WHY IS IT SO HARD TO JUST GET STARTED?
We’ve all had that feeling before…
The feeling of excitement and optimism you get when a new opportunity arises. Maybe you are taking on a new project at work that comes with a nice salary boost. Perhaps you finally enrolled in the gym across the street from work so you can go during your lunch break.
But why does it feel like the wheels start to fall off when you decide to change something in your life?
You can’t get started on your new project at work because your to-do list is a mile long. Now all of the extra work you need to do is cutting into your gym time (at least that’s the excuse you are going with).
You’ve felt like this before.
You are excited to start a new project, task, or goal, but for some reason, you just can’t seem to get started. You’re stuck and you don’t know why… you just know that starting something new has always felt like this.
Why is it so hard just to get started?
This is incredibly frustrating, especially when you feel like you should be able to “just get started.” You have all this ambition and motivation when you first come up with the idea, but eventually, that starts to fade. Maybe it’s analysis paralysis. Maybe it’s the underlying self-doubt moving beneath you like quicksand, and the harder you struggle, the more stuck you become.
It’s time to finally get started on that project or goal you’ve wanted to do for months (or even years!). Before you let another day go by, here’s how to find the motivation to just get started.
Let Go Of The Past
Reflect on your old story before you rewrite a new one. We like to get caught up in what we perceive as our “failures.” But it’s important to remember that these are just experiences – nothing more, nothing less.
What held you back in the past? Why did you give up on other projects or goals?
Just because you didn’t achieve something in the past doesn’t mean you’re incapable of achieving it now. More than likely, it’s the story you’ve written about your past that’s holding you back now, making you believe you are.
So, take a deep breath, accept your past for what it was, and make room for what is to come. It’s time for a fresh start.
Set A Deadline
If you’re struggling with motivation, it might help to set a deadline for yourself. A sense of urgency will help you dedicate yourself to what’s important.
Practice Visualization
To achieve anything, we must believe that it’s possible. So, practice being hopeful! Go one step further than that by imagining it was already true.
Close your eyes and visualize yourself completing the project or goal using all five senses. With visualization, you are training your subconscious to believe it’s possible. Therefore, the more you visualize it, the more likely it will happen because thought precedes action.
Find Your Inspiration
Find what inspires and motivates you, whether it’s a role model or an article/book/speech that resonates with you.
“As the saying goes, If you want to live a life you’ve never lived, you have to do things you’ve never done,” said bonmente’s Teri Arana, LCSW. “Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone to find your motivation, especially when trying something new.”
When you’re feeling stuck, revisit this source of inspiration to help get yourself moving. Better yet, bring it to the foreground. Stick it to your wall, set it as your wallpaper – curate your life’s content around inspiration and motivation.
Reflect On Your Purpose
Even if you think you’re 100% sure of what motivates you, don’t take another step before re-evaluating your purpose.
Don’t be quick to dismiss this, either.
The possibility is always there that your values and interests have changed over time, but you haven’t acknowledged nor accepted them yet. Consider that the reason you’ve not been so quick to set yourself free is that this idea or habit – whatever it may be – isn’t what you want. And wouldn’t you rather know now?
Ask yourself the following questions:
- What do I enjoy so much that I lose track of time when I do it?
- What did I enjoy most in the past? What are my favorite things now?
- What makes me happy?
- What am I grateful for?
Ease Up On Yourself
The prospect of a new project or healthy habit can certainly make you feel stuck, but being hard on yourself will only ensure you stay that way.
It’s easier to get bogged down by our fears and doubts than it is to get started. Shift your focus away from the pressure you’ve put on yourself before you lose sight of this simple notion. Aim for progress over perfection, and you will begin to break free from the motivation quicksand and come out on top.
Get started on self-improvement with an appointment.
Telemedicine in Long Beach, CA
We can help you shake off those feelings of uncertainty, self-doubt, stress, and anxiety so you can just get started this spring! Let’s talk about what’s holding you back or highjacking your focus. We’re here to help you find a renewed sense of clarity and focus so you can reach your goals then make new ones!
