Waging War on Resistance: How to Sneak Past Procrastination and Actually Create Something

Ever stared blankly at a blinking cursor, feeling like it might blink back and judge you? There’s something universally unnerving about the empty page—the creative equivalent of that awkward silence where everyone avoids eye contact. Having faced down countless unwritten scripts and half-baked video ideas, the author knows firsthand just how sneaky procrastination can be. But what if the thing holding us back isn’t laziness, but a trickier, even more personal nemesis: resistance? This post is for everyone who has an unlived ambition quietly lurking behind a well-organized Netflix queue.

Resistance: The Shadow You Didn’t Know You Were Wrestling

Procrastination often feels like a mysterious force, almost as if something invisible is stopping us from typing that first word, writing that first page, or filming that first video. It’s a feeling familiar to anyone who’s ever sat down to create something meaningful. The urge to do anything but the thing that matters most can be overwhelming. But what if this struggle isn’t about laziness or poor time management? What if it’s something deeper?

Steven Pressfield, in his book The War of Art, gives this force a name: Resistance—with a capital “R.” He writes, “The more resistance you experience, the more important your unmanifested art or project or enterprise is to you.” Resistance is the shadowy opponent that stands between the life we live and the life we dream of living. It’s not just a bad habit; it’s a psychological force fueled by fear, self-doubt, and the emotional stakes of doing something that matters.

Procrastination: More Than Just Delaying

For many, procrastination is a recurring battle, especially for creatives and entrepreneurs. The cycle is familiar: you feel excited about a new idea—maybe writing a novel, starting a business, or launching a YouTube channel. But as soon as you try to start, a wave of discomfort hits. Suddenly, checking emails or scrolling social media seems urgent. This isn’t just distraction; it’s resistance at work.

Research shows that procrastination is often driven by emotional factors rather than simple laziness. Fear of failure, fear of judgment, and even fear of success can all trigger resistance. When the stakes feel high, resistance grows stronger, making it harder to take the first step. The more personal or risky the project, the more resistance you’ll feel.

Emotional Management: The Heart of Overcoming Procrastination

Understanding the emotional roots of resistance is key to overcome procrastination. When fear is in the driver’s seat, resistance becomes a powerful force. It’s not just about putting things off; it’s about protecting yourself from potential pain or disappointment. This is why self-compassion is such an important part of any procrastination strategy. Instead of beating yourself up, recognize that resistance is a universal experience—especially for those who care deeply about their work.

Perfectionism: Resistance in Disguise

Sometimes, resistance wears a clever disguise: perfectionism. The desire to do something “perfectly” can paralyze you before you even begin. If you’ve ever found yourself endlessly planning, researching, or tweaking before starting, you’ve met resistance’s favorite mask. Perfectionism isn’t about high standards—it’s about fear of not being good enough.

“The more resistance you experience, the more important your unmanifested art or project or enterprise is to you.” – Steven Pressfield

• Key Insight: Resistance is a force powered by fear, not laziness.
• Emotional triggers (especially fear) activate resistance, making procrastination worse.
• Perfectionism is often just resistance in disguise.
• Understanding resistance is the first step to overcome procrastination and create something meaningful.

Borrowing Some Backbone: Showing Up Like a Pro (Even If Your Only Client is Your Cat)

There’s a myth that professionalism is reserved for those who get paid, wear crisp shirts, or have a LinkedIn profile longer than a grocery receipt. But as Steven Pressfield points out, “A professional is someone who does it for the sake of doing the work and takes pride in the work itself.” In the war against resistance and procrastination, adopting a professional mindset is one of the most powerful productivity techniques available—even if your only audience is a sleepy tabby on the windowsill.

Professional Mindset: Show Up, Rain or Shine

Amateurs wait for inspiration to strike. They create only when the mood is right or when the stars align. Professionals, on the other hand, show up daily—regardless of whether they feel like it. This is the backbone of effective time management techniques: carving out non-negotiable slots for your creative work, just like you would for a job. If you promise yourself you’ll write for 30 minutes every morning, you do it—even if the only witness is your cat, purring in judgment.

Task Breakdown: The Secret Weapon

One of the most overlooked productivity techniques is task breakdown. Professionals don’t try to create a masterpiece in one sitting. Instead, they break big projects into smaller, manageable steps. For example, instead of aiming to “make a viral video,” a pro might set a goal to script, film, and upload two short videos a week. This process-oriented approach not only keeps momentum going, but also makes the work less intimidating and more achievable.

Accountability Partnerships: Don’t Go It Alone

Even the most disciplined professionals benefit from accountability partnerships. Whether it’s a friend, a mastermind group, or a digital check-in buddy, having someone to report progress to can keep you honest and motivated. It’s easy to let yourself off the hook, but it’s much harder to explain to someone else why you didn’t show up. Sometimes, just knowing you’ll have to send a “didn’t do it” text is enough to get you moving.

Feedback and Resilience: Growing Up Creatively

Professionals don’t crumble at the first sign of criticism. They treat feedback as a tool for growth, not a personal attack. When the initial enthusiasm fades and resistance creeps in, pros keep going. They understand that setbacks and tough days are part of the process—and that pride comes from the act of doing the work, not just the outcome.

Drawing the Line: Keeping Joy in Your Hobbies

But here’s the catch: not every passion needs to become a hustle. Turning every hobby into a side gig can drain the fun right out of it. Sometimes, it’s okay to keep things playfully amateur. You don’t have to monetize your guitar practice or watercolor sketches. The key is to choose where to apply your professional mindset and where to let yourself simply enjoy.

• Show up daily, regardless of mood or inspiration.
• Break big goals into smaller tasks for steady progress.
• Lean on accountability partnerships for motivation.
• Embrace feedback and keep going when things get tough.
• Protect the joy in your hobbies—don’t over-professionalize everything.

“A professional is someone who does it for the sake of doing the work and takes pride in the work itself.”

Making Peace With the Ego: How a Growth Mindset Can Save Your Next Big Thing

Imagine your ego as an overzealous PR agent, always scanning the crowd for applause, counting likes, and obsessing over how your work is received. Meanwhile, your true self waits backstage, quietly eager to create something meaningful—no matter who is watching. This tug-of-war between ego and self is at the heart of creative resistance and procrastination. Understanding this dynamic is the first step toward using mindfulness practices and goal setting techniques to reclaim your focus and move forward.

The Ego’s Obsession With Applause

The ego is fixated on external validation. It wants your video to go viral, your book to hit the bestseller list, your art to be showered with praise. When you tie your worth to these outcome-based goals, resistance tightens its grip. Every negative comment, every slow day of views, feels like a personal attack. Perfectionism and fear of criticism creep in, and suddenly, you’re stuck—paralyzed by the thought that your next move might not be “good enough.”

'The only thing in my control is making the videos.'

This insight is crucial. When creators focus on what others think, they hand their power to forces beyond their control. The ego, in its quest for status, makes the stakes feel impossibly high. Procrastination thrives in this environment, as the fear of falling short becomes overwhelming.

The Self’s Quiet Drive for Meaningful Work

In contrast, the self is less concerned with applause and more with authenticity. It draws from your dreams, intuition, and aspirations. The self simply wants you to show up and do the work, regardless of the outcome. When you channel the self, you tap into a deeper motivation—one that isn’t shaken by criticism or slow progress. This is where self-compassion and focus enhancement come into play. By practicing mindfulness and accepting that setbacks are part of the journey, you create space for growth.

'If we fail at something, it's just part of the process of improving over time.'

Switching From Outcome to Input Goals

The secret weapon against resistance is shifting your focus from outcome goals to input goals. Outcome goals—like hitting a subscriber milestone or landing on a bestseller list—are tempting, but they’re outside your control. Input goals, on the other hand, are all about the actions you can take: writing two pages every morning, uploading a video each week, or practicing your craft daily. These goals are manageable, measurable, and most importantly, they keep you moving.

• Outcome Goal: “I want this video to get 10,000 views.”
• Input Goal: “I will publish two videos per week, no matter what.”

When you set input-based goals, you sidestep the ego’s obsession with validation and give yourself permission to improve through repetition. This is the heart of a growth mindset: seeing feedback as information, not judgment, and understanding that every attempt—successful or not—is a step forward.

By making peace with the ego and embracing a growth mindset, you can outsmart resistance, reduce procrastination, and finally create the work that matters to you.

Conclusion: When in Doubt, Just Start (and Maybe Laugh at Yourself Along the Way)

Procrastination is not the enemy of the lazy or the unmotivated. In fact, it’s often proof that you care deeply about what you’re trying to create. If you find yourself hesitating, doubting, or endlessly planning, it’s not a sign of weakness—it’s a sign that you’re on the road to meaningful work. Fear and resistance show up precisely because what you want to do matters. The real challenge is not to eliminate procrastination entirely, but to sneak past it with simple, repeatable procrastination strategies and productivity techniques that work in real life.

Forget the myth of the perfectly planned grand debut. Creative lives aren’t built on flawless first attempts—they’re built on a thousand imperfect, often shaky, starts. The blank page, the blinking cursor, the unopened email draft: these are the battlefields where resistance tries to win. But every time you take one small step—writing a single paragraph, pressing record on your phone, sending that first email—you chip away at the power of procrastination. Micro momentum beats resistance every time.

And if you mess up? If your first try is awkward, clumsy, or even embarrassing? Congratulations. You’ve just stolen power from resistance by refusing to freeze. The act of doing, even imperfectly, is a victory. As the saying goes,

“I have never regretted doing something that I'm scared of, but I've always regretted not doing it.”

It’s easy to believe that others have it all figured out, that bestselling authors or successful creators never struggle with procrastination. But the truth is, everyone faces resistance. The difference is in how they respond. As highlighted in The War of Art—a book you can finish in just two hours (or one, if you’re a double-speed audio fan)—the real transformation comes not from reading or planning, but from practicing. Even the most powerful wisdom is only as good as the action it inspires.

So, the next time you feel resistance creeping in, remember: procrastination isn’t a personal failing, it’s part of any worthwhile journey. Action, not endless planning or worrying, is what paves the path forward. Embrace the imperfect start as a victory over resistance. And if you can laugh at yourself along the way, you’ve already made the process lighter. In the end, to overcome procrastination is to accept that fear is a companion, not a roadblock. Take the first step—however small—and let practice, not perfection, be your guide. That’s how you sneak past procrastination and actually create something that matters.