Just Do the Thing (Day 16)

This is day 16 of my daily writing and video challenge — and I almost didn’t write today.

I had no idea what I was going to write about. No spark. No clever concept. Just a blank page and a sleepy brain.

In the past, this is the moment I would’ve given up.

Told myself, “No good ideas today,” and walked away.

But now I know better.

Waiting for the Spark Doesn’t Work

Before this challenge, I believed I needed inspiration to start writing. If I wasn’t feeling it, I wouldn’t even try.

Sometimes I’d scroll through blog posts, tweets, or old notes, hoping something would click. Hours might pass. I’d find interesting ideas, but I’d be no closer to actually writing.

It felt like a productive form of procrastination. When really, I was avoiding the hard part: facing the blank page.

Start Writing First — Ideas Come Later

What I’m learning is simple, but powerful:

Writing is what brings the ideas to life.

Most days now, I start with nothing but a timer and an open mind. I call it a “brain dump” to take the pressure off. No expectations. Just words on a page.

I set a 22-minute timer — no idea why 22 — and commit to writing without doing anything else.

Every time, something starts to click. Thoughts form. Connections emerge. I go from having zero ideas to finding a rhythm. It’s like my brain slowly wakes up and joins the party.

This Isn’t Just About Writing

It’s got me thinking — how many things do we avoid simply because we don’t “feel ready”?

• How many workouts are skipped?

• How many books are never opened?

• How many projects stay in our heads instead of being started?

All because we’re waiting for some magical moment of motivation to arrive.

You’ll Feel Motivated After You Start

I remember reading The Motivation Myth years ago. The author made a bold claim:

Motivation doesn’t come before action. It comes from action.

That idea stuck with me. I’ve applied it in the gym, in business, in habits — but for some reason, I didn’t fully trust it with creative work.

I thought writing required a spark. A fresh idea. Something “worth saying.”

Now I’m realising that’s just a clever excuse.

Bad Reps Are Still Reps

Even if I write 1,000 average words today, it’s still better than writing zero.

Same goes for:

• A bad workout vs. no workout

• Reading distractedly for 10 minutes vs. not reading at all

• Spending 20 minutes on a project vs. leaving it untouched again

The act of doing something — anything — moves you forward.

And most of the time, once you're in motion, things go better than you expected.

You’ll Thank Yourself Later

So this is a reminder. To myself. And maybe to you, too.

Just do the thing.

Don’t wait for the perfect moment.

Don’t wait to feel ready.

Don’t wait for motivation to come find you.

Set a timer. Take the first step. Start writing. Open the book. Lace up your shoes.

Momentum will meet you halfway.

Adam