Really, really, really don’t feel like starting?

The Stoics have a strategy for that, and it might work better than motivation ever did.

This week, Mia takes you inside a modern productivity spiral (yes, the sock drawer makes an appearance) and shows how one ancient Roman emperor’s journal became the unlikely catalyst for getting unstuck.

You’ll hear what happened when she stumbled on a Marcus Aurelius quote mid-doomscroll, what the Stoics actually taught about resistance, and why perfectionism dies faster when you just tie your shoes and begin.

Mia shares how her early running habit taught her to override the inner voice that said, “I’m not ready,” and how even a pandemic-rattled philosopher-warrior-emperor managed to keep showing up—one sentence at a time.

If you’re a solopreneur, a perfectionist, or a procrastination-prone creative with ADHD and 47 open browser tabs, this episode is for you. You'll learn:

• Why ancient Stoic strategies still slap in 2025
• How transitional rituals override the emotional static of executive dysfunction
• What to do when you don’t feel ready (and how to get your momentum back anyway)
• Why motivation follows action—not the other way around
• What Marcus Aurelius and your sock drawer have in common

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🔗 🚀 Your Launch Sequence for the Easily Distracted

Have you rearranged your desk 12 times but haven't typed a word? Want a ritual that actually gets you moving? Download my ADHD-friendly, neurodivergent-approved Focus Routine and learn how to turn "just getting started" into your new superpower. It’s ten minutes, zero pressure, and scientifically delicious.

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🌀 Wavelength: Virtual Coworking for the Neurospicy

Join a crew of delightfully distracted creatives who understand that sometimes, body doubling is the secret sauce. Wavelength is my virtual coworking space for solopreneurs and neurospicy creatives who thrive with structure, body doubling, and vibes. Weekly focus sessions. Ridiculously low-stakes accountability. High-five-worthy momentum.

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Research, References, and Rabbit Holes

• Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 5.1, translated by Gregory Hays (2002)
• Gilliam, J. F. (1961). “The Plague under Marcus Aurelius.” The American Journal of Philology
• Harper, K. (2017). The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire.
• Robertson, D. (2019). How to Think Like a Roman Emperor.
• Irvine, W. B. (2009). A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy.

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Episode keywords: Stoic productivity, ADHD motivation, executive dysfunction help, transitional rituals, procrastination strategies, start before you’re ready, solopreneur mindset, how to get unstuck, Marcus Aurelius quotes, creative resistance, perfectionism and productivity, emotional regulation and focus, productivity hacks for creatives, ADHD-friendly workflow, ancient wisdom modern focus, motivation without pressure, resistance and routine, focus rituals, Stoicism and modern life, momentum mindset, self-discipline, how to stop procrastinating, getting started