When it comes to pursuing goals, we aren’t generally so honest or self-aware that we simply acknowledge that we’re avoiding the effort.

Instead we find similar, related quasi-goals, and tell ourselves that it’s the same thing as working.

One of the main ways we do this is what I refer to as plancrastination.

We plan, in various forms, with the idea that it’s a part of pursuing a goal. We write long to-do lists, checklists of every element that we convince ourselves is part of the goal. Or we shop – researching the things we think we’ll need in order to work, actually work (eventually), toward that goal.

One simple way to weed this out is to ask ourselves “Is this truly necessary?” A similar question: “Has everyone else, who has achieved this goal, also written up such a checklist (or shopping list)?” (Or bought special shoes, joined a gym, designed a logo, written a mission plan …)

One case in point: my brother is a legendary runner, a 2:32 marathoner, who also ran a 70-mile marathon (on trails) at the age of 44. At one point I asked David what shoes he likes. He looked down at his shoes, then answered, paraphrased, “Whatever is on sale at Kohls”.

That’s right: it’s possible to run marathons – and ultra-marathons – in $50 running shoes, because all the time that David spent not shopping, he was running. He was actually engaging in the activity, directly, instead of obliquely via shopping and writing up training plans. (To my knowledge, he’s never followed any training plan other than the mere act of running.)

Of course, “experts” – who are, not so coincidentally, also trying to sell things – don’t make a lot of money by advising that you go running in those old beat-up sneakers, or that you can become more fit with no more advanced and specialized technology other than the floor of your living room (pushups, squats, crunches, etc.). And of course, running magazines and the ilk don’t get ad revenue by companies with slogans such as “Just do it! (With what you already have!)”

In an affluent society, shopping is, in my opinion, the main form of plancrastination: the never-ending quest of looking for shoes to buy, gyms to join, yoga classes to attend, supplements to buy, races to sign up for, books to buy. None of that is necessary, nor are checklists, training programs, personal trainers, and nutritional advisors.

In fact, the path to success is quite simple: remove the distractions, avoiding anything that isn’t directly one’s goal. Marathons can be run without $150 fees, weight can be lost and muscles gained without $70 per month gyms or $50/hour personal trainers.

Just do it … with what you already have.

Stop planning.

Do it.

Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans. – Allen Saunders

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