Forcing Yourself to Just Start
Is this something you’re facing? You have a project you’ve been putting off, whether it’s writing an essay, starting a blog, or even just sending that important email.
You sit there, waiting for inspiration to strike, but it never does. The longer you wait, the more daunting the task feels. What if I told you the hardest part is simply getting started? In this article, I’ll explain why the trick to productivity is to force yourself to start — and how everything gets easier once you do.
The Productivity Block We All Face
We’ve all been there — staring at a blank screen, waiting for the motivation to kick in. Whether you’re drafting a personal statement, beginning a blog post, or working on a long-overdue task, starting can feel like the hardest part. It’s the dreaded ‘activation energy’ in action — a concept borrowed from chemistry that perfectly describes the mental hurdle we face before we begin any task. The good news? Once you overcome this initial resistance, everything falls into place.
The Concept of Activation Energy: A Simple Burst to Get Started
Think about activation energy in a chemical reaction. It’s the initial push needed to make the reaction occur. In life, the same rule applies to our productivity. Before we can get the ball rolling, we need to put in a burst of effort — just enough to cross the starting line.
In practical terms, this could be as simple as opening a blank document and typing whatever comes to mind, even if it’s messy. The key is to initiate the process, knowing that you can always edit and refine later. The act of doing is often all it takes to overcome inertia.
Why Forcing Yourself Works: It’s All About Momentum
One of the best hacks to overcome procrastination is simply forcing yourself to start. It might sound obvious, but it works because once you begin, the task seems less intimidating. The momentum carries you forward. You’ll find that the task you’ve been dreading for days — or weeks — becomes easier after you’ve just taken that first step.
I’ve experienced this firsthand. When writing weekly emails, I often get stuck thinking about what to write for hours. But when I just start typing anything, the ideas begin to flow. What once took hours now takes a fraction of the time, and I feel less burdened. That’s the power of forcing yourself to start.
Quick Steps to Get Started (Even When You Don’t Feel Like It)
- Lower the Bar: Don’t aim for perfection in the first draft. Just aim to write something — anything.
- Set a Timer: Tell yourself you’ll only work on the task for 5 minutes. More often than not, you’ll continue well past that.
- Eliminate Distractions: Clear your space of distractions that might pull you away in those first crucial moments.
- Break It Down: If the task seems too big, break it into smaller, manageable parts. Then tackle the first part, no matter how small.
Conclusion: A Journey of a Thousand Miles
The hardest part of any journey is the first step. Once you take it, the rest of the journey becomes easier. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or the perfect idea — just start. You’ll be surprised at how much progress you make once you’ve begun. So, whatever you’ve been putting off, open that document, send that email, or write that first blog post today. Just force yourself to start.
