What’s Got You Stuck?

Five common ways we get stuck, and some strategies to get moving again:

1. Unable to get started: You know what you want to do and how to do it, but you just can’t get started or you’re too overwhelmed.

Strategy: Try micro-steps. Work for just 5 minutes; or do just one action, such as filing a piece of paper or writing one sentence. Make it laughably small.

2. Don’t know where to start: You know what you want to do, but you have no idea where to start.

Strategy: Just do anything related to the project. Open a document; move an object; make a phone call. Doing something out of order is better than not doing anything at all.

3. Don’t know what you want: You know something needs to be different, but you’re not quite sure what.

Strategy: Ask yourself what is one thing you could do to make the current situation better, then do it. Repeat.

4. Need to be perfect: You’re afraid of making a mistake or that you might not like the end result, so you don’t even try.

Strategy: Think of your project as an experiment, and you can make any adjustments that you like.

5. Unable to finish: You get bored, lose your enthusiasm, or develop a block.

Strategy: Don’t worry about finishing. Just keep starting.

Help me learn more. Tell me how you get stuck and the strategies you use to get moving again.