Just Do the Hard Thing First

Every single morning, there was one thing I didn’t want to do.

It wasn’t always big or dramatic. Sometimes it was an email I’d been avoiding. Other times, it was starting a project I felt unsure about or having a conversation I knew would be uncomfortable.

I would wake up with good intentions, tell myself I’d get to it later, and then spend the entire day carrying it in my mind like a weight.

The strange part?

The task itself usually wasn’t that hard.

The waiting was.

The Hidden Cost of Avoidance

Avoidance doesn’t feel dangerous. It feels gentle. It feels like self-care in disguise.

“I’ll do it when I feel ready.”

“I just need more time.”

“I’ll start after I finish something easier.”

But while I delayed, my energy leaked away. The hard thing followed me from room to room, thought to thought. Even when I rested, my mind didn’t.

I wasn’t tired from doing too much.

I was tired from thinking about what I wasn’t doing.

The Day I Tried Something Different

One morning, instead of easing into my day, I asked myself a simple question:

“What am I avoiding today?”

The answer came quickly. I didn’t like it—but I didn’t argue with it either.

I didn’t wait to feel confident.

I didn’t wait to feel motivated.

I started anyway.

My hands felt tense. My thoughts tried to distract me. But I stayed with it.

When it was done, something unexpected happened.

The rest of my day felt lighter.

Why the Hard Thing Matters Most

Hard things hold emotional weight. They usually involve fear—fear of failure, fear of conflict, fear of not being good enough.

When we delay them, they grow in our minds. They take up more space than they deserve.

Doing the hard thing first does something powerful:

• It removes mental pressure early

• It builds momentum for the rest of the day

• It reduces background anxiety

• It restores a sense of control

Once the hardest part is behind you, everything else feels manageable.

Redefining What “Hard” Means

The hard thing isn’t always the biggest task. Often, it’s the most uncomfortable one.

It might be:

• Sending a difficult message

• Starting something you might fail at

• Facing a problem you’ve been ignoring

• Being honest with yourself

• Choosing effort over comfort

Doing it first isn’t about toughness.

It’s about clarity.

How It Changed My Routine

I made this my daily rule: no negotiations in the morning.

Whatever I wanted to avoid most became my starting point.

Some days, it took five minutes. Other days, it took an hour. But no matter the length, the relief was always worth it.

I noticed real changes:

• My focus improved

• My stress levels dropped

• I stopped feeling behind before noon

• My confidence grew quietly

The day stopped feeling like something I had to survive.

When Doing the Hard Thing Feels Too Heavy

There are days when energy is low and courage feels distant. On those days, I don’t aim for perfection.

I aim for starting.

I tell myself:

• Do it badly

• Do it scared

• Do it slowly

• Just begin

Progress doesn’t require certainty.

It requires movement.

The Confidence That Follows Action

I used to think confidence came first.

I was wrong.

Confidence follows action, not the other way around.

Each time I did the hard thing first, I proved something to myself:

“I can handle discomfort.”

That belief spilled into other areas of my life. Difficult conversations became easier. Challenges felt less threatening. I trusted myself more.

Conclusion: Choose Relief Over Delay

The hard thing doesn’t disappear when you avoid it.

It waits.

But when you face it first, you reclaim your time, your focus, and your peace.

You don’t need more motivation.

You don’t need a perfect system.

Tomorrow morning, try this instead:

Name the hard thing.

Take a breath.

And do it first.

Your future self will thank you.

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Thank you for reading...

Regards: Fazal Hadi