The Time and Motivation Myth

Hi friends,

As I write this, I have time to tackle items on my to-do list (though writing this email isn’t one of them). Yet, I find myself lacking the motivation to do anything productive. Instead, I’m tempted to scroll on social media or play a game I recently downloaded on my phone.

We all have time to pursue our passions: writing that novel we’ve always dreamed of, crafting a children’s story inspired by parenthood, learning new skills, starting a newsletter or blog, or even committing to regular workouts. However, it ultimately comes down to priorities. I'm writing this email instead of working on my novel or scripting my next YouTube video because I've chosen to prioritize it at this moment.

So, how do we find the motivation or energy to tackle tasks that aren’t mandatory?

The answer is: you don’t.

Relying on motivation alone often leads to less productivity than we aspire to achieve. Motivation fluctuates; depending on it exclusively can be detrimental.

Once we set priorities, the challenge lies in making that split-second decision each day—choosing between our to-do list and our actual actions. The hardest part is making that decision in the morning and getting started, whether it's writing, running, or any other task. Once you begin, it becomes much easier.

For me, the key to getting things done is:

1. I schedule all my tasks for the week on Sundays, blocking out time in my calendar.
2. Each morning, before starting my day, I list The Three Things (TTT) I want to accomplish (including those scheduled tasks).
3. I forgive myself for slip-ups and get back on track right away.

Every day presents an opportunity for us to work towards those long-held aspirations that linger in the back of our minds. Ignoring them only makes them harder to do. Our minds are really good at resolving internal conflicts. For instance, I know a friend who once loved reading but haven’t picked up a book in years, and their justification is “school made me hate reading.” While that’s probably true, I can bit that if they picked up a good book, they will not be able to stop reading it. The hardest part is to start.

P.S. These emails are a window to my life and what I care about. But I'd really like to hear from you. Just hit reply to this email and tell me the one thing you want to start but find it hard to make time for or stay motivated about?

📖 Books I’m reading?

I’m currently reading The Other Americans by Laila Lalami. It’s a novel that explores the aftermath of a hit-and-run accident that kills a Moroccan immigrant in California. The story is written from mutiple point of views, including the victim's family and witnesses, and it covers themes like grief, cultural identity, and the complexities of living in America.

Maybe I’ll record a review of the book once I finish, let’s see how I feel about it once I’m done.

💎 New From Me

I posted a video about How to Write While Working Full-Time. This topic is one I have be thinking about, testing, and working on for the past six years. So I know a thing or two!

🔖 Quote I’m pondering

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”

— Alice Walker

📸 Through My Lens

Please give me feedback on the newsletter by replying to this email. Do you find it worth your time? What do you want more or less of? Or other suggestions?

Thank you for reading!

Mohamed