Beat Procrastination and Start Doing: The Surprisingly Simple Solution

👋Hey Friends,

Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. We sit down to write that important essay, report, or blog post, and before we know it, hours have passed and we’re still staring at a blank page. We tell ourselves that we’re waiting for inspiration to strike, or for the perfect idea to materialize, but really, we’re just procrastinating.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

But what if I told you that there’s a simple solution to this problem? A solution that doesn’t involve waiting for lightning to strike or for the muse to show up? A solution that simply requires you to take action, no matter how imperfect or messy that action maybe?

That solution, my friend, is to just start. Yes, it sounds too simple to be true, but trust me, it works. The hardest part of writing is often just getting started. We psych ourselves out by thinking that we need to have everything figured out before we even put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). But the truth is, you don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start.

Think of it like jumping into a cold pool. The longer you stand on the edge, the more daunting it seems. But once you take that first plunge, you realize it’s not so bad after all. Writing is the same way. The longer you wait, the more daunting it becomes. But once you start, you’ll be surprised at how quickly the words start flowing.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. What if your first attempt is a disaster? What if you can’t find the right words or express your thoughts clearly? Well, let me tell you a secret: even the greatest writers in history have written terrible first drafts. The key is to just get something down on paper (or screen) – anything at all – and then go back and make it better.

Think of it as a game of Jenga. You’ve got to start with that first block, no matter how wobbly it might be. Then you can start building on top of it, carefully selecting each block and making sure it fits just right. But you can’t build a tower if you don’t start with that first block.

So don’t wait for inspiration to strike. Don’t wait until you have the perfect idea, the perfect words, or the perfect environment. Just start. It might be messy, it might be imperfect, but it will be a start. And that’s all you need to get going on your journey of a thousand words (or whatever your goal might be).

Remember, as the great Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." So take that step, my friend. You won’t regret it. And who knows, you might just surprise yourself with what you’re capable of.

Have a nice time, friends.