Well, LFT Family, we’re almost four months into 2026, and I’m not where I thought I’d be, honestly.

I’ve had several pretty big setbacks so far, and it hasn’t been easy to push through without being too hard on myself. In the midst of these setbacks, though, I’ve learned a very valuable lesson that I hope will carry me through the rest of this year with a renewed sense of purpose:

Do it tired.

Do It Tired 101

As our day goes on and we move through work, responsibilities, and everything else in between, our time at home never feels like enough. Who wants to come home after a long day of work to exercise, clean up, cook dinner, prep for work the next day, and then do it all over again? Certainly not me.

I spend a lot of my day managing my students’ emotions and easing their anxieties, so I often come home mentally and emotionally drained. The only thing I want to do is lie in bed and rot. Lately, that’s exactly what I’ve been doing, which means I’m not progressing on my goals as I should. While that kind of “rest” can feel good in the moment, it wasn’t truly helping me at all. I wasn’t moving any closer to the goals I set for myself, and I was starting to feel sorry for myself. None of this was serving me mentally or physically in the long run, so I’m choosing to shift my mindset.

If you’ve noticed that you’ve been making excuses that are getting in the way of your goals, it’s time to lock in and do it tired. That means showing up for yourself on the days when you have no motivation to do so. Too tired to hit the gym? Do it tired with a 30-minute workout instead of your usual 60. Too tired to cook dinner? Find a quick 20-minute meal, a one-skillet meal, or something simple that still nourishes you. Bottom line, doing it tired means consistency over perfection. It means doing the very thing you don’t feel like doing because you know you’ll be better for it in the long run.

Final Thoughts

As with most things, doing it tired is easier said than done, but it’s not impossible. Some days, doing it tired will look like giving it 100%. Other days, it will look like doing the bare minimum. Both count because, as long as you’re still showing up, you are making progress. When we fall into the all-or-nothing approach, we rob ourselves of growth and convince ourselves that if we can’t do everything, then we might as well just do nothing. I know all about this mindset, as I still struggle with this today, but I’m slowly learning that something is better than nothing at all.

As we move into the second quarter of the year, I’m trying something new. I’m going to literally say out loud, “Do it tired.” A simple reminder, an anchor, that I can use to call myself back when I feel like I’m slipping back into my brain-rotting habits. Maybe we’ll check in around quarter three to see how it’s going!

If this resonated with you, I invite you to take a moment to check in with yourself. What is one thing you can do today, no matter how small, that will help you progress toward your goals? Start there, even if you’re tired. Especially if you’re tired!