From Stuck to Unstuck

The holidays are always a strange time, no more so that this past year with the pandemic and all its accompanying craziness.

For whatever reason, I found myself stuck during the holidays. I wasn’t as productive as usual, I was having a hard time getting up early like I usually do.

I’m not sure why.

Laziness. Frustration. Exhaustion. Lack of discipline.

Probably a little bit of each, and more.

We’re getting towards the end of January, and I’m still feeling stuck, but less so. Things are moving again. I’m getting lots done again.

But there are still times when I sit and stare at something I’ve been putting off. This morning I deposited three checks that have been sitting on my desk staring at me for 2 weeks.

It took me about two minutes in real time, but it took two weeks to actually do it.

While I can point to lots of things I’ve plowed through this week, I can see bunches of other things that languish untouched.

I’ve read lots of books about this, watched lots of videos, subscribed to lots of emails.

How to beat procrastination. How to get more disciplined. How to get more done.

Lots of systems and methodologies and advice. Lots of experts and guru’s and advocates.

Every system has its merits, every expert has a point.

But it gets to be too much. Too much advice. Too many experts.

Too much noise.

I fear the noise itself often contributes to the problem. I mean what better way to procrastinate than to click through countless articles looking for help to stop procrastinating?

Everyone is different, everyone has to find the thing that works for them.

I’m still searching, to be honest.

But lately I’ve found some help when I focus on one thing. One thing I can do every day. A small thing.

Maybe it’s depositing a check. Maybe it’s ordering more toner that I need. Maybe it’s writing in my journal.

For whatever reason, do one thing leads to me doing more things, often without me even realizing it.

I don’t know if it’s momentum, or some kind of mind trick, but it seems to work.

It’s like a snowball, a few flakes suddenly turn into a much bigger mass.

Of course some day’s it seems impossible to even get the one small thing done. But when I do, watch out!

I’m not a guru, or expert, nor am I selling anything.

But I feel the pull of procrastination. I know the disappointment of going to bed at night feeling as though I accomplished absolutely nothing that day.

I get stuck, just like everybody. But I keep trying to get unstuck, and that’s what matters the most.