I Don’t Wanna

I don’t always feel like doing what I need to do, but skipping it creates a cycle of guilt and heavier work later. Here’s how I beat procrastination.

First, I take the pressure off. I’m not aiming for perfection, just to keep my promise to myself about writing today.

Second, I keep my tasks small and manageable. I allow for any amount of writing (even one sentence) to “count” as my writing for the day. That helps me feel satisfied faster and reminds me that it feels good to fulfill a commitment to myself.

Sometimes, I acknowledge the resistance with a deep breath or even a good groan. Then, I try to remember why I planned my schedule this way. The past version of myself believed that I could get this done and knew it would be a valuable use of my time. I’m going to respect that version of myself.

Every time I push through resistance, I build my courage and practice being the person I want to be. Feelings are temporary, not my identity. Even when the task feels like a chore, I can find a tiny spark of satisfaction and use it to take more action. This consistent effort builds the resilience I need to tackle any challenge.

ACTION: Don’t wait for motivation! Identify the tiniest possible first step towards your goal.  Take the tiniest first step towards your goal. No pressure, just start. Progress, not perfection, is key.