Understanding Consistency: Why It’s Hard and How to Achieve It

Have you ever felt like you were on the brink of a breakthrough, only to find yourself stuck in the same old patterns? You're not alone—understanding the nuances of consistency can change everything.

The Challenge of Consistency

Have you ever made a plan to turn your life around? You tell yourself, “Tomorrow, I’m going to wake up early, hit the gym, and be super productive.” You feel confident, like you’re finally going to make progress. But then tomorrow arrives, and you feel like a completely different person. The version of you that made those plans seems to have vanished, leaving you to avoid everything you said you would do.

If this sounds familiar, don’t worry—you’re not broken or lazy. The real issue isn’t about failing to execute your plan; it’s about misunderstanding how your mind works.

We Are Not the Same Person Every Day

Think about who you were five years ago. How did you dress? What kind of music did you listen to? What goals did you have? Now compare that version of you to who you are today. You’re probably a completely different person, right? Your mindset, priorities, and approach to life have all changed.

Interestingly, that same level of change happens every single day. We often assume we are one consistent person, but in reality, we are a collection of different versions of ourselves, gradually evolving with each passing day.

For example, one day you might wake up as the motivated version of yourself, eager to exercise and tackle your to-do list. The next day, however, you might wake up feeling like you don’t want to do anything. Yet, we expect these different versions of ourselves to act the same way every day, to have the same priorities, discipline, and goals. This is where things go wrong.

Life as a Team Relay

Imagine your life as a team relay race. Instead of thinking of yourself as a solo player, consider that each version of you is a different player taking turns. If the player before you slacked off or ignored the mission, you’d spawn into a mess, frustrated because you’d have to clean up their mistakes before making any progress of your own.

Consistency isn’t about doing the same thing every single day; it’s more like a team effort between the you from today and the you from tomorrow. If you spend the day procrastinating, the version of you from tomorrow will wake up to chaos and no motivation. But if you set things up today, you’ll give tomorrow’s you a head start.

The Psychological Bias of Future Discounting

Why do we sabotage our future selves? The answer lies in a psychological bias called future discounting. This is our tendency to favor instant gratification over long-term benefits. For instance, you might choose to eat junk food today, even though you know it will make you feel bad tomorrow.

This isn’t about being undisciplined; it’s about how our brains are wired. Your brain literally sees the you from tomorrow as a stranger. If I ask you to choose between $100 now or $200 a year from now, most people would take the $100, even though waiting could give you more. Historically, our ancestors relied on quick rewards for survival, making immediate gratification more appealing.

In modern life, this bias can work against us, leading us to make choices that sabotage our future selves.

Shifting Your Mindset for Better Consistency

Most people struggle with consistency because they think progress is an all-or-nothing game. They believe that if they can’t make huge strides every day, they’re failing. But that’s not how progress works. Instead of rushing through life like it’s a race, think of it more like a video game with save points.

You don’t have to complete everything in one go; you just need to make it to the next checkpoint. When you play a game, you’re not constantly worried about finishing everything at once. Your focus is on reaching the next checkpoint, and once you hit that checkpoint, your progress is saved.

Here are some small steps you can take to build momentum:

• If you’re struggling with productivity, complete one small task that the next version of you can build on.
• If you’re too tired to work out, don’t skip it entirely—go for a 10-minute walk or do a single set.
• If you don’t feel like cleaning, tackle just one room or area.

By ensuring that every version of you inherits a slightly better setup than the last, you’ll find that consistency becomes more manageable.

Treating Your Future Self with Care

Some of you might be thinking, “I get it, but I don’t even care about that future version of myself.” This is where many people struggle with consistency—not because they lack motivation, but because they don’t see themselves as someone worth investing in.

We make sacrifices for the people we care about. If your best friend needed help, you’d be there for them. But what happens when you don’t feel like your future self deserves the effort? If you love yourself, you’ll make sure your future self has a good life. If you don’t, you might sabotage your future because you simply don’t care.

Here’s a mindset shift that can make consistency easier: imagine your future self as a separate person. Treat them like a best friend or a little sibling. Would you sabotage their life, or would you make sure they had an easier time? The more you see your future self as someone worth helping, the easier consistency becomes.

Conclusion

Takeaway: Focus on setting up your future self for success, one small step at a time.

Life isn’t a constant grind toward some ultimate goal; it’s a series of different players passing the baton forward. If each version of you does their part just a little bit better over time, you’ll build real, effortless consistency.

So, what’s one thing you can do today to make life easier for your future self? Drop your answer in the comments—I’d love to hear what small changes you’re making!