I've been known to procrastinate just as much as the next guy, when when I dig in and get to business, I eventually pass that first major hurdle and enter into easier territory. This principle applies to most everything that you, too, will do—from work projects to studying to starting a new diet or exercise program.

But why is there often so much sluggishness and hesitation surrounding new beginnings? In short, it's all about your expectations.

I remember back in my younger days when I was a lot worse at procrastinating. I would take on a school project, but there was just so much to do. I could envision all of the many details that would have to go into a successful masterpiece, and so I did nothing. I was overwhelmed by the work that lay ahead because it had no form and no shape. I didn't understand how, in its nebulous being, I was to transform blurry nothingness into a real (and really awesome) final product.

And that is why you have to make the first step. In the realm of possibility, you must add constraints before creation can take place within those constraints. It doesn't matter what you do, just do something.

When I wrote my book, I had no idea my writing would even become a book. I set out to write a scene about when I broke out of a mental hospital (spoiler). I knew that that piece could be a climax to the story, and so then I began writing other scenes (just the ones that stood out to me the most), and a framework for a full manuscript began building.

journeyof1000miles.org

Some of you may already get the full point of this blog post (as though my super-cliche photo didn't absolutely give it away), and I wasn't trying to astonish you with my wealth of experience and knowledge. In fact, the very point of this writing came about because I had to force myself to sit down and crank out a blog. Is this the most though-provoking piece in the world? Of course not, but the point is that I did something. I—one keystroke at a time—made you read this, which is a hell of a lot better than chain-smoking cheap cigars in my kitchen while I lament all the work waiting for me at the office.

I will get to that work. And you will get to yours. You will not think about how much is to be done, but you will see that the only way to cut down on your to-do list is, well, to do something, no matter how small. If you're overwhelmed by training for a 5k, don't set out to run a 5k. Maybe all you can do is run a mile. Or a half mile. Or walk around the block. The point is, it's all progress—maybe not progress on the timescale that you want, but if you persevere and get over that first hurdle, things will get easier. Soon you'll be jogging around then block, then around two or three. Or maybe your workload will begin reducing because you're spending time tackling real tasks instead of checking Facebook. 

And as far as those creative pursuits go, remember that everything starts as a rough draft. Get those ideas out of your head first, and then go back and revise, revise, revise until your creation most accurately reflects that initial dream you had for it, that dream that was so big yet so undefined. It could only become defined through your every small step toward it.

So don't be afraid of fucking up. Don't spin your wheels. Don't think, just do. Getting started is the hardest part, but once you've created momentum, you'll be flying toward a life that's more fulfilling. Trust me. Now, please, for the love of progress, go do what you've been putting off.

Good luck.