The When-Then Game

At some point we need to take the first step.

Procrastination can be a real bummer here. You know, that part of you that says, “when such-and-such is done/ready/behind me, that’s when I’ll start that new thing”.

Every time we do this, we put pressure on ourselves. We push making a start further away and, when it comes right down to it, we make starting even harder than before.

So just begin it already.

Seriously, even devoting 5 uninterrupted minutes to this thing we felt so good about, can make a difference.

Keeping Motivated

Once we’ve made a start, we want to feel motivated about keeping up our efforts.

Infuriating as it sounds, a great motivation is seeing that you’ve actually made some progress on that thing you wanted to do. No matter how small that first bit of progress is, it’s still progress.

Basically, seeing that thing being underway means less overwhelm. The amount left to do is reduced and next steps become clearer.

The hard part, the beginning it, is behind you. You’re on your way.

The next step is to stick at it, so for that to happen, you need to make it as easy as possible to keep going.

How to make life easier

If you want to stick with what you’ve so brilliantly started, I’ve found it really helpful to make it as easy as possible to pick up where you left off.

Starting was hard and I don’t want it to feel that difficult every time.

Tools for the Job

Have everything you need to hand and within easy reach. Whether it’s the right tools or a cup of coffee, get all that in place before you start.

Schedule Time

Give yourself time without interruptions. Schedule this time for yourself in advance. If you don’t need your phone to do the task, turn it off. You deserve it.

Golden nuggets of progress

Be realistic about what you’re going to achieve – bite sized chunks, baby steps, petit a petit. Even a tiny bit of real progress is golden.

Plan next steps

Just before you finish each time, spend a few minutes to note down where you got to. Write down the next 3-5 things you’re going to do that will move you forward and decide when you’re going to do them.

Knowing vs Doing

Me? I have a few things I really need to get sorted and, yes, I have been known to play the when-the-game.

While out walking my dogs, thinking about how I was going to tackle getting those tasks done helped me put things in perspective. Most importantly, it reminded me that starting them really helps me stop feeling overwhelmed.

We all KNOW so much of this stuff, but actually DOING isn’t always that easy.