“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
– Arthur Ashe
“What do I need to do? I keep procrastinating.”
This was the question posed to me recently by someone incredibly experienced in their field, who was contemplating writing a book.
My advice?
Start. And start small. The smaller the better.
Here’s the thing I’ve learned about procrastination:
What’s happening is that we’re letting our minds get in the way.
We overthink.
We imagine the task as a huge mountain to climb. And before we even begin, our mind fast-forwards into the future, where all tasks seem big, scary, and overwhelming.
The result?
We freeze. We avoid. We procrastinate.
But here’s the good news: There’s a way to break through the cycle.
The procrastination cure is S-Action.
S = Small
Instead of trying to write a book, write one sentence. Instead of planning your entire week, plan the next hour. Instead of figuring out your long-term fitness routine, just walk for 20 minutes.
The magic lies in making the first move—no matter how small. Because once we take that first step, we break the inner inertia.
It’s not about finishing the task in one go. It’s about starting, even when it feels uncomfortable or imperfect. (And it will…)
Starting small has a weird way of building momentum. One small action leads to another, and before you know it, you’ve chipped away at what very often seemed impossible.
This week, I invite you to list what you’ve been procrastinating on.
Then take one of the items and answer this:
What is the smallest possible action you can take toward your goal?
Do it.
No overthinking.
No judgment.
Just start.
You might be surprised at how far a small step can take you. Especially if you stay with S-Action daily.
Best,
Shane
PS – I really hope my friend writes their book – because they have life-changing information inside them that will change people’s lives. What’s interesting is that, like most, they are not lazy. In fact they’re really busy doing lots of activities – but they’re not allowing themselves to get at what they really want to do.
The Inner Edge Podcast – Most Recent Episode:
Ep 208: Limitless – Be Less Prudent With Your Thinking
Listen on my website here or on all major podcasting platforms.
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