Today, I’m going to show you what consistency really looks like and why most people get it completely wrong, even when they think they’re doing everything “right.”

Whether you’re a current solopreneur or still stuck in the pre-solopreneur phase, struggling to break free, understanding this difference could be the turning point in your ability to build momentum that actually lasts.

By learning how to break free from blind routines and emotional burnout, you’ll be able to show up with clarity, adapt instead of crash, and finally build a system that works with your energy, not against it. That’s how you go from survival mode to steady progress in your life and business.

Most people never make it that far. They either stay trapped in loops of overthinking and burnout or waste years being “consistent” with the wrong things.

If they don’t fix this, they’ll continue to mistake movement for progress until one day they burn out, quit, or convince themselves they were never meant for this path. Let’s not let that happen.

Most people think they’re failing because they’re not trying hard enough. They beat themselves up for not sticking to their goals, not following through on plans, not waking up early enough, or not doing that “one thing” consistently.

But here’s the truth:

They can do everything right—build routines, journal every day, post content, follow productivity systems to the letter—and still feel stuck. Still feel like they’re burning out. Still feel like nothing’s changing.

Let’s fix it.

Why Most People Struggle to Stay Consistent (And Why It’s Not Their Fault)

Most people don’t struggle with consistency because they lack effort or willpower.

The real reason lies deeper: the life they’re trying to stay consistent with is misaligned with their core values, their natural rhythms, and their authentic future vision.

Many of them are trapped in survival mode, moving on autopilot, doing what they believe they “should” be doing, but not what truly drives or fulfils them. This disconnect makes every day feel like a slog, draining energy and enthusiasm.

From a psychological perspective, motivation isn’t just about discipline or “pushing through.” It depends on feeling autonomy—having choice in what they do—mastery—making progress in skills or understanding—and purpose—a sense of meaning behind the work. Without those, motivation collapses into exhaustion or apathy.

Furthermore, the brain’s reward system naturally seeks immediate gratification. The dopamine-driven circuits are wired to notice novelty and quick rewards, which explains why habits like scrolling through social media feel so addictive, but long-term work, such as building a business, can feel like a grind with no instant payoff.

Emotional exhaustion and chronic stress complicate things further. When overwhelmed, the nervous system flips into survival mode, prioritising immediate safety over future goals. This means consistent effort towards growth gets hijacked by anxiety, fatigue, or burnout.

Self-worth tied too closely to outcomes exacerbates the problem. If progress isn’t visible fast enough, doubt creeps in. Missing a deadline or failing a task can spiral into harsh self-judgment, triggering quitting rather than persistence.

This isn’t a failure of character or motivation—it’s a natural protective mechanism of the mind and body trying to keep them safe from perceived threat or failure.

To truly help yourself stay consistent, you need more than willpower—you need to redesign your environment, mindset, and goals so persistence feels achievable and safe, not punishing.

Consistency ≠ Habit. It’s Something Deeper.

Habits are automatic responses wired into the brain’s basal ganglia—behaviours triggered by context or cues to conserve mental effort. For example, brushing teeth when waking up or checking the phone first thing in the morning.

Habits are powerful because they operate beneath conscious thought, freeing up brainpower for new challenges. But they only cover repetitive, often low-level actions.

Consistency is something else. It’s a mindset and commitment—a capacity to keep returning to what truly matters even when it’s uncomfortable, uncertain, or boring.

This difference explains why many get stuck, confusing habit formation with building real consistency. They form a habit, like writing every morning or posting daily, but without clear intention or reflection, these actions can become rote and disconnected from meaningful progress.

For example, a pre-solopreneur might write content daily because they formed the habit, but without evaluating if the content resonates or supports their goal to break free and go solo, the habit feels hollow and discouraging.

Similarly, a solopreneur might launch product after product without stepping back to learn what’s working or not, trapped in “consistent” activity but no real evolution.

The psychologist Carol Dweck’s work on the growth mindset is particularly helpful here: progress depends on embracing challenges, learning from failures, and adapting, not blindly repeating what feels safe or familiar. Effort becomes meaningful only when it connects to a growing sense of self and purpose, rather than merely mechanical repetition.

Consistency demands reflection and adaptation. It’s a living practice of commitment, not an automatic routine.

The Lie of Blind Consistency

Where most people get stuck is in what I call blind consistency.

They show up every day, tick the boxes, follow routines and plans, yet somehow they feel like they’re running on a treadmill, expending effort but getting nowhere.

They mistake busywork for progress.

Writing blog posts, posting on social media, making calls, or launching products, yet engagement remains low, growth stalls, and the internal feeling of frustration grows.

This autopilot mode isn’t about a lack of discipline. It’s more like a safety net, a way to avoid facing the uncomfortable truth that their current approach isn’t working.

Blind consistency is often fueled by fear:

- Fear of admitting that the system or plan they’ve been using isn’t delivering results. 
- Fear of changing course and risking failure or judgment. 
- Fear of uncertainty, so they cling to the illusion of “doing something” even if it’s ineffective. 
- Fear of losing their identity tied up in being “consistent” or “disciplined,” even if that means repeating the same ineffective patterns.

This kind of blind repetition is like spinning wheels in the mud.

It can feel productive, but it wastes precious time and energy, creating a false sense of progress while silently eroding motivation and confidence.

The philosopher Søren Kierkegaard wrote about the "sickness unto death," a despair rooted in a failure to act authentically or embrace change. Blind consistency echoes that despair, persisting without real growth, clinging to routines that numb rather than nurture.

Breaking free from blind consistency requires courage:

- The courage to pause and reflect honestly on what’s working and what isn’t. 
- The willingness to experiment, adapt, or even quit habits and strategies that no longer serve. 
- The humility to accept that failure and course correction are essential parts of true progress. 
- The discipline not to confuse mere movement with meaningful progress.

When people shift from blind repetition to thoughtful persistence, they stop punishing themselves for “not being consistent” and instead focus on consistent growth—building habits and actions rooted in clarity, learning, and purpose.

The Marathon Model: What Real Consistency Looks Like

Training for a marathon isn’t about brute force or running 42 kilometres daily. It’s a process built on specific principles that steadily builds endurance, protects against burnout, and develops resilience.

Here’s how these principles apply directly to building consistency in life and work:

1. Start Small and Build Gradually 
Marathoners begin with short runs, gradually increasing their distance over several weeks. Similarly, you don’t need to overhaul everything at once. Start with small, manageable steps to build momentum steadily.

2. Schedule Recovery Days 
Rest days let muscles repair and prevent injury. Similarly, you must schedule downtime to recharge mentally and physically, or risk burning out (again).

3. Train with Purpose 
Each run targets a goal: speed, endurance, or recovery. You should act the same. With intention. Every task should serve a clear purpose, not just fill time.

4. Track Progress and Adapt 
Runners monitor their distance and pace, tweaking their plans as necessary. You also need to track outcomes and feelings, adapting your methods rather than blindly repeating ineffective routines.

5. Focus on Consistency Over Intensity 
Marathoners run slower than race pace to build stamina.  Similarly, you should prioritise showing up regularly, even if progress feels slow, to avoid burnout from sporadic bursts.

6. Visualise the Finish Line and the Process  
Runners hold the goal clearly in mind but embrace the daily grind. You, too, should keep your vision alive while committing to disciplined daily actions.

7. Embrace Community and Support 
Many runners train with groups or coaches to hold themselves accountable. You can also benefit from mentors, peers, or communities that encourage persistence and provide honest feedback.

8. Run Your Own Race 
Every runner’s pace differs, and comparing them can cause frustration. You must also honour your unique timeline without chasing others’ progress.

9. Prepare Mentally for Discomfort 
Endurance requires facing fatigue and hardship. Similarly, you build resilience over time to handle setbacks, balancing the need to push forward with necessary rest.

10. Celebrate Small Wins 
Every completed run or milestone deserves recognition. You, too, should celebrate progress, however small, to reinforce motivation and joy.

Building consistency is a marathon, not a sprint. True progress comes from pacing yourself, planning wisely, and adjusting as you grow, just like the best runners train to cross the finish line stronger.

The Final Takeaway

When people feel stuck, overwhelmed, or juggle side projects while trapped in draining jobs, they don’t need more hustle or hacks.

They need a new way to think about consistency.

• Not relentless, rigid repetition.

• Not clinging to broken systems.

• Not sacrificing well-being to prove seriousness.

But the willingness to return to what matters—again and again—even through failure and chaos.

Not perfectly. But intentionally.

That’s how they transition from survival mode to building a life and work that truly belongs to them.

What’s next?

The other side is not too far. It's just a few mindset shifts away. To be precise, five mindset shifts away.

It's incredible how achievable that is.

The first step is not quitting your job or relocating to another city or country. Save that for later.

The first step to living and working on your terms is to fix your mindset.

To help you do it, I created the "5 Game-Changing Mindset Shifts For Success" video course --> https://stan.store/thepaulrise/p/unlock-your-full-potential-as-a-solopreneur

In this course, I show you how to make the 5 essential mindset shifts to overcome your self-blockages and thrive.

This is what you will learn and practice:

• The Power of Mindset

• The 5 Most Problematic Mindset Flaws

• How to overcome the Imposter Syndrome (versus self-doubt)

• How to embrace failure as a learning tool (versus fear of failure)

• How to cultivate a Growth Mindset (versus a static fixed mindset)

• How to boost your positivity (versus the negativity, which doesn't serve you)

• How to set healthy boundaries (versus being a people pleaser at work and life in general)

PLUS, you get a free PDF guide with 5 unconventional yet proven and effective exercises for practising the mindset shifts and preventing relapse.

Unlock the course, and shift from the despair and hopelessness of your self-limiting thinking to a healthy, high-flying, positive mindset that will empower you to break free and thrive --> https://stan.store/thepaulrise/

Unlock the course below.