"Doing something is better than doing nothing"
We hear that a lot. I’ve even said it myself—especially when I’m teaching coding or math.
Taking action is hard. Sometimes it’s perfectionism holding us back, other times it’s fear.
That’s why this phrase sticks. It gives us permission to move. And movement, in many cases, is a good thing
But is it always true?
A tale of two currencies
Every decision costs us something.
Actually, it costs us two things at the same time: attention and time.
Let’s start with attention.
Paying attention isn’t free. It requires the brain to burn energy—glucose, to be specific—and it also takes up mental “space”. Each time we focus, we use up fuel and create byproducts that clutter our thinking.
In other words, the brain gets tired, not just from doing hard things, but from doing things, period. Big or small, every decision adds to the load. The brain doesn’t really distinguish.
That’s why we procrastinate and wait until the last possible second. We’re trying to conserve that mental energy.
And honestly? That’s smart… until we remember the second currency involved: time.
Like attention, time is limited.
But unlike attention, time doesn’t recharge. Once it’s spent, it’s gone—for the day, for the deadline, for the project, for the year… for your life.
This is where panic sets in and suddenly doing anything is better than doing nothing.
Beware of action bias
Once we accept that time keeps moving—no matter what we do—it might seem obvious that we should use it rather than let it slip by.
And sure, that’s often true. But it’s not a silver bullet.
Sometimes, doing something just to avoid doing nothing can be just as damaging as freezing up.
Introducing, action bias, our tendency to favor doing something, anything, especially in new or uncertain situations. Even when there’s no reason to believe that action will help.
We feel better when we act. It gives us a sense of control. But that doesn’t mean it’s always the right move. Think of a guy beeping in a traffic jam.
Yes, “doing something” can be better than doing nothing, if that something brings us closer to a goal, a solution, or growth.
But we need to remember that not all decisions will result in one of those.
Some decisions send us backward. Others take us off course entirely. Wasting our most valuable resource: time.
Think of choosing the wrong career path out of panic. Or throwing money at the next big thing—crypto, AI, you name it—without understanding it.
The consequences might not be fatal, but recovering from them takes time.
It’s counterintuitive, but sometimes the best way to make the most of your time… is to wait.
To wait or to do
The questions then, is, how do we know when to take action (even if it’s messy), and when to hold off?
There’s no perfect answer. We live in a world of trade-offs, and there are no silver bullets. The right decision will always depend on the context—and the person.
Still, a few guiding questions can help.
Am I avoiding action because of perfectionism?
Perfectionism is one of the worst lies we believe. It tells us we need to get it right the first time. But the truth is, getting things wrong is essential to learning.
Robots follow instructions perfectly. They never make mistakes. But they also can’t think for themselves or do anything original. Humans get things wrong, learn, adjust, and improve. That’s where expert insight comes from.
So if you’re putting off submitting classwork until it’s “perfect,” this is a clear case where taking action early is better. The cost of getting it wrong is low. The cost of doing nothing is missing the chance to improve. Submitting something means your teacher can give feedback and help you grow.
Is this a skill I’m trying to develop?
If the answer is yes—act.
Skills are built through practice, not planning. Practice means action.
If you’re learning to code, don’t freeze up trying to find the “best” or most elegant solution. Don’t try to build something scalable and perfect right from the start. You’ll get stuck—and likely never finish.
Instead, ship what you can. Test it. Let it break. Get feedback. Make sure you’re solving a real problem. Then, and only then, refine and refactor.
Do I lack the knowledge to act?
This is a case where slowing down can help.
Taking action with zero understanding isn’t brave—it’s reckless. Acting on pure guesswork can do more harm than good.
If you feel lost, the best next step might not be action, but learning. Ask someone with experience. Gather a few perspectives. Then, take a small step forward. Pause. Evaluate. Then step again.
In other words, proceed with caution—but still proceed. Which brings us to the next question.
Is this a risk I can afford to take?
Every decision has consequences.
Every single one.
Doing something has consequences.
Doing nothing has consequences.
So grab a piece of paper and map it out. What’s likely to happen if you act? What might happen if you don’t? What could go right? What could go wrong?
Weigh your options—and then choose.
But how do you know if a risk is worth it?
Simple:
If failing would take you completely out of the game, it’s probably too much. Pause and rethink.
But if failing would teach you something, stretch your perspective, or help you grow—and you can still bounce back—then proceed with care.
But still, proceed.
Only Siths deal in absolutes
So, is doing something always better than doing nothing? Not quite. But neither is overthinking.
Action can move us forward—when it’s intentional.
Inaction isn’t always a waste. Sometimes, resting beats working late or cramming tired.
The key is knowing why you’re acting—or not—and being honest with yourself about what it might cost either way.
In the end, you can’t maximize every department—no matter how hard you try. And when it comes to time, it’s one of the clearest cases of a Catch-22: the more you try to find the best way to max every second, the more you already wasted.