Newton’s First Law Applied to Productivity: How to Overcome Inertia and Get Started

I’ve been in recovery and holiday mode for weeks. And I’ve completely forgotten how to work.

Not in a “I’ve lost my edge” panic way. More like: “Wait, how do I even start this?”

My hand’s almost healed. The cast is off. My calendar’s open. Work exists.

But sitting down to actually do it? Feels like pushing through treacle.

Here’s the thing: this isn’t laziness. This is physics.

Newton’s First Law of Getting Things Done

Remember this from school? An object at rest stays at rest. An object in motion stays in motion.

Turns out, Newton wasn’t just talking about objects. He was talking about you on January 2nd.

You’ve been still for weeks—holidays, family time, rest, recovery. Your default state became stillness. And stillness really, really wants to keep being still.

This is inertia. And it’s not a character flaw. It’s just how systems work.

The motivation myth we keep believing

We think the sequence is: Feel motivated → Take action → Get results.

It’s not. It’s: Take action → Build momentum → Feel motivated.

Motivation doesn’t show up to get you started. It shows up once you’re already moving.

I’ve been testing this all week.

My post-holiday reality

Weeks of necessary rest. Good rest. The kind I needed after breaking my hand and pushing through the year.

But now work is calling. And my brain’s response? Blank stare. Heavy limbs. “Maybe tomorrow.”

I’d open my laptop and… nothing. The task felt massive before I’d even started.

Classic inertia. I’d been at rest so long that motion felt foreign.

Here’s what I noticed: the longer I waited to “feel ready,” the harder starting became.

Day 1: “I’ll ease back in tomorrow.”

Week 1: “Everything feels overwhelming now.”

Week 2: “Have I forgotten how to be productive? Is this who I am now?”

Spoiler: I hadn’t forgotten. I was just fighting physics.

The 2-minute hack that actually works

I borrowed this from behavioral psychology (and probably Tim Ferriss, who borrows from everyone): make it so small it’s impossible to say no to.

Not “get back to full productivity.” Not even “have a productive morning.”

Just: 2 minutes. One task. One email. One thing moved forward.

That’s it. After 2 minutes, full permission to stop.

But here’s what happened: I didn’t stop.

Not because I suddenly felt motivated. Because once I started moving, continuing felt easier than stopping.

Newton was right. Motion creates motion.

The resistance isn’t in the work. It’s in the transition from stillness to movement.

Why this matters (especially now)

January is brutal for this. Everyone’s selling you on “New Year, New You” and “Start Strong” and “2026 Is Your Year.”

Meanwhile, your body is like: “We’ve been eating cheese and sleeping in for two weeks. What’s the rush?”

There’s no rush. But there is physics.

The longer you stay still, the harder starting becomes. Not because you’re lazy. Because inertia is a real force you have to overcome.

How to restart without the drama

Test this approach. It’s low-stakes but effective.

1. Ridiculously small first move

Not “clear inbox.” Not “plan the quarter.”

One email. One document reviewed. One phone call. One task ticked.

The goal isn’t accomplishment. It’s breaking inertia. That’s it.

2 minutes counts. Aim for embarrassingly achievable.

2. Expect it to feel hard (that’s normal)

The first 2 minutes will feel like you’re pushing a boulder uphill. Because you are.

That’s not a sign you’ve lost it. That’s inertia. It always feels hard at first.

Then something shifts. 10 minutes in, it feels doable. 20 minutes in, you’re wondering why you procrastinated so long.

That’s momentum. Enjoy it while it lasts. Because it will—once you’re moving, staying in motion is easy.

3. Don’t wait for motivation (it’s not coming)

Seriously. Stop waiting to “feel like it.”

Motivation is the reward for starting, not the ticket to entry.

Start before you’re ready. Move before inspiration strikes. Begin whilst it still feels uncomfortable.

Motivation will show up. But only after you’re already in motion.

4. Stack wins, don’t force marathons

You don’t need to go from zero to hero in one day.

Day 1: 2 minutes. Day 2: 5 minutes. Day 3: Maybe 20.

Build momentum gradually. Let physics work in your favour instead of fighting it.

The pattern worth noticing

This isn’t just post-holiday sluggishness. It’s every transition.

After a weekend, Monday feels hard. After time off, work feels alien. After rest, motion feels impossible.

Not because something’s wrong with you. Because you’re an object at rest trying to become an object in motion.

And that transition takes force.

What I’m learning (again)

Rest is non-negotiable. Holidays matter. Recovery is productive in its own right.

But when it’s time to move again, waiting for “ready” is a trap.

Ready doesn’t arrive. You just start moving, and readiness follows.

It feels hard not because you’re broken, but because inertia is real.

Acknowledge it. Then start anyway.

The test for this week

If you’re struggling to restart after the holidays—work, routines, habits, anything—try this:

Pick one thing. The smallest version of that thing. Commit to 2 minutes. Set a timer if you need proof.

Then start. Not when you feel like it. Just… start.

See what happens. My bet: you’ll keep going once you’re moving. Because that’s how momentum works.

The hard part isn’t the work. It’s pushing past inertia.

Start small. Move early. Let physics do the rest.

Newton figured this out centuries ago. Might as well use it.