As a psychologist, I’m going to teach you a powerful, paradoxical trick to overcome your mind’s resistance when it doesn’t want to do a task.

GIVE IN by telling your mind you’ll TAKE IT REAL EASY, but in exchange, it’ll cooperate in starting right away.

Overcomes inertia !

Example: you’re tired, it’s been a long day, and you know you should go to the gym, but your mind doesn’t feel up for it.

DEAL! No need to lift heavy, you’ll just warm up, lift real light.

If you feel better along the way, you can always ramp up the intensity (& likely so).

Example 2: You have to clean your apartment: BORING, and more entertaining to be on social media.

UNDERSTOOD! You’ll just wipe down the kitchen counter. And you can go back to watching YouTube if you so wish.

But maybe you’ll want to do the sink after that since you’re there.

Example 3: Getting started on answering 50+ emails. Ugh, what a chore. Wouldn’t you rather read some news articles instead?

ABSOLUTELY. Just answer one email then, and then you can read whatever article you want. Then answer email 2 & 3, read another article. Then Email 4-6 etc.

Example 4: You have to write a long document. Man, so much pressure and so much work.

Commit to writing one sentence. And writing. Real. Slow. Real easy. So at ease. No rush. No pressure. No need to be perfect. Just a few words here and there.

Next thing you know, you’re going.

Example 5. You want talk to that beautiful girl. Oof, what should you say? What if you get rejected? W The timing is awkward. I dunno...

Just say ‘hi’ within 5 seconds. You can walk away after that. Guaranteed. But maybe she’ll say hi back, and you can go from there. You choice.

Moral of the story: NEVER, EVER DELAY. Avoidance builds anxiety like a muscle.

You get started by reducing the:
- duration
- intensity/pace
- difficulty/perfectionism

In order to reduce friction and overcome inertia. You can always build up speed/keep going if it gets better.