[Introverts] Is it because you have a 'weak will' that habits don't stick? — The real reason we overthinkers overlook.

I recently started doing yoga again.

I did it a few years ago too, but when work got busy, it would fade away before I knew it. Then my neck and shoulders would get stiff again, and I'd come back to it. I've repeated this cycle many times now.

When my neck stiffness gets bad, my sleep at night becomes shallow. During the day, I feel groggy and sleepy, and my brain doesn't function well. So, I turn to yoga again. Though, I don't even use a mat; I just do it easily at home while watching a video.

In the midst of restarting like this, I've noticed one thing.

When a habit doesn't stick, it's a sign that your mind and body have entered 'energy-saving mode'.

People who are introverted and find life difficult are on high alert all day long. We gauge other people's moods, conform to others' 'correct answers,' and end the day with our foot pressed firmly on the gas pedal.

There's no way we have any energy left to do yoga at night after using it all up like that.

The reason it doesn't stick isn't because your will is weak, but because your mind and body are switching over to say, 'I'm going into energy-saving mode now'. When a habit is interrupted, it's usually because 'things are tougher than you think'.

The biggest pitfall is 'overthinking the reasons'.

What I tend to do here is get lost in endless thoughts about 'why I can't keep it up'.

While I'm analyzing, I feel like I'm making progress. I feel like if I find the cause, I can solve it. But in reality, I haven't moved an inch.

Introverts are good at thinking. That's precisely why'thinking' itself can become a clever excuse for not taking action.

If you can realize one thing in the midst of restarting, that's enough. You can stop the overthinking there. Realization is the entrance to moving forward, not the goal.

Stop thinking and just move your body once.

In my case, the answer was always the same. Stop overthinking, move my body, and go to bed early.

When neck stiffness makes my sleep shallow, it directly impacts my performance the next day. Then I stay on high alert, my shoulders get stiff again, and my sleep becomes shallow—the only way to break this vicious cycle is, in the end, to move my body a little and get proper sleep. That's why, especially when I'm not feeling well, I return to the simple basics of exercise and sleep as quickly as possible.

To do that, I keep the hurdle as low as possible. After all, I don't even own a yoga mat. Playing a video on my smartphone is just fine. The lower the hurdle,the easier it is for me to come back even when I'm struggling.

I don't consider this laziness, but a proper form of 'self-care' to get myself back on track.

When a habit is interrupted, we tend to blame ourselves, saying, 'I failed again'.

But that might not be a breakdown; it might be a sign of energy-saving. Instead of blaming yourself or overthinking, first move your body once and go to bed early. You can look for the reasons after that.

When you find that things 'don't stick,' what is your body trying to tell you? If you'd like, please let me know.

Finally, just a little more.

Behind the 'energy-saving signs' I wrote about today, there is usually a hidden state of 'wearing yourself out by trying to fit into someone else's idea of what's right.' I have compiled the true nature of this and how to quietly step away from it into a single book.

This book is not about trying hard to change yourself, but about relaxing your shoulders and regaining a pace where you can breathe more easily. If today's story resonated with you even a little, I am sure it will provide some kind of hint.