When “Am I Doing Enough?” Kills Focus

Today I realized why I couldn’t focus on anything: I was stuck in the loop of asking myself “Am I doing enough?”

That question sounds responsible, but it’s really a trap. It’s not about the task—it’s about an inner critic that keeps moving the goalposts. No matter what I do, the answer is always “more.”

Joe Hudson, a coach I admire, would ask: “Enough for who?” Often the pressure comes from voices we’ve internalized—parents, culture, bosses—not our own conscious choice.

Here’s the reset I used to get unstuck:

1. Name the block → “I’m caught in the ‘not enough’ loop.”

2. Feel it → notice the tightness, restlessness, or guilt without fixing it.

3. Choose one clear thing → pick the smallest action that’s “enough-for-today.”

4. Release the rest → stop when it’s done.

That tiny shift let me exhale and actually finish something, instead of circling endlessly in self-attack.

Maybe you’re in that loop too. If so, what’s your one clear thing today?