The MakeDo Mindset

Why We Settle and How to Break Free

Ever had one of those moments when you realise you’re just making do? It’s not about being comfortable, it’s about playing it small. The MakeDo mindset is about settling for what’s safe, familiar, and, let’s face it, just good enough. It’s the kind of mindset where you’re doing the bare minimum and avoiding the risk of change because, well, why rock the boat, it’s safer to stay where you are?

But here’s the catch: MakeDo isn’t a choice. It’s your survival mode kicking in. It’s the feeling of being stuck in a loop, afraid to take the leap because you’re just getting by. That feeling of, “It’ll do,” or “I’ll wait until the time’s right.” Many of us have been guilty of holding onto an old job, a tired relationship, or a beat-up car just because it works? That’s MakeDo talking. But why? Why settle?

My Story: How I Got Stuck in MakeDo

I’ve been there. In fact, it took me a while to realise I was just making do. A few years ago, I remember hanging onto an old project that was way past its sell-by date. I knew it wasn’t serving me anymore, but I was comfortable. It was familiar, it felt safe and because of that I stayed with it for too long because “good enough” seemed like the easier option. Not great, but good enough. It wasn’t until one of my support team called me out and bluntly told me I was playing small. It was literally a slap in the face—What am I doing?

The Psychology Behind Making Do

MakeDo isn’t just about being comfortable, it’s about sticking with what feels safe and keeping things the same. But our brains like to take the easy route, especially when under pressure. That’s when status quo bias kicks in. It’s our brain’s way of conserving energy by avoiding anything unfamiliar—any kind of change. Over time, this automatic response becomes the default setting. We start playing small. And here’s the thing: if you keep making do, you’re cutting yourself off from growth, from stepping up, from reaching for more. And there is a lot of fun and adventure just around the corner if you are brave enough to look.

So, start paying attention to when you’re just making do. Notice it in your day-to-day choices. When we start recognising that we’re staying in comfort mode, just getting by, we can ask ourselves: Is this really what I want?

The Fear Behind Making Do

But here’s where it gets interesting. The MakeDo mindset doesn’t just come from nowhere—it’s driven by a cocktail of fears, insecurities, and doubts. These are the things that make us play small.

Fear of failure is a big one. Ever tried something new and failed? It sticks, doesn’t it? It leaves a mark, a scar. And that scar makes you hesitant to set bigger goals. You keep the targets small, safe, manageable. Anything bigger? Nah, better to stay in the safe zone. We avoid pushing forward because of the fear that we’re not “enough.”

Imposter Syndrome and Self-Belief

That inner belief that we’re not enough or might be “found out” also keeps us in MakeDo. “You’re not good enough,” or “They’ll find out you don’t really know what you’re doing?” According to Clance and Imes’ research on imposter syndrome, when we feel like frauds, we hesitate to step out of our comfort zones. Albert Bandura’s work on self-efficacy confirms that low self-belief affects our willingness to take on challenges. If you doubt your abilities, sticking with what you know feels safer, reinforcing MakeDo and avoiding the potential exposure that growth might bring.

Learned Helplessness

MakeDo can also be driven by learned helplessness, where repeated setbacks make us feel powerless. Over time, routines that feel safe but keep us stagnant reinforce MakeDo. Charles Duhigg’s research on habits shows how these responses become ingrained, leading us to settle rather than push forward.

These psychological factors—fear of failure, imposter syndrome, and learned helplessness—can have a massive impact on the MakeDo mindset. And yet, there’s another critical element that often keeps us tethered to MakeDo: the illusion of endless time.

The Illusion of Endless Time

Ask yourself, what are you waiting for? If tomorrow isn’t promised, why are you holding back? Carpe Diem challenges us to consider that today is the only day we truly have control over. MakeDo convinces us we have all the time in the world, that it’s fine to settle, that we can wait for a “better time” to make changes. But how many times have you let “good enough” win over “great”? Imagine if you took action now—if you stopped holding back, stopped waiting for everything to feel perfect. MakeDo keeps us waiting; Carpe Diem calls us to act.

Seizing the day is a radical shift from merely surviving to fully living. It’s an invitation to break free from comfort zones, to face fears, to challenge ourselves to reach beyond what’s merely safe or comfortable. Carpe Diem asks, “If this were your last day, would you be satisfied with simply getting by?” When we embrace this mindset, MakeDo loses its grip, and we find ourselves pushing forward, refusing to settle.

Making the Shift: From Sticking With What You Know to Stepping Up

The trick to breaking free from MakeDo isn’t about giant leaps. It’s about small wins. Self-compassion is a massive part of it. The research shows that being kind to yourself when you fail—not beating yourself up—helps you bounce back faster. So instead of staying stuck in your head, feeling like a failure, use those moments as a springboard to try again. Each attempt is progress.

Small challenges build big resilience. Angela Duckworth’s research on grit shows that resilience is about tackling those small, consistent goals just outside your comfort zone. You don’t have to conquer the world all at once. Take baby steps. These micro-challenges prove to yourself that you’re capable of more.

Redefining Who You Are

Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindset tells us that how we see ourselves defines how we act. If you keep seeing yourself as someone who “just makes do,” you’re limiting your potential. But if you start seeing yourself as someone who grows, someone who stretches beyond their comfort zone, that mindset shift will change the game.

This is about reworking your self-image. Start telling yourself that you’re someone who steps up. You’re someone who doesn’t wait. Who challenges themselves. Who goes beyond what’s familiar.

Let’s Start the Journey

Getting past MakeDo isn’t some quick fix. It’s a journey. It’s about recognising when you’re playing small, catching yourself in those moments, and taking small actions to move beyond them. It’s about shifting your mindset from simply surviving to challenging yourself, learning, and growing. That’s how you build your Mental Wealth—with a growth mindset, some grit, and the right people around you pushing you to do more.

Stop making do. Start stepping up. Refuse to settle. Let’s make today the day you start building your desired future. If you want more research, the links are shown below – it’s fascinating what we do to ourselves and how we can break free with just a little bit of effort and some good people supporting us along the way.

#MentalWealth #GrowthMindset #StepUp #NoMoreMakingDo #Grit #SelfCompassion #CarpeDiem #TakeAction

References

Impostor Phenomenon: Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes, “Impostor Phenomenon,” 1978. Available at: https://www.paulineroseclance.com
Self-Efficacy: Albert Bandura’s work on self-efficacy. Overview at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-020-08818-w
Learned Helplessness: Martin Seligman, “Learned Helplessness,” Wiley Online Library. Available at: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Learned+Helplessness-p-9781234567890
Habit Formation: Charles Duhigg, “The Power of Habit.” Insights available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-brain-work/202101/how-to-change-your-habits
Self-Compassion: Kristin Neff, “Self-Compassion,” American Psychological Association. Available at: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2021/self-compassion
Grit and Resilience: Angela Duckworth’s studies on grit. Overview available at: https://www.scholars.org/
Growth Mindset: Carol Dweck, “Growth Mindset,” SpringerLink. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11031-016-9564-7