Do The Thing: JB's Monday Momentum #12
Turning Procrastination into Progress
Estimated reading time: six minutes
Welcome to Monday Momentum, the weekly newsletter where I discuss practical wisdom, uncovering insights to enhance our lives one thoughtful moment at a time. While I have confidence in the ideas I write about, I acknowledge that what works for me may not work for everyone. Take each idea as you see fit and let me know what you think!
Hello friends,
No matter how you try to frame it, the work just needs doing; you can dress it up, fluff it, or change it, but in the end, it boils down to tackling the task at hand—writing the essay, studying for the exam, heading to the gym. It sounds straightforward, but getting started often feels like scaling a mountain, with procrastination looming at the base, ready to derail your efforts.
If you missed the last edition—“Reflect and Thrive”—you can click here to check it out. It discusses the importance of reflection and provides actionable ways to approach it.
A Question I am Contemplating:
How can we … do the thing?
This is essentially a question about procrastination and how we can overcome it. I fall victim to procrastination (maybe a bit too often) and it’s frustrating. I’m sure like many of you, I find myself delaying the thing and then questioning why I did so, even though I had the time and was fully capable of completing it earlier.
To overcome procrastination, it's important to understand why we procrastinate in the first place. When we find ourselves procrastinating, whether it's avoiding writing an essay by cleaning our room instead, it's often because that's the path of least discomfort; we are motivated by the desire to avoid discomfort. Recognizing this is crucial because it allows us to identify the source of procrastination in any area of our lives. By understanding what makes the task difficult, we can address the forces that are influencing our behavior. Once we identify these forces, we can work to overcome them, making the initial task much more manageable.
To illustrate, think of the initial task as a complete landscape picture. Just as a landscape requires many details like the sun, clouds, plants, and animals, the task is made up of smaller components that contribute to its completion. While these details may not be inherently difficult, they are essential to the overall picture. By addressing these smaller discomforts that lead to procrastination, we can make the larger task more achievable and less daunting.
But what if all these “small” tasks still feel overwhelming? I’ll give you two options that are … opposites.
The first option is to start with the easiest/smallest task. Even though it may not result in significant progress, any progress, no matter how small, is crucial. By completing the easiest task first and then moving on to the next, these small wins will compound, making the hardest task seem less daunting in the end. This approach is similar to the advice given by Nick Saban to his players: “Don’t think about winning the SEC Championship. Don’t think about the national championship. Think about what you needed to do in this drill, on this play, in this moment. That’s the process: Let’s think about what we can do today, the task at hand.” By concentrating on doing the smallest task to the best of your ability, the larger goal will naturally come into focus.
On the other hand, the second option is to tackle the hardest/most important task first. By conquering this challenge initially, the subsequent tasks will appear much more manageable, boosting your confidence to complete them with ease. Even if completing the hardest task is all you manage to accomplish, it's still a significant achievement worth celebrating. After all, you've accomplished something difficult, and that's something to be proud of.
I am willing to bet that procrastinating has never made your life less stressful or more efficient. Instead of spending time making sure everything on your desk is perfectly aligned before starting to study or scrolling on social media before going for a run, make it easy for yourself, take action, and Do. The. Thing.
I would like to add one more quick note about these ideas. I presented them in the context of a single, "big" project, but I stand by the fact that they can also be applied to your daily life. You can break down your day into small, manageable tasks and work from there. Win your day by making progress.
An essay on doing the thing:
“Preparing to do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Scheduling time to do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Making a to-do list for the thing isn't doing the thing.
Telling people you're going to do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Messaging friends who may or may not be doing the thing isn't doing the thing.
Writing a banger tweet about how you're going to do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Hating on yourself for not doing the thing isn't doing the thing. Hating on other people who have done the thing isn't doing the thing. Hating on the obstacles in the way of doing the thing isn't doing the thing.
Fantasizing about all of the adoration you'll receive once you do the thing isn't doing the thing.
Reading about how to do the thing isn't doing the thing. Reading about how other people did the thing isn't doing the thing. Reading this essay isn't doing the thing.
The only thing that is doing the thing is doing the thing.” — Strangest Loop1
Goal for the Week:
Learn how to play chess
I’m not sure how I’ve gone this long without learning how to play, but here we are. It's like that movie or TV show you're embarrassed to admit you haven't watched. This week, I'm determined to finally take it off my “to be watched” list and learn the fundamentals. I plan to dedicate at least fifteen minutes a day to learning and practicing. By this time next week, I'll (hopefully) understand chess.
What I’m Reading:
Discipline Is Destiny — Ryan Holiday (6% done)
What I finished Reading:
When Breath Becomes Air — Paul Kalanithi
Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon on the brink of completing a decade's worth of training, was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at the age of thirty-six. This sudden shift transformed him from a doctor treating the dying to a patient struggling to survive. When Breath Becomes Air tells Kalanithi's story in two parts: the first is his journey as a neurosurgeon, saving lives, while the second portrays his time as a patient and new father battling his own mortality. Throughout his memoir, Kalanithi grapples with questions like “What makes life worth living in the face of death?” and “What kind of life is worth living?” When Breath Becomes Air might be my all-time favorite book. It is incredibly moving and will keep you eagerly flipping through the pages. The writing is some of the most beautiful I have ever encountered.2 I find it hard to comprehend how Dr. Kalanithi managed to produce such a profound work in the last twelve months of his life, considering his condition and what he must have been experiencing. It's unbelievable. Approach this book with the understanding that you may not always grasp everything someone is going through, but you can take the time to hear their story and, hopefully, offer them the dignity and respect they deserve as a human being, whether in life or death. I give When Breath Becomes Air a perfect 10/10.
Giovanni’s Room — James Baldwin
Giovanni's Room is an exploration of love, shame, and inner turmoil set in post-WWII Paris. The story follows David, an American expat struggling to embrace his true self in a society where being gay is frowned upon. Despite the romance between David and Giovanni, societal pressures and David's own insecurities cast a shadow over their relationship. Baldwin's simple yet evocative writing delves deep into the characters' emotions, revealing their complexities with honesty. Baldwin's novel reminds us to seize love while we can, for it is the one true thing that can protect us in an unpredictable world. Giovanni's Room is a heartfelt exploration of the fragility of the human heart, conveyed with sincerity and insight. I give Giovanni's Room a 6.9/10.
What I’m listening to (one podcast, one artist, one song):
Huberman Lab: Guest Series | Dr. Matthew Walker: The Biology of Sleep & Your Unique Sleep Needs3
Bon Iver
“Lucerne” — Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to subscribe to stay updated for next week and feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Take care,
James
“things that aren't doing the thing” (If you enjoyed this essay, you might find some of the other essays written by the Strangest Loop interesting. You can find these other great essays by clicking "words" on the webpage.)
You can clearly see how much Kalanthi did, indeed, love literature. For context, Kalanthi initially had no interest in becoming a doctor. He was determined to be a writer and gained a BA and MA in English literature at Stanford University.
Long, but very very good. The first of a six-part series on sleep. Provides loads of insight, offering scientific evidence on improving sleep for a better life.
“The path of least discomfort” really puts the whole concept into perspective. Why are we motivated by this, when we learn and grow in discomfort? We’re used to comfort? Food for thought that occurred to me as I write this. Learned a lot from this post! Thanks James 😁