How To Get Started (On Anything)
Who do you think is responsible for making your dreams come true? YOU! More often than not, you are the biggest obstacle in your way. Our brains are powerful, but they don't know any better unless we train them to choose the unknown over the known.
I can help you build routines, give you steps to achieve any goals, and give you tools like timeboxing and the benefits thereof, but in the end, the person in charge of your life is YOU.
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How To Start Anything
1. Know your Fears
Fear keeps us from doing a great many things. The solution? Information. When you have enough data on any given subject, you feel confident to handle any situation regarding that topic, am I right?
Start asking yourself questions about the things you want to achieve. For example, you're in debt and want to get out of it. You feel fat and want to lose weight. You want to start a business and be financially free.
If you're in debt - how much?
If you're overweight - how much?
Need to apply for that job? - What are the requirements?
Need to quit? - What's your exit strategy? How will you make money and take care of yourself?
Want to break up with your partner? - When and how will you do it? How will you keep busy after?
When you see the monster, it's easier to fight - KNOW YOUR FEARS. Write down the things you worry about - and then ask yourself: "What's the worst that could happen?"
Anything other than death is manageable.
2. What's your Prime Time?
Not everyone functions best by waking up early or going to bed late. Figure out when you're at your highest efficiency and schedule important tasks.
Your best working hours might be between 4 am - 11 am.
It might mean you're only up for challenging tasks after lunch.
It could be that you have your best ideas in the shower.
Give yourself the best chance to succeed by getting to know yourself and working with your natural rhythms.
3. Break it Up
Don't get stuck planning. Instead, break large tasks into smaller pieces.
Need to declutter your whole house in 10 days?
Start in one room
with one drawer,
then move to the next drawer.
Set realistic expectations for yourself. If you know you can grind for 3 days in a row, but on the 4th, you always lack energy, then plan accordingly. Give yourself a break every day 4 - no guilt. Day 5, you're a beast again.
Read up on the benefits of timeboxing and use it to schedule your days.
4. Deadlines
Give yourself deadlines and set time limits.
If you give yourself one year to do something, it'll take one year. If you give yourself three months to do the same task - it'll take three months.
Deadlines are powerful and give a sense of urgency - use them. You'll also get that nice dopamine hit when you complete your tasks on time.
5. Listen to Music
Music is such a powerful motivator. Whenever I don't feel like going to the gym, I put on my favorite playlist, and I'm in my gym clothes and out the door within minutes. If you're listening to the right music at the right time - it's like magic.
If you're doing something boring - add music.
If you're facing something scary - add music.
Procrastinating - add music.
When you're overwhelmed - take a break and add music.
Music gets your body moving, and, most of the time, you need to release being stuck by moving your body. So next time you feel stuck, play some happy songs and tell me how quickly your mood changes!
6. Perfect doesn't Exist
Here's the thing - no one KNOWS (and nobody cares). You are the only one that knows the small ways in which something "isn't right" or "isn't ready."
For instance, nobody knows that this is the 5th time I'm editing and adding to this blog post, and in my mind, it's still not "perfect."
If you put something out there and it's done to the best of your knowledge and abilities - none will be the wiser.
Let good enough be good enough.
You can continually improve it later.
7. No One is Coming to Save You
You have to be your cheerleader, motivator, and savior. You cannot rely on your parents, partner, friends, boss, or peers to constantly push you into gear. Sure, they're there to help and motivate you, but they cannot be the main source of why you're doing something.
No one will care about you more than you, at least not for a long time.
Write down your goals and dreams - in detail, be specific.
Have a vision board.
Spend time with people who have already accomplished the things you want to do.
YOU must get YOU to where YOU want to be.
8. Show Up for Your Future Self
You owe it to your future self to show up. You cannot trust your present self's feelings to get you anywhere but on the couch, mindlessly scrolling on your phone. You have to show up for your future self. You must start doing the things that'll get your present self into your future self.
Don't want to go to the gym? What would the you 3 months from now be proud of?
Too lazy to start that side hustle? The you a year from now is seeing the money come in - what does she need from you now?
Love yourself enough to show up, even if you don't feel like it.
The Bottom Line
We all get stuck. We all get in our own way. Get to know yourself and the things that work for you, then plan with that in mind. You have the power to create any life you can dream of!