"The hardest part is going from zero to one."
Colin Scotland
Are you staring at an ever-growing to-do list, overwhelmed and unsure where to start? Procrastination is a common enemy, especially for ambitious people who want to achieve big goals. But there is a way to break the cycle. In this blog post, inspired by my podcast "Thrive and Serve," I'll share the strategies and mindset shifts that helped me stop procrastinating and start taking meaningful action.
Key Takeaways
- The Science Behind Procrastination: Understand why 95% of our behavior is automatic and how this contributes to delaying action.
- The Power of Momentum: Learn how small steps create momentum, making overcoming inertia easier and getting things done.
- The "I Am" Mindset: Embrace the empowering belief that you are already the person you want to become - an entrepreneur, a runner, a successful coach.
- The Knowing-Doing Gap: Become aware of the gap between what you should do and what you do, then take steps to bridge it.
Momentum is Key: Understand the Power of Small Steps
The analogy of a giant boulder perfectly captures the struggle of overcoming procrastination. Like that boulder, massive projects and goals can feel impossible to budge. That initial push seems too daunting, causing us to delay action further. But remember, once that boulder starts rolling, it becomes unstoppable. Here's how to harness the power of momentum in your life:
- Micro-commitments: The magic of tiny actions
- Ask yourself, "What's one tiny step I can take now toward my goal?" Not tomorrow, not in an hour, but right now.
- Examples:
- Want to start exercising? Commit to putting on your workout clothes.
- Need to write a blog post? Write the first sentence.
- Want to build a client base? Draft a single outreach email.
- These tiny steps break the grip of inertia and put you on the path of action, building motivation along the way.
- Habit stacking: Effortless progress.
- Our daily routines are filled with established habits – brushing teeth, making coffee, scrolling through social media, etc.
- Habit stacking means pairing a new, desired action with an existing habit.
- Example: After brushing your teeth, commit to 3 minutes of journaling or meditation. Instead of mindlessly scrolling, read one page of an inspiring book.
- This leverages your existing routines, making it easier for you to adopt new behaviors.
- Celebrate small wins: Fueling your motivation.
- Acknowledging progress, no matter how small, reinforces the positive feelings associated with action. It builds momentum and combats the self-doubt that often accompanies procrastination.
- Examples:
- Made that sales call you'd been dreading? Celebrate!
- Completed a workout? Give yourself a mental high-five.
- Sent out those emails? Time for a happy dance.
- Don't underestimate the power of recognizing your wins. It makes the journey enjoyable and keeps you moving forward.
Remember, consistency is key. Daily small steps create more significant progress than sporadic bursts of intense effort. Even tiny actions compound over time. That first sentence you wrote becomes a paragraph, then a page, and finally, the finished blog post.
Extra Tip: Visualize your momentum growing. Imagine that boulder rolling down the hill, gaining speed and power. See yourself taking those micro-steps, celebrating small wins, and effortlessly integrating new habits. This vision reinforces your commitment and makes the process more attainable.
Next Steps
Stop letting procrastination hold you back! My free Get Unstuck Playbook will give you the tools and strategies to finally kickstart your momentum and make real progress toward your goals. Download your copy now.
