The Unseen Costs of Doubt: How Hesitation Drains Your Energy and Momentum
Dec 11, 2025
Most new entrepreneurs think doubt is harmless, and that it’s normal.
It feels like caution. Preparation. “Being smart.”
But I’m not talking about when your gut is clearly telling you to stay away from something.
What I’m referring to is when a real viable idea, thought, option comes your way.
Although hesitation is human and normal, it isn’t neutral. It comes at a steep price.
These doubts and hesitations come in various forms such as delayed emails, loops of overthinking, a voice in your head telling you you’ll “decide tomorrow”.
What happens is these thought patterns drain the energy you were counting on using for other things. Things like building your business, helping your kids with a project, or getting your daily physical exercise. And you don’t notice you've been paying the price until you’ve reached the point of exhaustion or gotten yourself seriously stuck.
If you’ve ever felt mentally tired but don’t have a clear explanation for it… this is likely the reason.
On a practical note, let’s break down what doubt actually costs you — and what to do about it.
1. Doubt Burns Energy, Even When You Don’t Act
When you have options but hesitate, your brain works overtime.
It doesn’t rest. It uses up precious energy on:
- replaying options
- forecasting outcomes
- searching for “the perfect moment”
- managing tension you haven’t resolved
This consumes working memory, which is the fuel you rely on for decision-making, planning, and creative thinking.
Practical takeaway:

If a doubt/thought combo reappears in your mind more than twice, then you’re already paying for it with your energy.
Choose one of these:
- Decide now
- Schedule a clear deadline to make a decision
- Define criteria that will be the deciding factor
Releasing your mind from even a small decision frees up more energy than you think.
2. Tiny Actions Make or Break Momentum
We often associate momentum with big wins.
But in business, momentum is built (or lost) through small actions:
- hitting “send” (built)
- publishing the post (built)
- choosing a direction (built)
- overanalyzing an idea (lost)
- planning but not executing (lost)
Every hesitation adds friction, and the friction compounds.
The task doesn’t get easier — just heavier.
Practical takeaway:

Adopt the 24-Hour Rule:

If something will take less than 10 minutes and will move your business forward, schedule it for within the next 24 hours. Just get it done.
3. Doubt Disguises Itself as “Research”
Gathering information feels productive… until it becomes a hideout.
Over-research is one of the most common ways entrepreneurs lose days without gaining clarity. You’re not learning — you’re causing delays.
This is what I used to do often. I’d read and search a great deal, thinking more information would finally help me “feel ready” to make a decision. Instead, I burned time and mental energy that could’ve gone toward the project or action itself, or something else.
The shift happened when I realized:
Clarity doesn’t come from consuming information.
Clarity comes from moving forward with an intentional decision.
Practical takeaway:
Limit your sources.
Check only 2 or 3 credible sources.
Identify the distractions.
Then make a decision and move forward.
4. Imperfect Action Costs Less Than Hesitating
Many people assume waiting is the safe option.
But this is what waiting does:
- Waiting costs time
- Waiting drains clarity
- Waiting creates mental clutter
- Waiting increases fear
- Waiting steals opportunities
Taking a small action — even an imperfect action — beats hesitation any day.
Action creates feedback.
Feedback creates clarity.
Clarity restores energy.
I’ve experienced this chain of events firsthand.
Once I built the internal clarity I didn’t have before, I started taking imperfect action regularly — something I used to avoid.
The surprising part? It created more energy instead of using it.
Practical takeaway:

When you’re feeling doubtful, ask yourself:
“What’s the smallest next step that will move my business forward?”

Do only that.
Momentum builds from there.
5. Having Doubts Isn’t the Problem — Lacking Clarity Is
Doubt isn’t a flaw.
It’s a signal.
It often shows up when:
- you don’t have a clear direction
- the steps aren’t defined
- you’re trying to make a decision without criteria
- your internal systems aren’t supporting you
This is why entrepreneurs who lack structure are the ones who burn out first — not because they’re incapable, but because they’re trying to make decisions without a foundation.
When you give your mind the clarity and personal systems it needs, decisions become easier.
Practical takeaway:

To gain some clarity, ask yourself these three questions before making a decision:
- What am I trying to achieve?
- What options move me closer to that?
- What is the simplest next step?
If you can answer these, doubt softens.

If you can’t, hesitation will multiply.
Doubt feels quiet, but it’s damaging if it consumes you.
Every unresolved decision takes something from you — energy, attention, momentum.
And while we can’t eliminate doubt entirely, we can reduce its cost.
Here’s how:
- Decide small things faster
- Take action before you overthink
- Give yourself structure so decisions feel lighter
Taking small, thought-out action usually carries low risk, even when it’s not 100% perfect.

The risk is in running out of momentum.
If you’re tired of losing energy to hesitation and want a clearer way to make decisions, start by exploring our Entrepreneurial Fitness training program.
It’s designed to help new entrepreneurs build the clarity and inner structure that make action easier — not heavier.
