The Simple Science of Getting Started

We've all done it. I bet you have. Odds that you've had a hard time getting started on something big. But wait there's more…I'm going to bet that this something big was still hanging around because it wasn't necessarily your idea of a good time. Something you've procrastinated on until it's dangerously close to almost being too late.

Usually the "almost too late" part gets most of us going. The fear of failure or disappointing others will take over and weigh more heavily on us than the dislike we have for the task in front of us. Sometimes, even that fear is over ridden by the large, invisible wall that stands between us and the task at hand. I swear sometimes I have the best intentions but that there is a physical presence literally keeping me from getting started.

It's like a jockey's worst nightmare. He's got the horse, the outfit and the training. The bell rings, the horses and their riders all around him are pushing out of their gates and he can't get his horse to move a muscle!

This is often the feeling we experience when attempting to start a new objective. The project might be overwhelming, distasteful or even not so hard, but whatever the reason, it's not something that is pressing to the top of your priority list. You may have even taken steps to avoid procrastination. Things like breaking the project into manageable parts, giving those parts deadlines and gotten all the supplies and information you need to get started. Still, you've got nothing to give. Not one iota of enthusiasm or inclination to begin.

Okay, look…I know you know you don't have to get the whole project done at once. I know you're thinking, "Tell me something I don't know". Try this. Just set 10 minutes aside to work on something, anything on this project. Literally, set the timer on your computer, watch or oven and dedicate the entire time to your task.

Still sitting there? Reduce the time. Try four minutes. What we're looking for here is a little forward momentum. Going balls to the wall for four or five minutes will more often than not lead to more time spent accomplishing your goal. It's simple science. The inertia that takes hold in that four minutes will continue on it's own for as long as you'll let it.

Here's the trick for this to work time and time again. You need to promise yourself that you'll only spend the four minutes. If you find yourself miserable after four minutes, stop and try it again later. Try it again on a different task. Odds are the more times you lead that horse to the starting gate, the more likely you'll get things done.