The Struggle to Take Action Today: Why Do We Do It?
There are plenty of reasons why we struggle to take action and get stuck in a procrastination cycle. I can’t tell you enough how many times I forgot to RSVP to a party, forgot to sign up my kids for seasonal sports, oh and oops, dang those recycles didn’t get out!
The list is endless and ALL of those things could have been prevented if the task had been completed when they initially crossed my mind. We’re often burdened with too many things on our plate, or we’re a perfectionist and want to get that thing done in a particular way (when we have time) or we’re simply feeling overwhelmed by the task at hand.
Here’s the thing – understanding why we procrastinate is the first step towards overcoming it. We’re waiting for the moment our brain aligns with what we physically feel like we can do in that moment and vice versa.
Honestly, your brain + body may never feel like “getting to it”.
So let’s dig in and think of ways we can get to it today.
Breaking the Cycle: Tips to Take Action by Getting Started Today
1. Visualize:
Have a clear picture of who you want to be.
Does the ideal version of yourself procrastinate or do they take actionable steps toward getting things done?
Are they goal-oriented and disciplined?
Regularly visualize these goals, desires, and habits and make them a regular aspect of yourself now rather than just someone you want to become.
2. Start Small (especially if you like to think big):
Take action. Break it down (whatever it is you need to do) into smaller, more manageable tasks. It’s much easier to tackle a series of small tasks.
Instead of planning to spring clean your entire house on the weekend. Keep it simple and start with one room of the house.
That 15 minutes you set aside to quickly straighten up the playroom, the 10 minutes it takes to fold that basket of laundry or even respond to that RSVP now only goes toward your peace of mind, not taking away from it.
3. Set Goals:
Get ahead of procrastination by setting clear and achievable daily goals. Take action by staying on track and not just making progress, but seeing the progress.
Whether it’s a daily to-do list, a long-term vision board, or an app reminder, having something to work towards can help keep you motivated and focused.
Simple daily goal list:
4. Get to it (like now):
Sometimes, you just have to dive in and get started, even if you don’t feel like it. Trust me, once you get things rolling, you’ll wonder why you hesitated. Also, please keep it simple!
Baby steps are better than no steps toward your goals at all. Once you visualize the success of your actions, the other steps will be easier to follow.
Remember, you’re getting in the habit of your new self and you know you have the power to tackle it head-on.
5. Embrace Imperfection:
Progress over perfection. It’s okay to make mistakes along the way, it’s all part of the learning process.
It takes effort to take action with our goals. So don’t let the fear of failure keep holding you back from taking that first step towards action and expect a few hiccups along your journey to stop the procrastination cycle by practicing how to take action today.
