The First Step

I’ve been struggling lately with taking the first step on lots off projects I’ve wanted to start and complete. I don’t know why it’s so hard to just get going on some of these things.

I have songs that need to be finished, books that need completion, comics to develop, and yet I start little projects that won’t get me anywhere close to the culmination of these tasks.

Every time I try to start one of my projects I always find reasons that I can’t start them. The dogs need a walk. I need to vacuum the floors, the bed needs to be made, the garbage has to go out, there’s a show I need to watch or a video game I need to play and on and on. My intentions are there but my willingness isn’t.

This has happened so many times.

Do you find it hard to start things or finish things already started? I’ve now taken a new approach. Now when I need to start or try to finish something I don’t have great aspirations. Which means I don’t start to think what I’m going to do or how much I’ll get done. I just do.
 
This article by James Clear is what I now try to follow. It’s called the “2-Minute Rule.”

Here is a sample of his article.

You’ll find that nearly any habit can be scaled down into a two-minute version:

• “Read before bed each night” becomes “Read one page.”
• “Do thirty minutes of yoga” becomes “Take out my yoga mat.”
• “Study for class” becomes “Open my notes.”
• “Fold the laundry” becomes “Fold one pair of socks.”
• “Run three miles” becomes “Tie my running shoes.”

It has really helped me in accomplishing projects that just seem to lie around and never get completed. 
Just like this newsletter. I’ve wanted to do this for months and following the two minute rule I’ve finally gotten the first one out.

Yup! This is the first one.

Please let me know if this helps and send me something that you’ve procrastinated on. It might be interesting to see what we all let languish.

Write to me at Robert@OnTheLambProductions.com and we will publish all the ways people avoid starting or even finishing an intended goal..