Stop Complaining and Do the Work: How Action Is the Cure for Frustration

Everyone has tough days. Maybe things aren’t going your way, or challenges keep piling up. But here’s the thing—complaining won’t change anything. Complaining won’t move you forward, fix your problems, or bring you closer to your goals. In fact, the more time you spend complaining, the less time you have to actually do the work needed to make progress. In today’s episode of Crushing the Day, we’re diving into why it’s time to stop complaining, stop making excuses, and start putting in the work. Ready to drop the complaints and get to it? Let’s dive in.

Key Takeaways

• Complaints waste time and energy: The more time you spend complaining, the less energy you have to take action.

• Excuses block progress: Making excuses only keeps you stuck in the same place, while action moves you forward.

• Responsibility leads to success: When you take ownership of your situation and stop blaming others, you take control of your future.

• Work is the path to achievement: Success isn’t handed to anyone—you have to work for it, even when it’s hard.

Complaints Waste Time and Energy

Every time you complain about your circumstances, your problems, or the challenges you’re facing, you’re wasting valuable time and energy that could be spent solving those problems. Complaining might feel good in the moment, but it doesn’t change anything. In fact, it only drains your energy and leaves you feeling more stuck than before.

Example: Think about a time when you complained about a project at work or a difficult situation in your personal life. After venting, did anything really change? Probably not. The situation stayed the same, and you were left feeling even more frustrated because you wasted time complaining instead of addressing the issue.

If you want to make progress, you need to stop wasting time on complaints and start focusing on solutions. Every minute you spend complaining is a minute you could be using to move forward.

Excuses Block Progress

Excuses are just another form of self-sabotage. When you make excuses, you’re giving yourself permission to stay stuck. Maybe you’ve told yourself that you’re too busy, too tired, or not ready to take action. But the truth is, those excuses are just roadblocks you’re putting in your own way. If you want to achieve anything worthwhile, you need to stop making excuses and start making moves.

Example: Let’s say you’ve been wanting to get in shape, but every day, you come up with a new excuse—"I don’t have time," "The gym is too far," or "I’ll start tomorrow." These excuses may feel valid, but they’re keeping you from making progress. If you stop making excuses and start doing something—like going for a run or doing a workout at home—you’ll quickly see that the only thing holding you back was your mindset.

Pro Tip: The next time you catch yourself making an excuse, challenge it. Ask yourself: Is this excuse really valid, or am I just avoiding the work? More often than not, it’s the latter.

Responsibility Leads to Success

Here’s a powerful truth: when you take full responsibility for your life, your choices, and your outcomes, you take control of your future. Complaining and blaming others might feel like an easy way out, but it keeps you powerless. If you want to create real change and achieve success, you need to own your situation, no matter how difficult it is.

Example: Think about successful entrepreneurs like Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx. She didn’t wait for someone else to create the perfect product for her—she took responsibility for her vision and made it happen, even when others doubted her. By taking full ownership of her idea and doing the hard work, she turned her vision into a billion-dollar brand.

When you stop blaming others and start taking responsibility for your own success, you empower yourself to make things happen.

Work is the Path to Achievement

At the end of the day, success doesn’t come from wishing, complaining, or waiting for the perfect moment. It comes from doing the work. The people who achieve their goals aren’t the ones who talk about it—they’re the ones who roll up their sleeves and get to work, day after day, even when it’s tough.

Example: Think of anyone who’s built something great—a thriving business, a successful career, or even a strong, healthy body. They didn’t get there by complaining about how hard it was or by making excuses for why they couldn’t start. They got there by doing the work, consistently, even when they didn’t feel like it.

Pro Tip: Break your work down into small, manageable tasks. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you focus on the big picture, but if you take it one step at a time and commit to showing up each day, the results will come.

What’s Next?

It’s time to stop complaining and start doing. Complaints and excuses will never move you forward—but action will. If you really want to achieve your goals, you have to be willing to put in the work, even when it’s hard. Take responsibility for your life, stop wasting time on complaints, and start making progress. You’ve got what it takes to succeed, but only if you’re willing to work for it.

For more tips on how to stay focused, take action, and crush your goals, check out my top resources, including books and coaching programs designed to help you crush the day. Together, we’ll stop complaining, start working, and build the success we’ve been aiming for—one step at a time.