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Stop Chasing Motivation—Do This Instead
Motivation won’t always show up, but momentum will. Here’s how to start small and make progress automatic.
Bottom Line Up Front
We all love the spark of motivation, but it rarely sticks around for long. I’ll share why momentum matters and how to get started today—no perfect timing required.
Why Motivation Lets Us Down
Motivation feels great when it shows up. The problem is, it’s not reliable—it depends on things like sleep, stress, and energy.
When your mood shifts or you have a down day, motivation won’t be there to help carry you on.
How to Build Momentum
Momentum comes from small, simple actions—tiny steps that reduce friction and make the next move obvious.
Lace up your shoes if you want to run.
Lay out your clothes the night before.
Fill a water bottle so it’s waiting for you.
One of my favorite tools is habit stacking. Take something you already do every day—like making coffee—and attach a new action to it.
For me, coffee means writing down one task I want to finish. If I do more, great. If not, I’ve still moved forward.
Here’s a simple way to start:
Pick a daily cue you already do.
Choose one action that takes less than two minutes.
Prep ahead to make it easy.
After two weeks, add one more small step.
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s steady progress that compounds over time.
Extra Extra
Here are a few resources that expand on momentum, habits, and small actions:
The Science of Micro Habits – A short article on why small steps are more powerful than big goals.
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That’s all for today, stay productive! Adam Moody![]() |
P.S. Looking for resources to improve your productivity? Check out the tools I use right here.

