Why do what you don't want to do?

You've heard this secret to staying productive:

Make it fun.

When you enjoy what you're doing, everything changes:

• You want to do it.

• You stay consistent.

• And of course... the results follow.

I love this approach.

I preach this all the time.

(You know this about me!)

Joyful productivity is at the core of everything I do.

But here’s the thing:

Long-term, it's not enough.

That next level that high performers and athletes tap into... It has nothing to do with joy.

In fact, it’s the opposite of joy.

It's about 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁.

Mastering discomfort is crucial to unlocking higher levels of performance, health, and – believe it or not – joy.

How should you go about it?

Keep reading. 😉 

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Before we begin: Here’s what you might have missed last week…

Big idea #1: Neuroscience of discomfort

Most of us avoid discomfort like the plague.

But what if I told you that facing discomfort is the secret to unlocking:

• more willpower,

• mental toughness,

• and better health?

Here’s how it works:

The anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC), a part of your brain, lights up when you do something difficult or uncomfortable.

• Whether it's grinding through a tough workout,

• tackling that project you’ve been avoiding, or

• stepping out of your comfort zone socially

…The aMCC is hard at work.

First, I’ve heard about it from Dr. Andrew Huberman when he spoke about its correlation with willpower and longevity. Feel free to check out this clip:

So what does this mean for you?

Mental strength

• Doing hard things now builds your ability to tackle future challenges with more ease.

• The more discomfort you face, the better your brain gets at handling stress and effort.

Discipline & willpower

• By regularly doing things you don’t want to do, your discipline gets stronger.

• It’s like a muscle – the more you train it, the stronger it becomes.

Better health

• Embracing discomfort (think physical or mental challenges) doesn’t just build brainpower, it strengthens your overall health.

• Pushing through difficult moments reduces stress, improves focus, and can even help with longevity by building resilience.

Big idea #2: Self-mastery through discomfort

Once you start leaning into discomfort, something interesting happens.

Your self-image begins to change.

When you consistently do hard things, you begin to see yourself as someone who can handle anything.

That’s real confidence.

Your attitude shifts too.

Instead of dreading challenges, you start welcoming them.

Those frustrating, unexpected obstacles?

They become little "training sessions" for your mind.

What once made you think, "Ugh, not again!" now brings a mindset of, "No problem, I’ve got this!"

This isn’t just about becoming tougher. It’s about finding joy in the process.

When you push through discomfort, you’ll start feeling more capable, which leads to more confidence, which leads to more joy.

It’s a cycle.

And the opposite is true too:

But it starts with the right mindset and self-talk.

Often, our conscious mind makes excuses: "I really don’t want to work out today. I deserve to rest."

But your unconscious mind knows the truth: "I’m avoiding this because it’s hard. I am weak."

This creates a gap between who you want to be and how you act, which leads to lower self-esteem.

Here’s how to flip the script:

Talk to yourself like a coach.

Instead of saying, "I don’t feel like doing this," say: "I don’t want to, but that’s not a good enough reason to skip it. I’m training my mind as much as my body."

Now, your unconscious mind sees: "I can handle tough things. I’m strong. I’m capable."

And you do not have to be perfect. You just have to give your best shot, day after day.

Big idea #3: Turn it into daily practice

High performers don’t wait for discomfort to come to them, they seek it out. They practice it daily.

Want to know how?

• In the gym → Only start counting when your muscles are tired. Push for one more rep. This isn’t just about physical strength – it’s mental conditioning.

• Self-talk → Now you know why you should do uncomfortable things. When the little voice in your head starts making excuses, talk back. Remind yourself why discomfort is where growth happens.

• Physical challenges → Strength training is an obvious way to face discomfort. But make sure you’re actually pushing your limits. If you enjoy every second of your workout, you’re not in discomfort. Keep raising the bar.

• Other challenges → Try something that really pushes you, like cold exposure (sauna or cold plunge). Although, if jumping into cold water excites you… Good for you! But when it’s not uncomfortable, it won’t help build your mental toughness. It needs to be something you don’t look forward to.

Sprinkle discomfort everywhere:

• At the gym, do 2 more reps.

• Take the stairs instead of the escalator.

• Approach the person you’re intimidated by.

• Initiate that difficult conversation you’ve been avoiding.

• Volunteer for a task that makes you uncomfortable, like presenting at work.

The Productivist Challenge: 7 days of discomfort

For the next 7 days, add “Do something uncomfortable” to your habit tracker.

Each day, intentionally do something that makes you feel uneasy or reluctant.

It could be a small thing or a big one, but the key is to get uncomfortable on purpose.

By the end of the week, you’ll notice the shift:

• Tasks you used to avoid won’t seem as daunting, and you’ll feel more confident and capable.

I'm doing this challenge myself by doing something I really don’t enjoy doing:

→ A passive hang off the bar.

It’s painful, but l’ll be training two things at once:

1. I improve my mental strength.

2. I improve my grip strength.

Both of which are highly correlated with health and longevity - my number one priority in life.

What will be your uncomfortable habit for the next 7 days?

The Productivist Question:

What’s one uncomfortable thing you’ve been putting off?

Bottom line:

While joy is an important part of productivity, true growth happens when you embrace discomfort.

That’s how you level up.

And before you know it, the discomfort will lead to more success, more resilience – and even more joy.

Wish you an uncomfortable week ahead (in the best way possible) ;)

Valeriya

PS: What have you discovered about yourself or others in this issue? Let me know by hitting reply or DMing me on LinkedIn!

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