Why Doing Hard Things Gets Easier Over Time

A few weeks ago, my partner and I were out on a rainy half marathon training run around Hyde Park. She was finding it tough and close to stopping.

I told her, “If you keep going now, it’ll make it easier next time.”

That idea is grounded in how our brains respond to effort.

I’d recently been reading The DOSE Effect by TJ Power, which explores how brain chemistry influences motivation. One key takeaway is that consistently choosing short-term discomfort over short-term comfort can improve your ability to stay motivated.

Research discussed by neuroscientists such as Andrew Huberman points to the anterior mid-cingulate cortex—an area of the brain associated with effort, decision-making, and persistence. When you repeatedly choose effortful actions, this system becomes more active and may adapt over time.

In simple terms:
Doing hard things makes doing hard things easier.

This shows up in everyday life:

• Getting up early when you don’t feel like it

• Finishing a workout when it gets uncomfortable

• Making choices that benefit you long-term rather than immediately

The reverse is also true. If you consistently choose comfort, effort can feel harder.

I notice this most mornings when my alarm goes off. Every time I get up anyway, it reinforces that habit.

So next time you’re faced with the choice—comfort or effort—remember:

You’re not just making a decision for today. You’re shaping how easy that decision will be tomorrow.