How To Break the Inertia
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Inertia could be both a wonderful thing and a limiting one. When we have productive habits or routines, inertia works in our favor. But when we need to go from inaction to action, then it can hold us back.
Inertia is a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged; lack of movement or activity especially when movement or activity is wanted or needed; or a feeling of not having the energy or desire that is needed to move, change, etc.
The very start of an activity is the most difficult one. This is where I trick my brain, do self-talk, create a starting ritual, or simply begin some sort of action. Once I am already doing the specific activity the bright side of inertia keeps me going and often I get into flow.
Our goals sound great in our heads and look amazing on paper. Defining what we want to obtain or where we want to go is an absolutely necessary and crucial step. There is no starting point without it. But that is not enough. Once the goals are defined, we want to achieve them. And to do that, we must move our butt and get into action.
Doing those activities that are going to move us closer to our goal when we do not feel like it is an emotional intelligence skill associated with self-management.
Let us say that you want to look for and obtain another job. One of the first steps is to update your resume. That task could be very tedious especially if you have not updated it for a while.
When we think about the time and effort it takes to have an updated decent version of our resume, our brain gets overwhelmed, and we desist from the task or put it off until a later time. The challenge is to start. Once we are in front of the computer in the flow of things, we will continue until we have a strong draft or a final product.
So, what can we do? There are different ways to move from doing nothing to starting a specific task. You may want to experiment with some of these tips, invent others for yourself, and adapt the ones that work best for you.
“Life leaps like a geyser for those who drill through the rock of inertia.” Unknown
1) Create a ritual
This method works really well to create habits or routines. It generates the cue our brain needs to start the action associated with that signal.
I write every day. I do this in the morning with a cup of tea. My ritual is that before starting to write, I put the kettle on while I look for my writing document, set the prompt I am going to use to get me started, and mentally prepare for writing.
Performing the steps and having the tea signal to my brain that we are ready to start writing. Once I type the first few words, I am riding the inertia of the task and I can go on until I finish the draft for that day.
2) Download from head to paper
I love making lists (thanks, mom!). I like to put all tasks associated with an overall activity on paper without any specific order at first. This helps me think about all I need to do to complete a project or goal. By putting it all on paper I do not forget anything, and I signal my brain to keep this project on our radar until completion.
For example, when I plan a family vacation, my list will include choosing the destination, defining the itinerary, booking the tickets and hotel, making reservations, etc. Once I have all the items outside of my head on lists then I can choose which one I want to tackle first.
Sometimes I can start with a simple one, which makes it easier to get into the groove of things. And sometimes there is an obvious first step such as choosing the destination for the trip.
3) Eat the elephant
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
It is the same with big activities. Let us come back to the resume example. The bites for that activity could be adding new content, proofreading, changing the format, etc.
To start, we could decide to add new content such as latest jobs, achievements, newly acquired skills, and so on. That may be our goal for that morning. The next step would be to change the format and that could be our objective for that afternoon or the following morning.
It is possible that once you finish adding the new content you are so much into the task that you decide to tackle the format at that moment. The beauty of this method is that you could set a bare minimum for yourself and build from it.
“The real key is to live in an environment where the mind feels free to choose the right thing instead of being compelled by habit and inertia to choose the wrong thing.” Deepak Chopra
Doing what we know is beneficial to move us toward our goals when we do not feel like it is what makes us the exception. Everyone else waits until they feel like it to do something. And of course, we seldom feel like it naturally. We make ourselves feel like it every day.
Someone once said, ‘I write when I’m inspired, and I see to it that I’m inspired at nine o’clock every morning.’ I don’t know about you, but I feel empowered when I read this quote. To me, it means that I do not have to wait for something magical to happen. I can create my own magic by breaking the inertia of inaction.
What do you do to propel yourself into action? Please, let us know in the comments. You can write in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French.
As a leadership coach, I enable talent to achieve bold goals with high standards. My mission is to help women transition from mid to senior level leadership positions by creating awareness, increasing emotional intelligence, and unveiling the tools and choices available to them, so they can confidently realize and fulfill their potential.