Have you been putting off a project because you don't know how long it will take?

Or the last time you did it, it felt like it took forever? Time yourself.

Human beings are, on average, terrible at estimating how long things take. We often misjudge how long common tasks will take, even if we’ve done them many times. This can easily throw of your entire schedule, despite your best efforts, and make it hard to get started. 

Lucky for you, there’s an easy solution.

Before you start a task, client session, project, or meeting, start a stopwatch or write down the time. When you’re done, mark the time again and record how long it took. Keep track of this for future reference.

It won’t always take the same amount of time for a similar project. Even a simple task can vary in the time it takes. But after a while, you’ll get a better idea of how much time to schedule and you’ll run long less often.

How does this help you get started? If you are waiting for a tow truck and you know (as much as you can) it will be here in 90 minutes, even though that's a long time to be stuck somewhere, there's a specific end time you can focus on. If you don't know how long it will be, for all your brain knows it could be six hours and starts to spiral. Confidence in timing, even when it's a long stretch, helps your brain self-regulate and focus. 

Having a hard time getting started or restarted? Knowing how long it takes could be your key to getting into action!

Download your free worksheet here: September 11th - Time yourself

Go back to the September is for Starting homepage.

Starting is hard. But you know what can feel even harder? REstarting.

When you’ve already made some progress on a project but then put it down, coming back can feel overwhelming.

• Where did I leave off?

• What’s next?

• How do I get back into the flow?

That’s where a REstarting routine comes into play.

Just like a starting routine gets you moving, a restarting routine is a set of easy steps that help you:

• reorient yourself to where you left off

• review what’s already done

• select the very next action

By giving yourself a simple system to fall back on, you take the guesswork out of getting back on track. And once you’ve restarted, momentum takes care of the rest.

What project could you get back into today with a REstarting routine? 

Download your free worksheet here: September 10th - Create a REstarting routine

Go back to the September is for Starting homepage.

What tasks or projects do you NEVER have a hard time starting?

Even if it isn’t something you particularly enjoy, there are plenty of things you do throughout your week that you start easily. Some of that is based on the fact that even if you don’t realize it, you have a routine for it.

It could be as easy as clearing your desk, laying out your paperwork, and refreshing your coffee. Each of your tiny routines - that you may not even realize you’ve designed - signals to your brain that it’s time to get started.

So, when you’re having a hard time jumping right into a task, try a starting routine. Think of it as a gentle on-ramp instead of a jarring leap into work.

Start with a few small, easy actions - clear your desk, open your notes, pour a cup of coffee. These tiny wins get your body moving and your brain engaged. Once momentum kicks in, shifting into the harder task feels much more natural.

A starting routine trains your brain to say: “This is what we do before we begin.” Over time, it becomes automatic, and getting started stops feeling like such a battle.

What’s one simple step you could add to your own starting routine today? 

Download your free worksheet here: September 9th - Create a starting routine

Go back to the September is for Starting homepage.

Stuck on a task you just don’t feel like starting? Try asking yourself: “What would be harder?”

There are two ways that something else could be harder than what you’re avoiding:

• First, compare it to something else. If I had to choose between starting this task or scrubbing the entire kitchen floor with a toothbrush, does the original task suddenly not look so bad?Sometimes shifting perspective makes starting easier.

• Second, think about consequences. Which is harder - doing this task now, or dealing with the stress, missed deadlines, or guilt that comes with putting it off?

Most of the time, the “harder” option isn’t the task itself, it’s the delayed consequences of not doing it.

The next time you’re stalling, ask yourself: What would really be harder? 

Download your free worksheet here: September 8th - What would be harder?

Go back to the September is for Starting homepage.