Stop Overthinking and Just Start!

We’ve all been there. That one thing we keep putting off, thinking, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” But somehow, tomorrow never comes. I used to do this all the time. I’d tell myself, “I know exactly what I need to do, I just have to start!” But let’s be real—starting is the hardest part.

So, why do we procrastinate so much? Honestly, I think it mostly comes down to fear and perfectionism. We’re scared we won’t do it perfectly, or we convince ourselves it’s going to be too hard, so we push it to “later.” But the truth? The longer you wait, the harder it gets.

How Do You Break This Cycle?

1. Ask Yourself, “What’s Stopping Me?

Ever noticed how sometimes you don’t even know why you’re avoiding something? That happened to me with a presentation once. I kept postponing it and had no idea why. Then it hit me—I was afraid it wouldn’t be good enough. But when I finally sat down and just started working on it, I realized…it really wasn’t that bad!

2. Just Take One Small Step

Big tasks feel overwhelming, so break them down. Need to write a report but don’t know where to start? Forget the whole thing for now—just type a few sentences. Need to clean your messy room? Just pick up one thing. The funny thing is, once you start, it’s much easier to keep going.

3. Set a Timer (This Trick Works!)

Sometimes I trick myself by saying, “Okay, I’ll just do this for 25 minutes.” It’s called the Pomodoro Technique—work for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break. This makes even the most boring tasks feel doable. And most of the time, once the timer goes off, I just keep going!

4. Forget Perfection (Seriously, Let It Go!)

So many people never start because they want things to be perfect. But guess what? A bad first draft is better than no draft at all. One of my friends once told me, “An imperfect action is always better than perfect inaction.” That really stuck with me. Just start—the rest will come together later.

5. Reward Yourself (Because You Deserve It!)

Give yourself something to look forward to after completing a task. Maybe it’s a cup of coffee, a quick scroll through social media, or blasting your favorite song. When your brain associates work with a reward, it makes starting way easier.

6. Think About Future You

Imagine yourself a week from now. Will you be glad you started today? Or will you be annoyed at yourself for wasting time? Sometimes, when I feel lazy, I literally picture future me shaking her head in disappointment. It’s weird, but it works!

A Personal Story (Because We’ve All Been There)

I once wanted to start an online course but kept putting it off. “It’s too much work,” I told myself. Then, one day, I thought, “Fine, I’ll just watch 10 minutes.” And guess what? I got so into it that I watched for an hour! Turns out, starting was the only hard part.

So, if you’re stuck in procrastination mode right now, just remember—starting is half the battle. Take a tiny step, no matter how small. Once you get going, you’ll be surprised at how easy it feels.

Let’s stop overthinking and just start. Today. Right now.