Day 5 Discipline

Consistency Over Complexity

Stoic Slap

"If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it."

— Marcus Aurelius

The simple system wins. Stop over-engineering.

Here's the Thing

You're doing it right now. I know you are.

You're researching the perfect productivity app. You're building a morning routine with 47 steps. You're waiting for optimal conditions that never arrive.

See it now? Complexity is procrastination dressed up as progress.

The dude with the basic system who shows up daily laps the guy with the perfect plan who's still "preparing." That's not theory. That's how it works.

You don't need fancy tools. You need to do the thing. Then do it again tomorrow.


Today's Work (10 minutes total)

1. Reflect (2 min)

What am I over-complicating to avoid actually doing this?

2. Write (5 min)

Maybe it's:

  • Researching workout programs instead of doing pushups
  • Building productivity systems instead of writing the list
  • Waiting for the right tools instead of starting with what you have
  • Planning the business for months instead of making the first sale

Here's what's happening: Complexity feels like work. It's not. It's avoidance.

You're building the house before you pour the foundation.

That's the whole game right there.

Write it: What am I over-complicating? What's the core action I could do today?

3. Act (Today)

Strip one goal down to its absolute simplest action. Do it today.

No extra steps. No fancy approach. No optimization layer.

Just the Action
  • Want shape? Do 20 squats right now.
  • Want to write? Open a blank doc and write 100 words.
  • Want to eat better? Eat one vegetable today.
  • Want to meditate? Sit still and breathe for 60 seconds.

That's it.

No apps. No tracking system. No philosophical framework about your approach to tracking frameworks.

Just the action.

Proof of Work
  • Named what I'm over-complicating
  • Stripped it to the core action
  • Did the simple version today