Practical steps for Taking Action…
Purpose
This guide is here to get you out of your head and into action. No more overthinking. No more planning your planning. You’ll take a small, slightly scrappy first step today because doing something badly is better than doing nothing perfectly (you can always live and learn!).
What You’ll Get
By the end, you’ll have:
- A Tiny First Step Done: Not a plan. Not an idea. Something actually started. You did a thing.
- Less Overthinking: Because starting quietens that voice in your head saying “But what if it’s wrong?”.
- Momentum: It’s easier to keep moving once you’ve made a start, however big or small and whether “good” or “bad”.
Time Commitment
- Quick Version: 5 minutes to pick a thing and do the tiniest bit of it.
- Full Version: Up to 30-60 minutes if you’re feeling brave and want to properly get going.
Either way—you’ll finish today. Because “thinking about it for another week” is not the goal.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Pick The Thing – What’s the thing you keep thinking about but haven’t done?
- Starting something creative?
- Sending an email you’re dreading?
- Sorting that weird drawer full of old batteries and receipts?
Write it down. That’s your target.
2. Find The ‘Ridiculously Small First Step’ – What’s the tiniest, can’t fail version of this task?
- Want to write? Open a document and type one sentence.
- Need to exercise? Just go around the block.
- Sorting stuff? Take one item out of the drawer and throw it away.
We’re aiming for laughably easy. If it feels like “surely that’s not enough,” you’ve got it right.
3. Do It Immediately – Yes, now. Before your brain talks you out of it.
- Type the sentence.
- Get out of the door.
- Chuck out the receipt from 2016.
Tiny action. Done.
4. Notice You’re Still Alive – That wasn’t so bad, was it? You started. The sky didn’t fall. You didn’t combust. Let the smugness sink in. This is progress.
5. Decide If You Want To Do More (But No Pressure) – Feeling good? Do another small bit.
- Another sentence.
- Go a bit further (another lap maybe).
- One more thing from the drawer.
But if not? That’s fine. You started. That’s the win.
Extra Hints & Tips
- Lower The Bar: If your first step feels hard, halve it. Keep going until it’s so small it’s almost embarrassing.
- Set A Timer: If you’re prone to getting stuck, set 5 minutes. When it dings, you’re allowed to stop. Often you won’t want to.
- Tell Someone (If You Like Accountability): “I’m starting this thing today.” Public shame can be a great motivator.
Next Steps (If You Fancy Them)
- Do the ‘Next Ridiculously Small Step’ Tomorrow: No need to plan your whole journey. Just the next tiny bit.
- Track Progress (Loosely): A tick on a scrap of paper every time you do something. Feels good.
Final Thought
In reality you can probably write a good a mount, go around the block without too much grief and most likely clear the drawer in one go. But if not, well why does it matter? Do the bit you can and come back and do another thing tomorrow.
Whichever way you go try to think like this throughout:
Starting is hard. But you just did it. No more “I’ll get round to it.”. You’re already doing it. Because you’ll be brighter for it.
