We overcomplicate things, get overwhelmed, and ultimately — get stuck.

Here are 2 important steps you need to do to get going again: clarify & simplify.

Some of us like to jump into things but quit soon after the going gets a bit hard.

Many of us don’t even start.

When we have something to do that isn’t crystal clear -we tend to procrastinate.

• You don’t know how it’s done — so you don’t do it.

• You don’t know what’s involved — so you don’t do it.

• It appears to be complicated — so you don’t do it.

The way to stop procrastinating is to clarify and simplify things as much as possible; the unknown can excite us or paralyze us.

• what exactly is difficult about this? why?

We are not in a horror movie where we feel forced to go to a dark basement during a power cut. Turn on the lights and see what’s really in front of you.

• is it really hard or just unfamiliar?

Stop telling yourself stories and get scientific about it.

What’s the worst-case scenario?

• will it go away if I don’t do it? Do I want it to go away or do I just want the discomfort?

Sometimes it will, sometimes it won’t.

• is there another way?

That’s pathway thinking in its glory. More often than not, there are many ways leading to the same outcome.

Be committed to the outcome, not the process.

• remind yourself why you’re doing this.

Have a solid why. When your values don’t align with the work ahead of you it will be more difficult.

• remove all possible friction upfront

Shape your environment.

Make easier what you want to do more of and more difficult what you want to do less of.

• make it small; super small.

We underestimate how small our small sometimes needs to be.

You know it’s small enough when you have no problem starting.

• focus on just starting.

Motivation follows action, not the other way round.

• temporarily suspend judgment.

Give yourself a timeframe to experiment. You can’t plant seeds and expect flowers five days later.

Things take time; good things take even longer.

TL;DR

Thinking about what needs to be done won’t get you further.

Clarify and simplify your work.

You may need to repeat it more than once, so don’t forget to follow me @backtosenses

We overcomplicate things, get overwhelmed, and ultimately — get stuck.

Here are 2 important steps you need to do to get going again: clarify & simplify.

Some of us like to jump into things but quit soon after the going gets a bit hard.

Many of us don’t even start.

When we have something to do that isn’t crystal clear -we tend to procrastinate.

• You don’t know how it’s done — so you don’t do it.

• You don’t know what’s involved — so you don’t do it.

• It appears to be complicated — so you don’t do it.

The way to stop procrastinating is to clarify and simplify things as much as possible; the unknown can excite us or paralyze us.

• what exactly is difficult about this? why?

We are not in a horror movie where we feel forced to go to a dark basement during a power cut. Turn on the lights and see what’s really in front of you.

• is it really hard or just unfamiliar?

Stop telling yourself stories and get scientific about it.

What’s the worst-case scenario?

• will it go away if I don’t do it? Do I want it to go away or do I just want the discomfort?

Sometimes it will, sometimes it won’t.

• is there another way?

That’s pathway thinking in its glory. More often than not, there are many ways leading to the same outcome.

Be committed to the outcome, not the process.

• remind yourself why you’re doing this.

Have a solid why. When your values don’t align with the work ahead of you it will be more difficult.

• remove all possible friction upfront

Shape your environment.

Make easier what you want to do more of and more difficult what you want to do less of.

• make it small; super small.

We underestimate how small our small sometimes needs to be.

You know it’s small enough when you have no problem starting.

• focus on just starting.

Motivation follows action, not the other way round.

• temporarily suspend judgment.

Give yourself a timeframe to experiment. You can’t plant seeds and expect flowers five days later.

Things take time; good things take even longer.

TL;DR

Thinking about what needs to be done won’t get you further.

Clarify and simplify your work.

You may need to repeat it more than once, so don’t forget to follow me @backtosenses