There’s a patch at the bottom of our garden that’s been quietly taunting me for weeks. Brambles, knee-high grasses, and all the usual suspects of garden neglect had taken over. I kept looking at it, promising myself I’d tackle it “this weekend” – and then putting it off again. The job felt too big, too time-consuming, too something.
I bet you’ve had a similar experience. A task that looms large in your mind, growing more intimidating the longer it’s left. It might be a work project, a bit of DIY, or even just that email you’ve been avoiding. We talk ourselves out of starting because we convince ourselves we won’t have the time, energy, or motivation to finish. But here’s the thing: once we start, the rest usually follows.
Starting is the hard part
Yesterday, I finally decided to stop overthinking and just begin. I didn’t set out to finish the whole thing – that felt too ambitious. I simply committed to making a dent in it. The sky looked like rain, which was the perfect excuse to expect interruptions. So I lowered my expectations, grabbed my gloves, plugged into a podcast, and got going.
And something shifted.
Once I was in motion, momentum took over. It was easier to keep going than it had been to begin. I wasn’t thinking about how much was left or how I’d rather be doing something else. I was in it – and before I knew it, the job was done. Not just a dent, but all of it. Rain arrived, but only once I’d finished. Brambles were cleared. And that looming task? Gone.
Why we avoid starting
Avoidance isn’t laziness. It’s often rooted in perfectionism, fear of failure, or the belief that we won’t have the time to finish properly. We want to wait until we have a clear stretch, the right tools, or just feel more “ready.” But more often than not, that moment doesn’t arrive. So the task sits there, quietly growing heavier on our minds.
Reframing the task
A useful shift in mindset is this: don’t aim to finish, aim to start. That simple reframe relieves the pressure. By committing to ten minutes or one small section, you’re lowering the barrier to action. And once you’re moving, you may find, like I did, that momentum carries you further than expected.
Tactics that help:
- Break it down: Instead of “clear the garden,” try “spend 15 minutes trimming brambles.”
- Pair it with pleasure: A podcast, music, or cup of tea can turn it into something enjoyable.
- Lower the bar: Starting with a small win can trigger a domino effect.
- Acknowledge the resistance: Name the hesitation, but don’t let it drive the bus.
From garden to life
It might have just been a garden, but the principle applies everywhere. Whether it’s that email, a difficult conversation, or your next big idea, progress starts the same way: with a single step. We don’t need to know how it ends, we just need to begin.
Final thoughts
So if there’s something you’ve been avoiding, try this: don’t aim to finish it, just start it. Do the smallest, easiest version of the task. Make it so simple you can’t talk yourself out of it. And then see what happens.
Chances are, the only hard part is getting started.
Patrick Hickman 