Do you ever tell yourself you’ll relax after you finish one more thing—then somehow you don’t relax and you don’t finish the thing? In this episode, we talk about the “I’ll feel better when…” trap: waiting for the perfect weather, the organized house, the cleared inbox, or the magical moment when everything is finally done.

We look at how this shows up in everyday life (like skipping a walk because we’re “too busy,” or staying home to get organized and then not doing it), and we share a simple shift that helps: treating rest and enjoyment as part of the plan, not a reward you have to earn.

What We Talk About

1. 03:45 - Waiting to feel good until conditions change Weather as a stand-in for “I’ll be happier when…” and how we put off enjoying ourselves.
2. 04:14 - The “perfect conditions” problem (gardening example) Waiting too long for the right moment can mean missing the chance to do what helps things grow.
3. 05:08 - Skipping fun to “get organized”… and doing neither The familiar loop: we cancel the enjoyable thing, then can’t face the task either.
4. 06:14 - Rest first, then do the thing How taking a real break can give us the brain power to come back and actually do the task.
5. 07:06 - “I’ll do that after I retire” (the bigger version) Why waiting for “someday” can be risky—and why doing what matters while we can matters.
6. 09:06 - The moving finish line The task we’re waiting to finish keeps changing, and many “maintenance” tasks never stay done.
7. 10:09 - Downtime is part of the recipe Why relaxation and sleep can’t always be the thing that gets pushed off.
8. 11:51 - A practical tactic: track “get out of the apartment” Using a simple habit tracker as a reminder to change environment (like getting out without Bix).
9. 14:30 - Staying present instead of screen-hopping A small practice during short waits online: breathe, stay put, and don’t derail yourself.

Key Takeaways

1. Rest isn’t a reward—it’s fuel When we’re exhausted, real rest can be what makes the next step possible.
2. “I’ll relax after…” is usually a moving target If we tie enjoyment to being “done,” we can end up postponing it forever.
3. Do the small version now We don’t have to wait for retirement or a perfect season—sometimes it’s as simple as taking the walk today.
4. Build enjoyment into the system A tiny tracker or reminder can help us actually do the things that support our energy and well-being.
5. Presence prevents the productivity spiral Staying with the moment can save mental energy and make it easier to return to what we were doing.

The Bottom Line

If we keep telling ourselves we’ll feel good after we finish the next thing, we can get stuck in a loop where we don’t finish the thing and we don’t feel good either. Downtime isn’t something we earn once life is perfect—it’s part of how we live with more ease, and it can actually make it easier to do what needs doing.

Listener Action: Choose one small “reset” you can do before you’re completely done—take a 10-minute walk, work somewhere different for a bit, or step outside and look at something far away. Then notice: does doing the next thing feel even a little easier?

Want More Like This?

1. Episode 61: You’re Not Behind - A strong companion to today’s “I’ll relax after…” trap—especially if the pressure comes from feeling behind.
2. Episode 92: Working Through a Backlog - If your “after” is tied to a backlog, this one keeps it practical—how to move forward without turning it into a perfectionism project.
3. Episode 170: Give Yourself Credit - Perfect if your finish line keeps moving—this helps you count what’s done so you’re not always waiting to feel “done enough.”

Connect With Us

If you’re someone who postpones enjoyment until you “get to the thing,” you’re not alone—and we’d love to hear what this looks like for you.

• Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843)
• Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

If you enjoyed the episode, please consider sharing the podcast with a friend, and rating or reviewing us on your favorite podcast platform. It really helps others discover the show and means so much to us!