar 413 </div> 414 <div class="feed-calendar-day"> 415 10. 416 </div> 417 </div> 418 <h2 class="feed-title">Avoidance: the hidden enemy of your ideal future</h2> 419 <div class="feed-right hidden-xs hidden-sm"> 420 <svg class="icon feed-visibility feed-visibility-public"> 421 <use xlink:href="#star"></use> 422 </svg> 423 <div class="feed-length"> 424 4 min read 425 </div> 426 </div> 427 <svg class="icon feed-icon"> 428 <use xlink:href="#chevron-right"></use> 429 </svg> 430 <a class="u-permalink" href="/avoidance-the-hidden-enemy-of-your-ideal-life/" aria-label="Avoidance: the hidden enemy of your ideal future"></a> 431</article> <article class="feed post no-image"> 432 <div class="feed-calendar"> 433 <div class="feed-calendar-month"> 434 Jun 435 </div> 436 <div class="feed-calendar-day"> 437 18. 438 </div> 439 </div> 440 <h2 class="feed-title">How to reclaim your authentic self</h2> 441 <div class="feed-right hidden-xs hidden-sm"> 442 <svg class="icon feed-visibility feed-visibility-public"> 443 <use xlink:href="#star"></use> 444 </svg> 445 <div class="feed-length"> 446 2 min read 447 </div> 448 </div> 449 <svg class="icon feed-icon"> 450 <use xlink:href="#chevron-right"></use> 451 </svg> 452 <a class="u-permalink" href="/how-to-reclaim-your-authentic-self/" aria-label="How to reclaim your authentic self"></a> 453</article> <article class="feed post no-image"> 454 <div class="feed-calendar"> 455 <div class="feed-calendar-month"> 456 Mar 457 </div> 458 <div class="feed-calendar-day"> 459 12. 460 </div> 461 </div> 462 <h2 class="feed-title">How to embrace change with awareness</h2> 463 <div class="feed-right hidden-xs hidden-sm"> 464 <svg class="icon feed-visibility feed-visibility-public"> 465 <use xlink:href="#star"></use> 466 </svg> 467 <div class="feed-length"> 468 2 min read 469 </div> 470 </div> 471 <svg class="icon feed-icon"> 472 <use xlink:href="#chevron-right"></use> 473 </svg> 474 <a class="u-permalink" href="/how-to-embrace-change-with-awareness/" aria-label="How to embrace change with awareness"></a> 475</article> <article class="feed post no-image"> 476 <div class="feed-calendar"> 477 <div class="feed-calendar-month"> 478 Apr 479 </div> 480 <div class="feed-calendar-day"> 481 19. 482 </div> 483 </div> 484 <h2 class="feed-title">Don't "snooze" life's wake-up calls</h2> 485 <div class="feed-right hidden-xs hidden-sm"> 486 <svg class="icon feed-visibility feed-visibility-public"> 487 <use xlink:href="#star"></use> 488 </svg> 489 <div class="feed-length"> 490 1 min read 491 </div> 492 </div> 493 <svg class="icon feed-icon"> 494 <use xlink:href="#chevron-right"></use> 495 </svg> 496 <a class="u-permalink" href="/dont-snooze-life/" aria-label="Don't "snooze" life's wake-up calls"></a> 497</article> <article class="feed post no-image"> 498 <div class="feed-calendar"> 499 <div class="feed-calendar-month"> 500 Oct 501 </div> 502 <div class="feed-calendar-day"> 503 22. 504 </div> 505 </div> 506 <h2 class="feed-title">Why you shouldnât do what you hate</h2> 507 <div class="feed-right hidden-xs hidden-sm"> 508 <svg class="icon feed-visibility feed-visibility-public"> 509 <use xlink:href="#star"></use> 510 </svg> 511 <div class="feed-length"> 512 1 min read 513 </div> 514 </div> 515 <svg class="icon feed-icon"> 516 <use xlink:href="#chevron-right"></use> 517 </svg> 518 <a class="u-permalink" href="/why-you-shouldnt-do-what-you-hate/" aria-label="Why you shouldnât do what you hate"></a> 519</article> </div> 520 </div> 521 </section> 522 </main> 523</div> 524 </div> 525 526<aside class="container subscription-container" aria-label="Newsletter signup"> 527 <h2 class="subscription-title">Create Your Ideal Future</h2> 528 <div class="subscription-description"> 529 Understand who you are, unlock your potential, and create your ideal future with my weekly letters. 530 </div> 531 <form class="email-subscription-form" data-members-form="subscribe"> 532 <div class="form-field-wrap field-group-inline"> 533 <label for="footer-email" class="sr-only">Email address</label> 534 <input data-members-email="" type="email" class="email form-field input-field" id="footer-email" placeholder="Email address" required="" autocomplete="off"> 535 <button class="button button-alternate" type="submit"><span>Subscribe</span></button> 536 </div> 537 <div class="message-container"> 538 <div class="notification notification-success"> 539 <button type="button" class="notification-close" aria-label="Dismiss"> 540 <svg class="icon"> 541 <use xlink:href="#window-close"></use> 542 </svg> 543 </button> 544 Great! Please confirm your subscription by clicking the link in the email I just sent you. 545 </div> 546 <div class="notification notification-error"> 547 <button type="button" class="notification-close" aria-label="Dismiss"> 548 <svg class="icon"> 549 <use xlink:href="#window-close"></use> 550 </svg> 551 </button> 552 Error! Please enter a valid email address! 553 </div> 554 </div> 555 </form> 556</aside> <footer class="site-footer container"> 557 <div class="social"> 558 <a class="social-item social-item-twitter" 559 href="https://x.com/itsmewaldi" target="_blank" 560 rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-label="Twitter"> 561 <svg class="icon"> 562 <use xlink:href="#twitter"></use> 563 </svg> 564 </a> 565 <a class="social-item social-item-instagram" 566 href="https://www.instagram.com/itsmewaldi/" target="_blank" 567 rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-label="Instagram"> 568 <svg class="icon icon-instagram"> 569 <use xlink:href="#instagram"></use> 570 </svg> 571 </a> 572 <a class="social-item social-item-rss" 573 href="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/rss/" 574 target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-label="RSS"> 575 <svg class="icon"> 576 <use xlink:href="#rss"></use> 577 </svg> 578 </a> 579 </div> 580 581 <nav class="footer-nav" aria-label="Footer"> 582 <a class="menu-item menu-item-home" 583 href="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/">Home</a> 584 <a class="menu-item menu-item-sign-in" 585 href="#/portal/signin">Sign in</a> 586 <a class="menu-item menu-item-instagram" 587 href="https://www.instagram.com/itsmewaldi/">Instagram</a> 588 <a class="menu-item menu-item-x" 589 href="https://x.com/itsmewaldi">X</a> 590 <a class="menu-item menu-item-impressum" 591 href="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/impressum/">Impressum</a> 592 <a class="menu-item menu-item-privacy-policy" 593 href="https://www.itsmewaldi.com/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a> 594 595 </nav> 596</footer> <!-- Root element of PhotoSwipe. Must have class pswp. --> 597<div class="pswp" tabindex="-1" role="dialog" aria-hidden="true">
598 <!-- Background of PhotoSwipe. 599 It's a separate element as animating opacity is faster than rgba(). --> 600 <div class="pswp__bg"></div> 601 602 <!-- Slides wrapper with overflow:hidden. --> 603 <div class="pswp__scroll-wrap"> 604 <!-- Container that holds slides. 605 PhotoSwipe keeps only 3 of them in the DOM to save memory. 606 Don't modify these 3 pswp__item elements, data is added later on. --> 607 <div class="pswp__container"> 608 <div class="pswp__item"></div> 609 <div class="pswp__item"></div> 610 <div class="pswp__item"></div> 611 </div> 612 613 <!-- Default (PhotoSwipeUI_Default) interface on top of sliding area. Can be changed. --> 614 <div class="pswp__ui pswp__ui--hidden"> 615 <div class="pswp__top-bar"> 616 <!-- Controls are self-explanatory. Order can be changed. --> 617 <div class="pswp__counter"></div> 618 619 <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--close" title="Close (Esc)"></button> 620 <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--share" title="Share"></button> 621 <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--fs" title="Toggle fullscreen"></button> 622 <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--zoom" title="Zoom in/out"></button> 623 624 <!-- Preloader demo https://codepen.io/dimsemenov/pen/yyBWoR --> 625 <!-- element will get class pswp__preloader--active when preloader is running --> 626 <div class="pswp__preloader"> 627 <div class="pswp__preloader__icn"> 628 <div class="pswp__preloader__cut"> 629 <div class="pswp__preloader__donut"></div> 630 </div> 631 </div> 632 </div> 633 </div> 634 635 <div class="pswp__share-modal pswp__share-modal--hidden pswp__single-tap"> 636 <div class="pswp__share-tooltip"></div> 637 </div> 638 639 <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--arrow--left" title="Previous (arrow left)"></button> 640 <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--arrow--right" title="Next (arrow right)"></button> 641 642 <div class="pswp__caption"> 643 <div class="pswp__caption__center"></div> 644 </div> 645 </div> 646 </div> 647</div> 648 </div> 649 650
650<script src="/assets/built/main.min.js?v=zevQIxd2f2MVVRrX" defer></script>
650 651
651<script src="/assets/built/lightbox.min.js?v=-kJU3XSx-cZ49HSI" defer></script>
651 652 653 654</body> 655 656</html>
Line numbers count LF bytes from the start of the resource, as the search results do. Vendor segments are library code the classifier recognised; they are stored but not indexed. Bytes are shown as Latin1 characters, one per byte.