One morning last month, I left my apartment in an embarrassing tantrum. One thing after another delayed me—doing my hair, picking an outfit, putting on makeup—and by the time I walked out the door, I was late, annoyed, and spiraling.
When I got to the studio, I listened to a podcast that talked about how good systems remove emotion from execution. How you feel in the moment shouldn’t determine whether you do the things required to get where you want to go. Feelings are real, but they shouldn’t dictate your schedule.
So I started leaning more into systems.
Small ones. Simple ones. Ones that create just enough constraint to keep me moving forward.
I started laying my clothes out the night before. It sounds basic, but it’s eliminated so much morning friction—no staring at my closet, no second-guessing, no running late because I couldn’t decide what to wear. I’ve also been going to bed at 10 every night, prioritizing a full night’s sleep so I can show up fresh the next morning. Each night feels like a small ritual—a reminder of the freedom I’m willing to trade to reach my goals, and an opportunity to recommit to myself.
These systems carry me when motivation doesn’t. Because I don’t always wake up excited or focused or ready to work—and that’s normal.
Winter feels like the right season for systems. Cold, quiet weekends to get ahead and early evenings to get to bed on time.
If it’s helpful, here are 5 simple systems that have been supporting me lately:
1. Lay out tomorrow’s outfit the night before
2. Set a non-negotiable wake-up time
3. Put your phone in another room when you go to bed
4. Set a consistent bed time
5. Create your to-do list the night before
And if you’re looking for a little extra motivation, you’re welcome to join our upcoming accountability co-working session on Feb 3rd :)
Happy Sunday,
Nasrin