What if I told you that the secret to achieving more is to expect less of yourself? It sounds counterintuitive, maybe even like giving up. But here's what I've learned: a bar you can actually clear is infinitely more useful than one you'll never attempt.
The Problem with High Expectations
When we set the bar high, we're trying to motivate ourselves. We think, "If I aim for an hour of exercise, maybe I'll at least do 30 minutes." But that's not how our brains actually work.
What actually happens: the gap between where we are and where the bar is set feels insurmountable. So we don't even try. Day after day, the high bar remains untouched, and we feel worse about ourselves.
Zero is always worse than something. And high expectations often lead to zero.
The Power of Ridiculously Small Goals
What if your goal was so small it felt almost embarrassing? What if instead of "exercise for an hour," your goal was "put on workout clothes"? What if instead of "clean the house," your goal was "throw away one piece of trash"?
These goals feel too easy. That's exactly the point.
- Too easy to fail — You'll actually do it
- Too easy to dread — You won't avoid it
- Too easy to skip — You'll build consistency
The Secret: You'll Usually Do More
Here's what happens when you lower the bar: you clear it. And once you're in motion, you often keep going. The person who commits to "one pushup" usually does five. The person who commits to "write one sentence" often writes a paragraph.
But even if you don't do more—even if you literally just do the tiny thing—you've still won. You've maintained the habit. You've kept the streak. You've proven to yourself that you can show up.
"Make it so easy you can't say no." — Leo Babauta
Lowering the Bar Is Not Giving Up
This isn't about accepting less for your life. It's about understanding how change actually works. Consistency beats intensity. Showing up beats burning out.
The person who exercises for 5 minutes every day will be healthier in a year than the person who plans hour-long workouts but never does them.
How to Lower Your Bar
Take whatever goal you're avoiding and ask: "What's the smallest version of this that would still count?"
- "Meditate for 20 minutes" becomes "Take 3 deep breaths"
- "Read a chapter" becomes "Read one page"
- "Organize the closet" becomes "Hang up one item"
- "Work on the project" becomes "Open the document"
Start there. Clear that bar. Build from success, not from failure.
What bar could you lower today?
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