Anyone else struggle to do things you know you need to do to get better, but just can't?

I've read enough to know a handful of basic things to make my situation better, but I just struggle to do them. Then I get frustrated when nothing seems to be getting better. I heard once, "you can't learn to swim by reading a book." You have to get wet.

Why then is it so hard to take action on the things I've heard repeatedly that will make things better?

Anyone figured this out and have actually made progress?