🧠 Just Do the Work: Why Excuses Drain More Energy Than Action

Putting in the work, one rep at a time.

At Life Skills Karate, we don’t just teach kicks and punches we teach mindsets. One of the most important?

“It takes more energy to make excuses than it does to just do the work.”

Sound familiar?As parents, we see it all the

time:

• “But it wasn’t my mess!”

• “Why do I have to?”

• “I was just about to do it…”
  

These tiny protests might seem harmless, but they add up—mentally and emotionally. Not just for you… but for your child, too.

🎮 NPCs vs. Conscious Thinkers

We use a fun metaphor with our students:👉 NPCs (Non-Player Characters) are the ones who avoid responsibility, blame others, and waste energy dodging effort.👉 Conscious Thinkers step up. They take action—even when it’s hard or unfair—and they get stronger from it.

Here’s the truth:Avoiding a challenge feels like a break, but it actually drains more energy. Why?Because complaining, blaming, and stalling all keep the brain in stress mode. Action, on the other hand, releases it. Movement creates momentum. Ownership builds confidence.

🥋 What We Teach on the Mat

“You could spend 5 minutes arguing about whose job it is…Or you could get it done in 30 seconds and feel like a warrior. Which one sounds better?”

That mindset starts to stick. Kids realize: Excuses = stuck. Action = power.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parent Tip for Home

The next time your child complains about a chore, try this simple phrase:

“Are you making this harder with excuses… or stronger with action?”

Let them pause. Reflect. Then guide them back to the task—not with guilt, but with clarity.

You can even turn it into a game:🏆 “Conscious Thinker Points” for every moment they catch themselves dropping the excuses and doing the work.

✨ Final Thought

Responsibility isn’t a punishment. It’s a power source. And the sooner our kids learn that, the more confident, capable, and grounded they become.

🔵 Want to see your child build these mindsets in real time? We’d love to invite them to a free introductory class. They’ll learn martial arts and their first Life Skill on day one.

📍 Orem, UT🌐 www.lifeskillskarate.com📞 801-224-0529