Aka How To Stop Procrastinating
The secret to success is getting started… right? You may have heard that a lot, I mean it’s been my catchcry for a long, long time (remember this post?). But turns out, it’s much easier to talk about it, than to actually start something new. Particularly if you’ve currently got a full plate, whether that be with school, your current job, freelance work or being a parent. In that situation, finding the time and enthusiasm to get started on something new can be tough. As someone who could appear to have mountains of time to start new things, even I have major ideas on my list that every week find themselves moved over to the new week’s list, completely untouched, as I slog away on the day to day of this business. Sometimes, knowing you have a great idea or concept you want to start, but not knowing how to, can lead to a sort of paralyses where years go by and nothing has happened. But not this year, ya hear me!?
This year, as part of my focus word of evolve, I’ve decided to go with the mantra of DO YOUR IDEAS. As in, if you have one, do it. I mean, if you don’t try, you’ll never reap the possible rewards, will you? So, whether your idea is a great new blog, that photography class, a business with your friend, or even looking for a new job, this is the year for you (and me!) to stop procrastinating and get started. Here are 7 steps that I’ve found useful in the past, and just need to put into practice again!
7 Steps to Getting Started (On Something New!) This Year
1. Work Out What ‘It’ Is
It’s so easy to want to start something new, without being clear about what it actually is. Instead of thinking about an idea in a nebulous way, consider what it is, why you want to do it and what you are hoping to achieve. This is a great opportunity to do some research about your idea – your blog, new clothing line, amazing new business. I know from experience that if you start thinking about it in a less abstract way, you’ll be well on the way to getting started. This is also the stage in which you should choose just one new thing, because unless you have a team of people to help you execute an idea or concept, trying to do more than one new thing at once is just going overburden you and leave things unfinished. So if you’ve got a bunch of ideas (you and me both!) choose the one that you gravitate towards the most, are most qualified to do or will be the most simple for you to put into action.
2. Break It Down Into (Very) Small Steps
If every week you put on your list that major thing that you want to do, say ‘design kids clothing line’, naturally it’s going to appear super daunting, and you’ll probably ignore it for months/years/decades because you don’t know where to begin. The first step to getting started is breaking your idea down into the smallest steps possible. Even something as simple sounding as ‘set up the website’ has 20 or so steps involved. So list them out. Chances are once you do that you’ll see that even though there are lots of steps, none of them are impossible, which will make you very very happy, and motivated!
3. Don’t obsess about timing
This one is soooo easy to do and is often the main reason why people don’t get started on something new. It’s easy to put something off because of timing – thinking the time of year isn’t right, the time in your life isn’t right, the season isn’t right… Timing related reasons can be endless when it comes to starting something new, and trust me you can continue to make them forever. But consider, chances are the timing is never going to be right, starting something new is hard, and that’s never going t0 change. But think of all you have to gain! Rather than not starting because of the timing, why not take some small steps towards getting started now, and in likelihood the timing will start to feel much, much better.
4. Do 3 Small Things TODAY
On the subject of small steps, once you’ve got them listed out (step 2), do three of them TODAY. Do not put them off. Not next week, not even tomorrow, do them today. It’s easy to think of yourself as done and dusted once you have the list of steps, but the only way to actually get started is to… get started! Pick three things off the list (tip: you can choose the easiest) and do them today. Buy that domain, watch that youtube video, call that contact. Each one will probably take you no more than 10 minutes, but once you’ve done them you’ll sleep well know that you started today, and in turn this feeling will help motivate you to get through more of the steps. Congrats!
5. Talk About It
I’m someone who avoids talking about something until it’s absolutely ready and finished. I think that’s just a superstition of mine (Ben has it too) but the problem with keeping everything bottled up inside is that you miss out on all the positives involved with verbalising an idea. For many of us it’s because we’re not 100% confident and are afraid of other people’s expectations or criticisms, which is totally natural! But I’ve recently found that by talking about your idea, even to just a close friend, you start to mentally pave the way to actually getting it done. So get chatting!
6. Don’t get Stuck on perfection
In the same vein as not wanting to tell people about something until it’s perfect, overthinking an idea or feeling like it needs to be perfect before you get started can be a big roadblock to actually getting started at all. In my experience, ideas and concepts evolve over time, and unless you get started you won’t be able to go through that process. They don’t need to be perfect at the beginning in order to be great in the end, so let go of the idea of needing the idea to be perfect, take the pressure off yourself and just make a start. You won’t regret it!
7. Keep Going (And Avoid Distractions)
Once you’ve started, you’ll probably want to celebrate, so raise a glass. But once you’ve done that, it’s time to keep going. Something I find can often happen is that you might have the motivation to start something, and take the first few steps, but then falter on the next ones, and let the idea drift. So once you’ve started, continue! Keep listing small steps, putting them on your list for each day, and doing them. This is an area where I need to put more effort, as I am sometimes a person with 10 unfinished ideas or projects in the works, so this is going to be a key area for me this year. Another thing? Make sure you don’t get distracted by a new idea. Stick with the one you’ve started, commit to the time it will take and, as they say, finish what you started!
I’m so excited for 2018 to be a year of evolution, change and adaption, and starting a few new things is a big part of that for me. I know it’s going to be a lot of work, and tonnes of juggling, but hopefully it will be worth it!
My problem is usually starting too many things at once… I am very much a batch-kind-of-a-gal and never come up with just one idea at the time. You can imagine how well that ends 😉
Hahaha I think I’m kind of the same, sometimes ending up with so many unfinished projects hahaha.
I always have problems with timing and thinking that right now is just not the right moment or I don’t feel right. And I also struggle with the will to be perfect at all times…so it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one!
https://www.makeandmess.com/
They are the two most common emotions when it comes to starting something new, so you’re definitely not alone! x
Geneva you life-savior!
I started a few months ago a new job, and I have a lot of time on my hands… (I might ring a bell to you from a few years ago 😉 ). I have always been a workaholic and suddently without work I don’t know what I like to do as a hobby anymore! So I immediately think ‘ I could build my own business!’, so I read your articles and I see the word ‘passion’. But I don’t even know what passionate me anymore…
So I have all of these things I wanted to start but never could when I was overwhelmed with work: go to the gym every 2 days, diy more, read more, take moocs… And I am overwelmed with possibilities and I am paralysed when I could do so much.
Then I found my focus word for this year: ‘stay active’ (I know it is actually 2 haha) because I decided to take my time with myself and do things little by little. So I relate so much to your 2nd paragraph, and I am so inspired by the 4th one! Because when you obsess about doing things and do nothing, all you can think about yourself is that you accomplish nothing! My mood took a toll for a few months but I am just starting to do new things… And your post is right on time for this!
THANK YOU!
I am so very happy to read this, it’s such an amazing thing to be able to inspire others, and to hear how useful you find this content. It seems like you have a done a great job of navigating a not so easy time, and you should definitely give yourself props for that. If you have a job that gives you spare time, or even a bit of spare brain space, you are in such a great position and it’s amazing that you are utilising that well. Here’s to an active 2018!
Thanks for sharing this list of steps! It’s a lot easier to get to where you want to be when you do a couple smaller steps toward it each day 🙂
Diana | http://thechicdiary.com/blog/1/11/2018-new-year-new-look-ashy-blonde-hair-color-and-process
I couldnt agree more 🙂
Number 3 is one of my issues, too. It’s my favourite excuse. Thanks for sharing these 7 tips!
https://squirrelsgotstyletoo.blogspot.ro/
I’m so happy you found them useful!
YES – all of this! I just launched a lifestyle blog yesterday (thiswinowife.wordpress.com) after months of thinking about it. This is 💯 spot on with my word of the year post coming later this week so I just may have to link back. 🙂
Congrats on starting something new, I loved reading the background of why you got started. Looking forward to seeing it grow and evolve!
All of these are definitely reasons I procrastinate! Thank you for these. Ill definitely have to revisit this article a few times to stay on track. Lol Great tips!
Yay thats so great to hear. I think we can all be prone to doing some or all of these so reminding ourselves is a good idea! x
This is such a good post! I really love step 4 because implementing only 3 steps a day seems very achievable. I think I’ll start trying that myself! And I totally agree with step 5. I’ve recently befriended people who are the same creative wavelength as I find myself on, and it’s so encouraging to talk about your ideas and even hear other people get excited about them.
Rachael | http://www.roseandpixel.com
Yes it really is, and if you break them down small enough you find that they are so so doable 🙂
Love this, but I definitely have to keep working on #7 since I’m easily distracted haha
x
StephC
http://sstephcc.blogspot.com/
Hahaha me too!
Thank you so much for these tips, love! 🙂 I’ve definitely had a lot of projects that I wanted to complete for awhile now, but like you said, when you think of it in a grander scheme, it can seem pretty scary! Breaking things up in to smaller steps really does help so much! <3
XO, Elizabeth
http://clothestoyouuu.com/
Yes absolutely, that has helped me sooo much 🙂
Amen
Hello Geneva, and thank you for all your positive and motivational input! Especially this one “hit” me at the right time: I am just gathering the motivation and bravery to finally open an etsy shop with the minimalistic, marble-look jewelry I started to craft recently. As I am currently unemployed after finishing my PhD, at least the time component is no issue! (Good and bad at the same time, I guess). So thanks for this extra kick in the derrière 😉 All the best for your new beginnings, too! Best wishes from Germany, Vera
http://frau-k-aus-d.blogspot.com
Thats so great to hear honey, that sounds amazing, congrats on such a great idea. Hope it all goes well for you!
Very interesting and inspring also, loved the post! xx maddisonjayne.blog/
Thank you so much lovely! x
This is so inspiring! I’m terrified of taking the leap to make some of my ideas happen, but I keep telling myself that this year is the year! Wishing you all the best in 2018!
Camille | http://www.misscam.co
Yay I am so happy for you!
Great post, I couldn’t help but think that these steps are applicable to so many life situations which might need that extra push to progress with. Thank you for sharing your thoughtful insights on initiating productivity!
E
http://www.styleartefact.com
So, so wonderful! I decided last week that my resolutions for 2018 should be all about facing my fears. Those fears are often related to starting something new. I get overwhelmed, doubt myself, or just can’t figure out how to break things down into doable actions. It takes time, but all of your tips ring true!
Eva | http://www.shessobright.com
The best is the process how to become to result and what you learn fowarding to this. On this way you can discover so much new and amazing things. My this year wish is to start blog, but at this moment I`m in phase ” how I want it to look like”.
Baiba
http://www.etsy.com/shop/JewelryOfColette?ref=l2-shopheader-name
This post was so helpful and inspiring, definitely helped get me started on the new blog I just launched: glitchesandstitches.com would LOVE to get your feedback though I’m sure you’re super busy…