Use the Right Tool Like a Chef

Sometimes when I cook, I flip the food in the pan with my fingers. Not because it’s the best way—but because I don’t want to dirty a spatula or a pair of tongs. To keep going, I end up reaching for whatever’s nearby—a fork, a spoon, the wrong lid—just so I don’t have to clean the right tool later or reach further for the one that will work better. what usually happens? I burn myself. Or I mess up the food. Or both.

It’s not that I don’t have the tools—I just don’t want to use them. I convince myself it’ll take too long to grab them. Or I don’t want the hassle of washing one more thing. But every time I skip the tool, I end up making things harder.

Same with life. I’ve had notes I needed to write down, and instead of putting them into the system I’ve already built—a calendar, an app, a workflow—I jot them down on whatever scrap of paper is nearby. I tell myself I’ll put them where they belong “later.” But later doesn’t always come, and now I’ve created a second task: hunting down a half-lost thought.

Or I resist learning a new tool that could streamline my work, because I don’t want to face the learning curve. I’ll stick with my clunky workaround because it feels easier in the moment—even though it makes everything slower in the long run.

When I avoid the right tool—whether it’s a strategy, a system, or a piece of support—I end up doing more work with worse results.

The few times I’ve forced myself to slow down and use the tool—the one I was avoiding—the change is immediate. Things get easier, smoother, and sometimes even more enjoyable. I feel like I’m finally working with myself instead of against myself. That note I captured in the right place? I actually followed through on it. That app I didn’t want to learn? It saved me hours. The technology I put off? I was proud of myself for finally using it. The resistance was bigger than the effort.

Chefs don’t use their hands to pull a hot pan from the oven when they’ve got a perfectly good towel within reach. They don’t try to whip egg whites with a fork when a mixer is sitting right there. They know that the right tool saves time, prevents injury, and makes the process better.

So why do I keep trying to do everything the hard way?

I’m working on it. Not every tool is necessary all the time—but some of them really do help. And when I give myself permission to pause, choose the right support, and stop pushing through, things usually go a whole lot smoother.

The tools are there. I have to choose to use them.

ACTION: Choose one area where you’ve been avoiding the right tool—whether it’s a system, a habit, or a piece of tech—and give it a try today. It might feel uncomfortable or annoying at first, but stick with it. Use the tool that actually helps, not the one that’s easiest to reach. See what shifts when you support yourself instead of pushing through.