F*** Your Mood, Follow the Plan
Motivation Is Overrated—Here’s What Actually Works
We’ve all been there. You plan to hit the gym, tackle that business proposal, or finally call your accountant, yet you find yourself scrolling Instagram instead. Why? Because you’re “not in the mood.”
Here’s the thing—it’s not your mood’s job to dictate what gets done. If you only act when you feel like it, you’ll spend most of your life waiting. Motivation is fleeting, but a solid plan? That’s the real MVP.
This isn’t about ignoring your feelings or pretending moods don’t exist. It’s about recognizing that success doesn’t wait for you to feel inspired. If you want to achieve anything—whether it’s scaling your business, organizing your life, or just getting through Monday—you’ve got to rely on something more dependable than your emotions.
Here’s how we’re going to break it down:
Why waiting for the “right mood” fails you.
How to create an effective, no-BS plan.
The role of discipline in getting stuff done.
How to handle setbacks without throwing out the whole plan.
The magic of consistency (hint: it compounds).
C’est parti, ladies. Let's go.
The Problem with Mood-Based Motivation
If you’re waiting to feel “ready” (spoiler alert), you’ll never start.
Moods are unreliable friends at best. One minute, you’re feeling like Beyoncé. The next, you’re questioning why humans even need to shower. That’s just how it goes because motivation is a liar—it tells you that action requires inspiration when in reality, action creates inspiration.
Think about it. How many times have you pushed through a task you didn’t want to do, only to feel unstoppable afterward? Starting isn’t about feeling—it’s about moving despite the feeling.
Truth bomb: Leaders and trailblazers don’t just work when it feels good. They work when it’s hard, when it’s inconvenient, and when it scares the hell out of them.
Still relying on your mood? Time to snap out of it.
Crafting a Solid Plan (That You’ll Actually Stick To)
Here’s the secret sauce no one’s talking about—a plan doesn’t have to be fancy to work. It just needs to be clear, doable, and built with intention.
1. Start with Your Non-Negotiables
Think about what truly matters. What are the things that will move the needle? If every single other task went out the window, what MUST get done? These are your non-negotiables—treat them like sacred rituals.
2. Break It Down (Yes, Smaller Than That)
Big goals are sexy, but they can be paralyzing. Break them into bite-sized steps. If “launching a website” is on your list, your first task might be as simple as brainstorming domain names.
3. Time-Block Like a Pro
If it’s not on your calendar, it’s not happening. Time-block your non-negotiables and don’t leave it to chance. Treat them the way you’d treat, say, a doctor’s appointment—because that’s how serious this is.
4. Add a Dose of Realism
Be honest about what you can commit to. Just because Jacques on LinkedIn is running an eight-figure business and waking up at 4 AM doesn’t mean that’s your vibe. Create a plan that fits your life—not someone else’s.
Discipline Over Desire
Discipline is the underrated sibling of success. It’s not shiny. It’s not glamorous. But it’s the reason some people achieve their goals while others keep saying, “I’ll start tomorrow.”
Here’s the truth no one wants to hear—you’re going to hate your plan sometimes. Showing up won’t always feel good. But the beauty of discipline is that it helps you act even when you’re crawling through resistance.
Pro-tip? Celebrate small wins. Discipline isn’t about punishing yourself—it’s about proving to yourself, over and over, that you’re capable.
A Mini-Mantra to Live By
Whenever you feel like giving up, remind yourself:
“It’s hard because it’s not familiar—not because I’m not capable.”
Dealing with Setbacks
Spoiler alert: You’re going to screw up sometimes. You’ll skip tasks. Moods will hijack your day. You’ll binge-watch Netflix instead of prepping for that presentation.
Guess what? It’s normal. What separates you from the quitters is how you handle these setbacks.
Here’s How to Bounce Back
Drop the Guilt: Beating yourself up solves nothing. Acknowledge the slip, and move on.
Revisit Your Plan: Ask yourself what derailed you. Was the task too overwhelming? Do you need shorter action steps?
Reaffirm Your “Why”: Remind yourself of the bigger picture—whether that’s growing your business, writing your novel, or living a more intentional life.
Setbacks aren’t failures. They’re recalibrations.
The Power of Consistency
Consistency is unsexy, but it’s undefeated. Little efforts, repeated over time, create exponential results.
Think about it—if you read just 10 pages a day, that’s 3,650 pages a year. That’s like what, 12 entire books? Or 0.2% of your pile? Either way, it adds up.
Here’s what most people underestimate about consistency—it’s not about perfection. It’s about showing up more often than not. It’s about building momentum. It’s about trusting that even the smallest steps count.
And eventually, those small steps lead to massive change.
Make the Next Move—Without Waiting for the Mood
You have two choices today:
Keep waiting for the perfect vibe to strike.
Say, “F*** it” and follow your plan anyway.
The latter is where grit lives. It’s where success is born. And if there’s one thing I know about you, it’s this—you’re more than capable of showing up for your goals, even when the mood doesn’t.
Start small. Start messy. Just start.
You don’t need a mood to create magic. You just need to start moving, one step at a time.