Misconcepts 026 - Sustainable Consistency


Micro Misconcepts

A weekly upgrade for your misconcepts in under 5 minutes.

Sustainable Consistency

2nd January 2026 | misconcepts.org


January energy is a gift and a trap.

Right now, you feel motivated. You can see yourself executing perfectly towards your goals.

That energy is wonderful…but it won’t last.

I'm not saying this to discourage you, but to prepare you.

Because the real question isn't whether you'll start strong. It's whether you'll still be in the game when April arrives and your initial enthusiasm has faded.


The Truth About Consistency

Most people believe consistency means showing up with unwavering discipline – same intensity, same output, regardless of circumstances.

I used to think that too.

Then I realised: that's not consistency. That's rigidity.

And rigidity breaks the moment you demand the same intensity on a day when your energy, time, or circumstances won't allow it. That first inevitable bad day feels like failure, and that's when most people quit.

"The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived." — Robert Jordan

Real consistency is about continuity.

Staying in the game when conditions shift.

So how do you actually do this when life gets chaotic?

You build systems designed for reality's constant variation rather than ideal conditions. Instead of building for my best days, I started building for all my days.

I build flexibility into every system through three execution levels:

  • Stretch: What I do on my best days (write 2,000 words)
  • Target: My realistic standard most days (write 1,000 words)
  • Minimum: What keeps me in the game on hard days (write one paragraph)

That minimum feels laughably small. That's the point. When I'm exhausted or overwhelmed, that one paragraph ensures I stay in the game.

The goals you've set matter. But the systems you build to pursue them will determine whether you're still pursuing them in April.


Your Blueprint for 2026

Look at one goal you've set for 2026.

What's the absolute minimum action that would keep you consistent even on your worst day?

Write it down. Make it embarrassingly small.

That's not lowering your standards – that's the foundation of sustainable consistency.


P.S. In the full article, I reveal the complete framework: the "never miss twice" principle that prevents abandonment, the resource-tracking protocol that signals when to adapt, and the iteration system that evolves as your life changes.

Read the Full Article: Sustainable Consistency

Thanks for reading!

Learn more at misconcepts.org

Misconcepts is itself a misconcept. We're constantly iterating to deliver the best value we possibly can. If you've got a moment, we'd love to hear your thoughts. Let us know by replying to this email.


Unsubscribe · Preferences

MICRO MISCONCEPTS

Join a community of independent thinkers iterating our way towards better mental models to build the life we actually want.

Read more from MICRO MISCONCEPTS
Why Social Comparison is Rigged (And How to Stop Playing)

Micro Misconcepts A weekly upgrade for your misconcepts in under 5 minutes. Social Comparison Is a Rigged Game 13th February 2026 | misconcepts.org You probably know you shouldn’t compare yourself to others. You've heard the quotes. Maybe you even have a favourite. But knowing you shouldn't compare doesn't translate into knowing how to stop. I spent years thinking I just needed to try harder, achieve more, finally be enough. Then I discovered something that changed everything: I was playing a...

Mistakes provide real-world feedback for us to learn, grow and iterate towards our goals.

Micro Misconcepts A weekly upgrade for your misconcepts in under 5 minutes. Fall In Love With Good Iterations 6th February 2026 | misconcepts.org What if the fear of making mistakes is the actual mistake? For years, I tried to avoid mistakes by over-analysing all my decisions and perpetually planning. I thought I was being careful, but all that caution didn’t make me better. It just made me slower, more anxious, and trapped in a prison of my own making. The breakthrough came when I realized...

The witness test on how to distinguish genuine desire from performed wanting and escape the status trap.

Micro Misconcepts A weekly upgrade for your misconcepts in under 5 minutes. The Witness Test 30th January 2026 | misconcepts.org You've achieved everything society says you should want – the prestigious degree, the respectable career, the six-figure salary. But somewhere along the way, you lost touch with what you actually want. Not because you failed – but because you succeeded at playing someone else's game. This is status obscuring your authentic self. In spite of the disconnection you...