5 steps to getting started, when you don't know where to start

Starting can be the most difficult part of doing. 5 simple steps to getting you started:

1. Decide what you are starting >
2. List tasks that you need to do >
3. Identify task 1 >
4. Create a space to start in >
5. Gather your tools and.... start >

Details on each step are outlined below.

1. Decide what you are starting

If you are like me you have several projects to get into and if you are my mental doppleganger you can't choose between them. You need to choose one to start on or else you will do nothing. And making zero progress = not happy. A project can be cleaning the windows, writing a blog post or finding an inhabited planet, anything really.

List your top projects or 'to-dos'; list no more than 6

Whiy such a short list? The more choices you have, the more difficult it is to make a decision. This phenomen is sometimes called The Paradox of Choice. So whittle it down to a maximum of 6 - why 6? Well, many studies have suggested that 6 is the 'sweet spot' for balancing having a choice with being able to choose, but I like that 6 is the number of sides on dice.

How to get down to 6 choices

• If you are able,  just select your top 6
• If you are stuck, try removing ones that you favour least
• When you are really stuck, just remove every second  or third project (or to-do) listed, and repeat until you get down to 6

How to get down to one choice

• Now study your list of 6 and select a project or to-do to tackle next
• If you are stuck, start by removing the ones you favour least
• Then remove every second one and repeat until you get to 1
  OR
• Throw a dice, if you can't choose!  It makes no difference how you get to this decision.

2. List the tasks you need to do

List the tasks involved in the project. If you are cleaning the windows, you may need to:

• Buy cleaning solution
• Gather ladder and tools
• Clean windows

And you might want to divide the windows you need to clean say into upstairs and downstairs, so it isn't such a big job all at once. Your list becomes:

• Buy cleaning solution
• Gather ladder and tools
• Clean upstairs windows
• Clean downstairs windows

At the other end of the spectrum,  if you plan to find an inhabited planet, you may need to:

• List all known planets
• Identify which planets are known not to be inhabited
• Get a sample from each planet
• Keep an eye out for new planets to check
• Keep an eye out for easier ways to determine whether a planet is inhabited
• Keep updated on what other scientists are doing

And within this tasks might be subtasks, e.g. List all known planets might be broken down to:

Research best ways to find names of all known planets

TIP!  I have kept it to 6 steps here, more than 6 steps is overwhelming. If there are more than 6 steps, group the steps into groups of 6 or fewer steps.

3. Identify task 1

With both examples above - there is a clear first step - either buying cleaning solution, or starting with a list of planets. I can handle getting into the car and heading up to the shops for window cleaner, but coming up with a list of all known planets is a bit more demanding - I could of course Google it - but to win a Nobel Prize I might need more robust information.

 To list all planets, I might need to do the following:

• Google it
• Go to a great science library
• Find a reliable NASA or other database
• Research ways to find all known planets
• Speak with some scientists in the field

These are all do-able, and if I find they are not, I break them down further sticking to the rule of 6. In this case there is no obvious order - I may choose to Google first or I may roll a dice.

If you have more than 6 steps you  usually need to group these into subgroups. 

4. Create a space

I'm not know for a tidy desk, but tidying a space, making a space or changing your space can really provide motivation to get started. If you are cleaning windows you may need music or an audiobook playing in the background. If you are searching for inhabited planets you maye need to set up a place for a telescope. Think about what space would really support you accomplishing your first task!

5. Gather your tools and..... start

You have a place, now gather your tools, remove distractions ( turn off email and put your phone in another room) and just start. If you are still having trouble starting you might have obstacles to remove - read more here >

Now, pat yourself on the back and enjoy

When you complete your first task or subtask, bask in the glory. (I like to pound my chest like Tarzan!) As long as you acknowledge your acheivement you should get a shot of dopamine, and a feeling of happiness. Nurturing this positive feedback loop, will be the start of something beautiful in terms of making progress again and again.