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Singapore-based marketer specialising in paid & organic content

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Why the beginning & end are always the hardest when getting things done

Posted on 25 July 202529 July 2025 by valerytan

I headed to JB over the weekends. Here’s what my journey looked like from my house in the east: 

  • My house to Tampines interchange: 20 minutes (Bus 291).
  • Tampines interchange to Woodlands interchange: 45 minutes (Bus 168).
  • Woodlands interchange to Singapore customs: 10 minutes wait plus a 10-minute ride (Bus 950).
  • Singapore customs clearance: 5 minutes.
  • Singapore customs to JB customs: 15 minutes wait plus a 10-minute ride (Bus 170).
  • JB customs clearance: 5 minutes.
  • JB City Square to Toppen Mall: 1-hour waiting time for Grab plus a 30-minute ride.

Consider that last leg alone: 1 hour of waiting just for a 30-minute ride. The last mile of my entire journey, which was geographically short, ate up a significant chunk of the total travel time.

Same thing whenever I headed out to town:

  • My house to Tampines East MRT: A 10-minute walk 
  • Tampines East MRT to Tampines MRT: Another 10-minute walk then the train
  • Tampines MRT to Bugis MRT: 30 minutes

Realise how the first transfer disproportionately took up ⅔ of my journey time?

The initial stages or final steps of any journey are frequently the slowest and most complex. 

We tend to measure progress by the long, uninterrupted middle segments – the 45-minute bus ride or 30-minute train journey. These are where momentum builds and distance is covered efficiently. 

But the real friction often lies in the transitions: waiting, navigating customs, finding the right bus, or simply building up the momentum to begin.

At the start, you’re fighting inertia. 

This is the mental hurdle of opening a blank document, the first few push-ups in a new exercise routine, or the initial burst of enthusiasm for a new project that quickly gives way to the grind. 

It feels heavy, clunky, and inefficient because you’re moving from a state of rest to a state of action. 

There’s an inherent resistance that requires a disproportionate amount of energy to overcome. You’re setting up the entire system, figuring out the first few steps, and often facing the blank page of the unknown.

Meanwhile, at the end, you’re dealing with diminishing returns, unforeseen complexities, or the psychological weight of “almost there”. 

The final edits, debugging, getting client sign-off, or simply tidying up all the loose ends often reveal hidden problems that weren’t apparent during the main bulk of the work. 

The last 5% of a big project often takes 50% of the effort.

Motivation can wane when the big goal is in sight but the detailed, often tedious, work remains. You’re pushing through minor obstacles that feel disproportionately large because your main task is supposedly complete, yet you’re still expending significant effort.

This applies whether you’re traveling across a border or embarking on a new project, a new habit, or a new phase of life.

The lesson is the same: the middle might be where the bulk of the work happens, but the edges are where the real tests of patience and persistence lie.

It’s where most people give up. 

And that’s also where the real difference is made.

So what can be done?

1. Identify the true friction points

Before you can solve a problem, you need to understand it.

  • Audit your routine: For tasks you struggle to start or finish, break down the process. Where exactly do you get stuck? Is it the mental dread, the physical setup, a missing piece of information, or an unexpected last-minute hurdle?
  • Be specific: Instead of “I can’t start exercising,” pinpoint: “I can’t start exercising because my gym bag isn’t packed the night before,” or “I struggle to finish my report because the formatting always takes longer than I expect.”

2. Reduce the “first-mile” friction

Next, try to make starting as effortless as possible.

  • Start ridiculously small: Don’t aim for the whole task. Just commit to the absolute tiniest first step. If you need to write a report, just open the document. If you need to clean, just put away one item. This “break the seal” method lowers the barrier to entry significantly. Personally, I like to use the 5-minute rule. I try to commit to working on a dreaded task for just five minutes. Often, once you start, the momentum builds, and you’ll continue far beyond that initial five minutes.
  • Prepare your environment: Prime yourself by setting things up in advance so the desired action is the path of least resistance. Lay out your workout clothes the night before. Keep healthy snacks visible and unhealthy ones out of sight. Open your project files before you even sit down at your desk.
  • “Eat the frog” early: Tackle your most challenging or dreaded task first thing in the morning. Getting it out of the way reduces procrastination and mental burden for the rest of the day and builds momentum.
  • Time block: Assign specific, short time slots to those difficult “first-mile” tasks. A routine helps build a mental trigger for initiation. I personally use the Power Zone method of 40-minute deep work and 20-minute rest.

3. Smoothen the last-mile friction

You’re close to the finish line now!

  • Buffer for the unforeseen: This is my top tip as I tend to be optimistic and underestimate how long stuff takes to get done. Understand that the last 5-10% of any project often takes a disproportionately long time due to unexpected issues, final reviews, or minor corrections. Build extra time into your schedule specifically for these “last mile” surprises.
  • Start with the end in mind: Ambiguity about what “finished” looks like can lead to endless tweaking. Before you start, clearly outline the criteria for completion. What does the final deliverable look like?
  • Automate tedious final steps: If possible, automate repetitive tasks like formatting, compiling, or organizing files. Tools and templates can save significant time and frustration in the end.
  • Schedule “wrap-up” time: Dedicate specific time for administrative or review tasks at the end of a project. Don’t assume they’ll just “happen”.
  • Protect your energy: As you near the end of a big push, be mindful of burnout. Don’t run on fumes. Ensure you’re taking short breaks and maintaining self-care to sustain focus for those critical final details.

4. Psychological strategies

The friction is often more mental than physical.

  • Acknowledge resistance: It’s normal for things to feel slow at the beginning and the end. Don’t beat yourself up. Recognizing this human tendency can help you approach it with more patience.
  • Focus on the process: While the goal is important, find satisfaction in consistently taking those small, difficult steps. Celebrate the small wins of initiating or completing a challenging segment.
  • Build momentum: The feeling of consistent progress, even small, can be a powerful motivator. Tracking your “streaks” (e.g., daily habits) can make you less likely to break the chain.
  • Accountability: Sharing your goals with someone, or even having a “body doubling” session (working alongside someone else, even virtually), can provide external motivation to start or push through the final stages.

Best,

Val

Category: Musings

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