The life-long search for a "better method" is holding you back from doing what is required.
This isn't the case for everyone...
This is specifically for those that would rather look for a better method of doing something than take action (on any method).
I'm going to start with a letter to my 17-year old self who hated exams:
"Dear Ben,
Stop making new revision timetables or searching for new revision techniques and just do some revision.
You're kidding yourself into thinking that you're making progress, under the assumption that this "new method" you create is going to save you time in the long-run or improve your grade.
*Spoiler alert*, you don't do the new method either - you just don't want to revise.
You're spending more time reshuffling the schedule because you've missed sessions than you are revising, again... because you don't want to revise.
You're super busy which leads you to believe that a lot is getting done, but when you zoom out nothing has actually been achieved.
You might as well go and do something else to be honest - at least then you're not kidding yourself...
P.s. People who write exams are lazy, they use similar questions every year. Learn the mark schemes."
I'm allowed to say this to myself (I really did hate exams). Stay with me to the end as I explain the TWO solutions I proposed there...
But first, let's apply this to some more examples:
Do you spend more time researching nutrition, watching nutrition YouTube videos, finding and creating meal plans, than you do putting in the time to eat healthily; going to the grocery store, preparing, cooking fresh when you can, etc.
When a hurdle gets thrown into your day, does re-arranging your schedule to find the most efficient way to use the time that you have left deter you from getting what's on the list done?
Do you spend more time "saving" social media posts (thinking that you're going to refer back to them later) than you do applying what they say.
Would you rather hold out on a specific solution to your gut issues than take steps that you know are in the right direction? (reducing alcohol, sugar, etc.)
A more nuanced one... Do you spend more time reading self-help books than you do applying what's inside them? Alex Hormozi himself states that he would rather read 4 books a year and apply what they say then read 52 books a year.
The key here: Searching for a better method provides you with a false sense of moving forward, but without action, it is meaningless.
More often than not, we have a good understanding of what needs to be done...
We just don't want to do it, OR, we find it too difficult (daunting).
This is why it's so important to be honest with ourselves, and to reach out for help if we need it!
Which is why I offered up two solutions to my 17-year old self:
1. Stop kidding yourself and accept that you don't want to revise
2. Here's a solution that makes the process easier, you're welcome