The Mindset Shift That Makes Hard Things Easier
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Confession :: I like running more than running the “business side” of my business. I’ll take a dirt path over number crunching any day of the week.
I actually think that part of the reason I run is because I manage a business. It’s a way for me to decompress, be alone with my thoughts, and feel a sense of accomplishment, regardless of how the rest of my day unfolds.
Before you mutter to yourself, “Reading about running is my definition of torture,” rest assured: you can hate running and still reap the benefits of what I’m about to share. This post isn’t about pounding the pavement.
It’s about finding the motivation to move forward when all you want to do is quit.
Real change rarely comes from dramatic breakthroughs. It comes from tiny, consistent shifts in the way you think. (The kind you practice every time things get hard.)
Here are my top four strategies for making hard runs—and hard days—easier.
BTW / None of these require you to be a runner. They’re simple mindset shifts you can use anytime, anywhere.
01.
Set ONE realistic goal at the start
→ One clear, achievable goal beats vague ambition every time.
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Here’s what I do:
Before I head out, I make a quick mental note of my goal. Whether it’s “run at an easy pace for 30 minutes” or “run a minimum of X miles,” the goal is specific and achievable.
I never set goals like “Try to achieve your fastest 5K ever.” I’ve learned how important it is—mentally—to set yourself up for short-term success. By regularly hitting small, daily goals, you feel far more motivated to keep going.
Here’s how to apply it to your business:
Star one task on your to-do list and make it the priority for the day.
Be sure it’s something you know you can complete within that day. For example, if your goal is to start a newsletter, don’t write “Start newsletter.” That’s unrealistic.
Instead, break it down into smaller steps and star the first one (e.g., research Flodesk). No matter how chaotic the rest of your day gets, you’ll have a strong chance of checking off at least one box…and sometimes, that’s the difference between feeling like your day was “wasted” and feeling like you made progress.
02.
Take it one step at a time
→ Progress is built on motion, not magnitude.
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Here’s what I do:
Have you ever heard the phrase “The hardest part is getting dressed”? It’s painfully true when it comes to early morning runs.
If I do something as simple as checking the weather and laying out my clothes the night before, I’m twice as likely to actually get up and go.
When I’m tired mid-run, my brain loves to focus on how far I still have to go. “I’m not even halfway and I feel like I’m dyyyyying.”
That’s when I shift my focus to something small and rhythmic, like literally counting my steps (1, 2, 1, 2…). It reassures my body that it’s okay, calms my nervous system, and helps me find my groove again.
Here’s how to apply it to your business:
Make it easier to do the thing you don’t want to do.
Break big tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. Sometimes that even means writing down steps you’ve already completed - just so you can check them off. (It sounds like cheating, but it isn’t.)
Thanks to the Zeigarnik Effect, taking one small step toward completion makes you more likely to return and finish the task later.
The next time you feel yourself procrastinating, try working on the task for just 10 minutes and see what happens.
03.
Remind yourself: “You woke up today.”
→ Reframing effort as privilege can instantly make hard things feel lighter.
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Here’s what I do:
Every Tuesday, I swap out a run for a Peloton ride. My favorite trainer is Robin Arzón. (I know she’s not everyone’s jam, but I love her.)
One thing she says that really hits home for me is: “You woke UP today!”
In other words: be grateful for what you’re able to do today because there may come a time when you can’t.
Here’s how to apply it to your business:
When you reframe what you’re doing as a privilege instead of a burden, it will suddenly—almost magically—feel less difficult.
You don’t need a complicated mantra. Sometimes simply reminding yourself “I get to do this today” is enough to shift your perspective.
04.
Don’t be afraid to rest
→ Rest isn’t a break from the work. It’s part of the work.
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Here’s what I do:
Rest is one of the hardest things for business owners to embrace, but sometimes it’s the most beneficial.
Earlier this season, I tripped on some uneven terrain and sprained my ankle. As the doctor examined it, my first question was, “When can I get back to running?”
His answer was (unsurprisingly), “It depends on whether you give it proper time to heal.” The only thing that stopped me from pushing too soon was the realization that overdoing it could make the injury worse.
After two weeks of swapping runs for light strength training, biking, and Epsom salt baths, I was back at it, and rejoining my group felt seamless.
The point: taking a break didn’t set me back. It helped me come back stronger.
Here’s how to apply it to your business:
You’re already good at hustling. You wouldn’t have started your own business otherwise.
The tricky part is recognizing when rest becomes more beneficial than pushing through. If you’re feeling burned out, stuck, or unmotivated, consider doing the opposite of what you think you should be doing.
That might look like more sleep…but it could also mean taking a workshop, learning something new, reading, or focusing on nourishing your body.
Rest isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessary part of sustainable progress.
Final thoughts
Again…real change rarely comes from dramatic breakthroughs. It comes from tiny, consistent shifts in the way you think.
I encourage you to pick ONE of these shifts and try it the next time things feel hard. Let me know how it goes!
