What is the 'novelty trap' and how does it stop momentum?

The novelty trap is the constant search for new tools, methods, or systems as a way to avoid the predictable, often boring work required for real progress. It stops momentum by replacing execution with the illusion of preparation.

How can I find motivation for tasks I find boring but necessary?

Motivation is not found; it is created. Instead of waiting for a task to feel meaningful, you must consciously give it meaning. Connect the monotonous action (like making a sales call) to a larger purpose (like refining your sales pitch) to take control of its value.

Is procrastination just laziness?

Often, what looks like procrastination is actually emotional avoidance. You are not avoiding the task itself, but the feeling the task generates, such as boredom, frustration, or fear of failure. Recognising this is the first step to getting unstuck.

How is a 'future anchor' built through daily actions?

A 'future anchor' is the reliable, ideal future you are committed to building. It is constructed not through grand efforts, but through the consistent execution of small, disciplined actions—the 'boring' work—that demonstrate your commitment to your long-term vision.

Why is consistency more important than intensity for long-term goals?

Consistency in executing the process, much like a lighthouse keeper's daily maintenance, builds a reliable foundation for success. Bursts of intense, novel effort often lead to burnout and do not create the sustained momentum required to achieve significant, long-term outcomes.

#91 Lighthouse Keeper or Novelty Seeker? Why Your Momentum Depends on Boring Work

Francois Esterhuizen
Nov 17
3 min read

The gap between a clear goal and consistent action is often filled with a subtle form of resistance. Francois Esterhuizen works with South African professionals to dismantle this resistance, empowering them to find momentum not in novelty, but in the disciplined execution of the process.

A lighthouse keeper's daily reality is not one of grand, heroic acts to save ships from a storm. It is a predictable, administrative cycle of maintenance.

The logbook must be kept meticulously. The massive lens needs cleaning, the oil levels require checking, and the weather must be recorded.

This work is repetitive and often monotonous. But it is also the only thing that guarantees the light stays on and ships navigate safely.

The value is not in the excitement of the task, but in the consistency of its execution.

The Novelty Trap

We sign a contract with ourselves when we set a goal. We believe we can meet the initial terms until we read the fine print, the non-negotiable details of execution:

it is often hard,
it is often boring, and
the important work rarely comes with external validation.

The temptation is to quit the contract, but we can't do that most of the time. So instead, we look for new and exciting things to do; a better system, the perfect tool, a new app. This process, whether it is a more organised desk, a new productivity app or reading up on how people at the frontier of your industry are doing things, is a subtle but powerful form of resistance.

None of those things are inherently bad, but they are often the bait in the novelty trap. New stimuli activates your brain’s reward system, which can create a pattern of abandoning valuable but low-stimuli work at the first sign of monotony.

When you look at the clock and realise 2 hours have passed and you haven't touched the important work you know you have to do, don't blame procrastination as the cause. Procrastination is the symptom.

You are procrastinating because you are avoiding the emotional state of boredom.

You know exactly what you need to do, but the execution feels uninspiring. So, you do a little more 'research' or scroll through your emails instead. These are sophisticated avoidance tactics disguised as productivity.

Meaning is Given, Not Found

Cleaning the lighthouse lens gets tedious. But without that critical, monotonous step, the chance of a shipwreck rises every day.

We often get stuck because we wait for important tasks to feel inherently meaningful before acting.

Meaning is not something you find; it is something you choose to give.

This requires taking full responsibility for your inner world and choosing your perspective.

Yes, making those cold sales calls can be draining, and the rejection is real. But the meaning is not found exclusively in the conversions. The meaning is in the choice to practise and refine your pitch with every single dial.

Stopping work at 5 p.m. to spend time with your children can feel like an intrusion when deadlines press. But you are building a future where even when life gets busy, your kids know that you care because you demonstrated it through your consistent presence every afternoon.

The Boring Work Is The Key

The structured process of building your next chapter is filled with these moments of choosing to do the boring work. They are not glamorous. They do not provide instant validation. But they are the essential, load-bearing actions. The choice is to infuse them with purpose, or to seek another distraction.

Recognised as a trusted and sought-after clarity and leadership coach, Francois Esterhuizen works from Stellenbosch with South African professionals worldwide. His work empowers individuals and leaders to transform emotional resistance into clarity, sustained momentum, and meaningful impact.