We get ready to do something.
And then we hesitate.
We stop.
We do something else.
We do anything else.
Sounds familiar?
Today, just do.
Putting It Off.
We often put down small tasks that should take just a minute.
– It will only take me a minute to put this away… I’ll do it later.
– It is a small job to clean this up… I’ll get to it later.
– I have to respond to this… but I’ll put it off.
However, when you put down a few of these tasks, they pile up quickly.
Suddenly, you have an entire garage to clean out.
Or an inbox with hundreds (or thousands!) of emails.
Some people say, “I’ll do this later.”
Those who succeed are the ones who just do.
It is easy to not take action.
It requires discipline to do the things that are often right in front of us.
Just Do Something.
Do Something… Anything… But, do it now.
- Do something on your todo list.
- Do something great.
- Do something you have been putting off.
- Do something you don’t want to do.
- Do something for yourself.
- Do something for someone you love.
- Do something for someone that needs help.
- Do something BIG.
- Do something small.
- Do something unexpected.
- Do something before its deadline.
- Do something you need to do.
- Do something that you don’t have time for.
- Do something you are proud of.
- Do something that matters.
- Do something passionate.
- Do something instead of talking about it.
- Do anything.
Here’s the secret…
Just do it now.
Now Beats Later.
Sometimes you just need to do.
Action begets action.
Just Do It Now.
Period.
What do you need to do now?
@TMNinja is it ironic that I just sent your Do It Now post to ReadIt Later? PS I will! (read it later, that is…) 🙂
@TMNinja is it ironic that I just sent your Do It Now post to ReadIt Later? PS I will! (read it later, that is…) 🙂
@digitalwheelie That is pretty funny. 🙂
@digitalwheelie That is pretty funny. 🙂
I Agree! This is THE POWER OF NOW
I Agree! This is THE POWER OF NOW
I Agree! This is THE POWER OF NOW
Craig,How do you gel this with a concept like batching? If you’re regularly distracted during the day with stuff you want to do, would you think it’s wise to block off some time just to knock out the little things? How do you find the balance between the two?
Craig,How do you gel this with a concept like batching? If you’re regularly distracted during the day with stuff you want to do, would you think it’s wise to block off some time just to knock out the little things? How do you find the balance between the two?
Craig,How do you gel this with a concept like batching? If you’re regularly distracted during the day with stuff you want to do, would you think it’s wise to block off some time just to knock out the little things? How do you find the balance between the two?
@Loren Pinilis Good question, Loren.
Batching tasks is a powerful way to get a bunch of similar tasks done quickly.
I think the balance is that “Just Do It Now” does not mean dropping whatever you are working on to do something else. Rather, it is about not putting things off.
@TMNinja thanks! Be productive, take action: especially if feeling in a rut. But actively not doing can also be very powerful
@TMNinja thanks! Be productive, take action: especially if feeling in a rut. But actively not doing can also be very powerful
@aiconsult yes! I am always watching… 🙂
@aiconsult yes! I am always watching… 🙂
I could not agree more. I keep a to-do list in my pocket all day. Once an item goes on the list, it is LAW. I try to put the things I least want to do on that list. The sooner it gets done, the better. Great advice. Thanks!
I could not agree more. I keep a to-do list in my pocket all day. Once an item goes on the list, it is LAW. I try to put the things I least want to do on that list. The sooner it gets done, the better. Great advice. Thanks!
@dougricesmbiz Keeping your todo list with you and looking at it regularly is a great productivity booster. Too many people make lists that they never look at again. 🙂
Craig,
Putting things off is like cheating yourself (“I’ll do it tomorrow …”) and that is the worst kind of cheating you can do!
When you decide to do something small at first, it can turn into something big. For instance, if you have a task and you decide to work on it only 5 minutes, you will soon realize that you have been working on it 15 minutes already.
This is one of the ways I have tackled any of the tasks I was ready to postpone till later date.
Cheers,
Timo
Craig,
Putting things off is like cheating yourself (“I’ll do it tomorrow …”) and that is the worst kind of cheating you can do!
When you decide to do something small at first, it can turn into something big. For instance, if you have a task and you decide to work on it only 5 minutes, you will soon realize that you have been working on it 15 minutes already.
This is one of the ways I have tackled any of the tasks I was ready to postpone till later date.
Cheers,
Timo
@timokiander Love the “cheating” analogy. Very true.
And yes, starting for just a few minutes can build the momentum to do great things!
@timokiander Love the “cheating” analogy. Very true.
And yes, starting for just a few minutes can build the momentum to do great things!
@dougricesmbiz Keeping your todo list with you and looking at it regularly is a great productivity booster. Too many people make lists that they never look at again. 🙂
@dougricesmbiz Keeping your todo list with you and looking at it regularly is a great productivity booster. Too many people make lists that they never look at again. 🙂
@dougricesmbiz Keeping your todo list with you and looking at it regularly is a great productivity booster. Too many people make lists that they never look at again. 🙂
@Loren Pinilis Good question, Loren.
Batching tasks is a powerful way to get a bunch of similar tasks done quickly.
I think the balance is that “Just Do It Now” does not mean dropping whatever you are working on to do something else. Rather, it is about not putting things off.
@Loren Pinilis Good question, Loren.
Batching tasks is a powerful way to get a bunch of similar tasks done quickly.
I think the balance is that “Just Do It Now” does not mean dropping whatever you are working on to do something else. Rather, it is about not putting things off.
@mcleodconsult Thx, Dean! I could almost hear all the way from NZ! 🙂 Sounded like an order to me. 🙂 Best wishes!
@mcleodconsult Thx, Dean! I could almost hear all the way from NZ! 🙂 Sounded like an order to me. 🙂 Best wishes!
Every college student always says such crazy “Its better to cheat than to repeat” and I do agree that its better to act at the moment than waiting and wasting your time useless…
If you want what you’ve never had then do somthing you’ve never done.
One of my favorite tips for audiences is to “Do Today’s One Thing.” Checking something off the list is like getting a bite of your favorite food. That little bit just feels good. Getting things done is “accomplishment.” Accomplishment is a cornerstone of success because success is something we feel (Proud of our work, Happy to be done, etc.). Identifying one (small) thing each day that will get done, then getting it done makes every day a successful day.
When you’re starting out, you tend to overcomplicate productivity. For those that procrastinate, just doing it, is the best way to increase productivity. Instead of learning new task managers, our core focus should be on “dream building” activity. If you make a habit of building your dreams, you will actually turn them into reality. So onwards!
Thx, Bojan! Best wishes.
I have a very difficult time with this. When it’s really bad, I ask someone (ANYone) to just slowly count to 3. When they say 3, it’s time to do it.