Another devastating effect is the swift change in your mood that over-consumption can create. Let’s say you come across a post that is hilarious, you burst out laughing. Then, there’s another post that makes you chuckle. You then scroll up to a post about the news on a war with disturbing images. The next post might then be someone showing off a new recipe that they’ve created. This all happens in a matter of five minutes. Reflect for a second on how you think you might feel after this brief amount of time. The biggest issue is that you were powerless in controlling how to feel. Your feelings were in the hands of whatever the next post would be. It was a simple roll of the dice. Your mood shifts with each swipe up.

You will not receive a reward for arriving early and exhausted. Remember that the goal is durability—not speed. Lasting growth compounds quietly, almost as if it is invisible, until it is, one day, undeniable.

Your life doesn’t fit in a box, so your system shouldn’t either. Instead of forcing someone else’s routine into your schedule, become the system. Get clear on your goals, immerse yourself in the process, and allow flexibility to guide your growth. Your system should work for you—not the other way around.