by Dr. Christine Li
If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I don’t have enough time,” while staring at a cluttered closet, a growing to-do list, or a project you keep putting off, you’re not alone. Many midlife women struggle with overwhelm, procrastination, and low energy. And often, the real issue isn’t time at all.
The real issue is resistance.
In Episode 274 of the Make Time for Success Podcast, I talk about the psychology of resistance and how it quietly keeps us stuck between intention and action. Once you understand how resistance works, overcoming resistance becomes much easier and far less intimidating.
Today, I want to walk you through the key ideas from that episode and show you how to gently move forward when your mind tells you to delay.
What Resistance Really Is
Resistance is the invisible force that sits between your goal and your result.
You know what you want to do.
You may even feel excited about it.
But somehow you don’t start.
Resistance often shows up as:
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Procrastination
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Avoidance
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Overthinking
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Feeling “too busy”
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Feeling too tired to begin
And here’s something important to remember: resistance is completely human.
Your brain is designed to keep you safe, not necessarily productive. That means when something feels uncertain, unfamiliar, or slightly uncomfortable, your mind may gently steer you away from it.
Understanding this dynamic is the first step in overcoming resistance.
The Direction Your “Nose” Is Pointing
I often use a simple visual metaphor with my clients.
Where your nose is pointing is where you’re going.
When you procrastinate, your nose is pointing in the opposite direction of your goal.
For example:
You want to declutter your closet.
But instead of starting, you scroll on your phone, watch TV, or reorganize something less important.
Your intention says one thing.
Your direction says another.
Occasional procrastination is normal. But when resistance becomes automatic, it drains your energy and keeps your life stuck in the in-between space between wanting and having.
The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is simply to turn your nose back toward the direction you want to go.
Two Types of Resistance
Not all resistance is the same. Understanding the difference can make overcoming resistance much easier.
1. Actual Roadblocks
Sometimes something truly blocks your progress.
Examples include:
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A packed schedule
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A family obligation
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A work deadline
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Physical limitations
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Lack of necessary resources
When a real roadblock exists, you have two practical options.
Remove the roadblock:
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Cancel or postpone something
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Schedule your task into your calendar
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Set aside a specific time to complete it
Create a detour:
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Ask someone for help
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Break the task into smaller steps
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Change your strategy
For example, if you want to declutter your closet but feel too busy, schedule 15 minutes on Tuesday at 3 PM. Suddenly the “no time” story dissolves.
Often, the solution is simply better planning.
2. Emotional or Imagined Resistance
This is the type of resistance that affects most of us.
Emotional resistance can sound like:
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“I don’t have the energy.”
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“This will make a bigger mess.”
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“What if I fail?”
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“I’m already overwhelmed.”
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“Someone might get upset.”
These thoughts feel real in the moment, but they’re usually your brain trying to protect you from discomfort.
Common emotional resistance includes:
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Anxiety about starting
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Fear of making mistakes
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Feeling drained or unmotivated
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Worrying about others’ reactions
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Avoiding emotional memories connected to objects or tasks
Your brain isn’t trying to sabotage you. It’s trying to keep things predictable.
But growth rarely happens inside the comfort zone.
5 Gentle Strategies for Overcoming Resistance
If resistance is a normal part of being human, how do we move past it?
Here are five supportive strategies you can use today.
1. Notice Resistance Without Judgment
Instead of criticizing yourself for procrastinating, pause and simply observe.
Ask yourself:
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What am I avoiding?
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What thought is stopping me?
Curiosity works much better than criticism.
2. Name the Resistance
When you label resistance, it loses power.
Try saying:
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“This is resistance.”
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“My brain is trying to protect me.”
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“This is just avoidance talking.”
That simple shift creates space between you and the feeling.
3. Schedule Small Actions
Resistance grows when tasks feel large and vague.
Shrink the task dramatically.
Examples:
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Declutter one shelf
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Write one paragraph
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Send one email
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Fold five items
Small actions break the spell of resistance and help you build momentum.
4. Invest 15 Minutes
One of my favorite productivity tools is the 15-minute investment.
Set a timer.
Work for 15 minutes only.
That short burst of action often melts resistance because starting is the hardest part.
And you may find that once you begin, your energy naturally increases.
5. Celebrate Forward Movement
Every step forward counts.
Even small progress creates powerful psychological momentum.
When you take action:
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Your confidence grows
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Your stress decreases
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Your energy improves
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Your environment becomes more supportive
This is why overcoming resistance creates more time and energy in the long run.
A Simple Reflection Exercise
Take a moment right now to try this quick journaling exercise.
Draw two columns on a page.
Column 1: My Old Self Would Say
Write the resistance thoughts that usually appear.
Examples:
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“I don’t have time.”
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“I’m too tired.”
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“I’ll start tomorrow.”
Column 2: My New Self Will Do
Write the empowered response.
Examples:
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“I’ll spend 10 minutes on this.”
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“I can start small.”
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“I’m capable of progress.”
This exercise trains your brain to recognize resistance and choose a new direction.
Imagine the Energy Shift
When you overcome resistance, something beautiful happens.
Your environment changes.
Your energy lifts.
Your confidence grows.
Imagine walking into a closet that feels calm and organized instead of overwhelming. Imagine finishing tasks that have lingered on your mind for months.
That feeling of relief and pride is the true reward of overcoming resistance.
And when your energy improves, the people around you notice too.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If this conversation resonates with you, I would love to support you further.
My Simply Productive program is designed specifically for women who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or drained by procrastination, clutter, and endless responsibilities.
Inside the program, you’ll learn gentle, practical systems to help you:
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Reduce overwhelm
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Build sustainable productivity habits
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Clear mental and physical clutter
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Create calm focus in your daily life
If you’d like to learn more, you can join the waitlist here:
👉 https://maketimeforsuccesspodcast.com/SP
I would love to welcome you when the doors open.
Resistance is normal. It’s human.
But once you understand how it works, you can move through it with much more ease.
And the life you want is waiting on the other side of that first small step.
