Turn Procrastination into Action (Part 1 of 3)

Run a marathon. Clean the garage. Take an online class. Read a book. Make dinner.

What do these have in common?

Everything from running a marathon to making dinner is more achievable when you break it into small steps.

And I mean SMALL.

For example:

Run a marathon: Small step = Walk around the block

Clean the garage: Small step = Get out bags for trash and donation piles

Take an online class: Small step = Sign up for the class

Read a book: Small step = Order it or put it on hold at the library

Make dinner: Small step = Choose what to make

Even those aren’t necessarily the smallest possible steps you could take!

When you set a goal and choose your first step, you often choose a “first” step that’s still too big. It’s still overwhelming enough that you procrastinate. Then you beat yourself up for procrastinating. And the longer you procrastinate, the harder and more overwhelming that first step feels, and the more you beat yourself up.

Choose an even smaller step first. So small it feels ridiculous.

Run a marathon, smaller step: Set out your running clothes (or any clothes!)

Clean the garage, smaller step: Block time in your calendar

Take an online class, smaller step: Choose the class

Read a book, smaller step: Choose the book

Make dinner, smaller step: Decide if you’re making it in the first place (or ordering it, not eating, etc.)

What’s something you’ve been procrastinating on? Identify one small, achievable step you could take TODAY to make progress on that goal.

What’s an even smaller step you could take first?

Take that smaller step.

Celebrate it.

When you're ready (or a little bit before, because let's face it - you're never "ready" 😉), identify the next small step. Take it or schedule it.

Celebrate again.

Build the momentum.

If you get stuck or revert to picking steps that are too big, keep breaking them into successively smaller steps until you reach one you’ll actually take.

The smaller the steps and the more achievable and realistic they become, the more likely you are to take them, and the more confidence you’ll build in your follow-through.

👣 What's the SMALLEST step you could take today?

Take it.