How the Hell Do I Do This?

Dear Present Me
Do you know the story of Pravin Tambe? He dreamed of playing cricket for India, but while others made their debut in their 20s, he kept waiting—practicing and believing—well into his 30s and 40s. When most would have given up, Tambe persisted, juggling club cricket and a corporate job, fueled by nothing but sheer grit. At 41, he finally got his break in the IPL with the Rajasthan Royals. People called him too old, but he stunned everyone by proving them wrong. His story is proof that even after countless setbacks, you can still find your moment of glory if you keep showing up.

But what happens when you start something, only to lose steam after a few days? Day 1 feels exciting, Day 2 is manageable, Day 3 feels good—then Day 4 hits, and life gets in the way. By Day 5, the streak is broken, and you’re back to square one, wondering, How the hell do I do this?

The Cycle of “Start, Stop, and Regret”

Every great streak starts small. But every streak also hits a wall. For me, it was when I committed to morning workouts. Three days in, I felt unstoppable. Then came a late-night Netflix binge, a missed alarm, and—poof—the streak broke. What followed was guilt.

But here’s what I learned: The streak isn’t the goal. The habit is.

Let’s break it down.

Why Starting Is Easy but Continuing Is Hard

1. Motivation fades: That initial burst of enthusiasm? It’s like a sugar rush—it doesn’t last.

2. Progress feels slow: On Day 5, you’re not seeing results yet, so it’s easy to think, Why bother?

3. We expect perfection: Missing one day feels like failing entirely.

Here’s the thing: Most people who achieve incredible consistency—whether it’s writing daily, exercising, or meditating—don’t avoid failure. They recover from it.

Falling and Getting Back Up

• A 2019 study on habit formation found that missing a day didn’t significantly disrupt progress if people restarted the next day.

• James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, notes that consistency beats perfection: "Never miss twice in a row."

• Even elite athletes and performers report days of low motivation—what sets them apart is their ability to restart without overthinking.

Consistency isn’t about perfect streaks; it’s about building resilience.

What Your Future Self Wants You to Know

Let’s imagine Future You—the one who completed the streak. They’re sitting across from you, coffee in hand, smiling. Here’s what they’d say:

Start small. Start again. Here’s how:

1. Set micro-goals: If 30 days feels overwhelming, aim for 2 days. Then another 2. Small wins build momentum.

2. Track progress: Use a calendar or app to mark every day you show up—even if it’s imperfect. Seeing progress, no matter how small, reinforces the habit.

3. Plan for failure: Expect to miss a day or two. What’s your “recovery plan”? Write it down now.

4. Celebrate streaks, not perfection: If you hit 10 days, celebrate. Miss Day 11? Start Day 12 with pride.

The Power of Restarting

I once read this quote, and it stuck with me:

"Failure is a bend in the road, not the end of the road. Learn from it and keep moving forward." – Roy T. Bennett

Think of Day 4 or Day 5 not as the end, but as a pause. Imagine a video game: You don’t quit when you lose a life—you start over, wiser about the challenge ahead.

The Letter That Changes Everything

Here’s your homework: Write a letter to yourself from Day 30 You. What do they say about your progress? How proud are they of the times you restarted, even when it felt impossible?

Start small, but start again.

Future You is already waiting, cheering you on.

Warmly,
Future You