<ul>
<li>Getting good at starting a difficult task is a powerful skill to acquire, and if we can just start the task, half the battle is won already.</li>
<li>Fear, stress, uncertainty and a feeling of inadequacy make it hard to start a big task.</li>
</ul>
<p>We need to shift our thinking and take the task as <strong>an opportunity, an adventure, a playground to do something useful and fun.</strong></p>

Starting A Difficult Task

<ol>
<li>Pick a big task that is important and meaningful to you.</li>
<li>Find a way to make the task enjoyable and meaningful at the same time.</li>
<li>Break the task into smaller subtasks that are easier to start.</li>
<li>Remove all distractions like your smartphone notifications, browser windows and other things vying for your attention.</li>
<li>Take it as a dance and pour yourself in!</li>
</ol>

Start The Shift And Accomplish The Difficult Task

<ol>
<li>Challenge yourself to accomplish a big task once a day, for five days a week, and take it to four weeks.</li>
<li>Keep a journal to record what works and what does not.</li>
<li>Do a review and learn from your journal or from other people who follow your progress.</li>
<li>Make it a shared goal with someone else.</li>
<li>Enjoy the practice, making it playful and delicious!</li>
</ol>

The Art Of The Start

<!DOCTYPE html><html>
<body>
<header>
<div>
<div>
<h1><a href="/">zen habits</a></h1>
</div>
<nav><div><ul><li><a href="https://zenhabits.net/training/">training</a></li>
<li><a href="https://zenhabits.net/books/">books</a></li>
<li><a href="https://zenhabits.net/about/">about</a></li>
<li><a href="https://zenhabits.net/archives/">Archives</a></li>
</ul></div></nav>
<div>
<h1><a href="https://zenhabits.net/more">breathe</a></h1>
</div>
</div>
</header> 
<div>
<h2>Getting Good at Just Starting a Difficult Task</h2>
<div>
<h4>By <a href="http://leobabauta.com">Leo Babauta</a></h4>
<p>The tendency to put off difficult tasks that we don’t want to face is almost universal.</p>
<p>And it turns out, the moment of starting a task is often so much harder than actually doing the task.</p>
<p>Once we get started, there can be challenges (and we will want to switch to something else) … but if we can just start, then half the battle is already won.</p>
<p>So getting good at starting something tough can be a powerful skill to master.</p>
<p>Let’s talk about how to master it.</p>
<h3>What Gets in the Way &amp; How to Shift It</h3>
<p>Why is it so hard to start? We feel uncertainty, fear, stress, overwhelm about the task. Or it makes us feel bad about ourselves, inadequate in some way.</p>
<p>It’s like opening a box that you know is goig to cause you pain — <em>of course</em> you’d put off opening the box! We want to protect ourselves from that kind of stress.</p>
<p>We can force ourselves to touch the electric fence, but that can only last for so long. We only want to put ourselves through so much pain before we start to question why we’re making ourselves suffer.</p>
<p>The opportunity is in finding a new way of seeing these tasks — instead of filled with overwhelm, stress and inadequacy … can we find a more powerful way of seeing the uncertainty of this task? Can it be an opportunity, an adventure, a playground, an expression of our art? Can it be a dance of joy, a powerful way to serve others with love?</p>
<p>Find that for yourself. What is the opportunity of this task? What would make it meaningful and joyful?</p>
<p>Connect to that before you start, and things will get easier.</p>
<h3>How to Start</h3>
<p>Once you’ve taken a look at how you’re viewing the task, and find a new way to view it … you’re ready to train yourself at starting!</p>
<p>Here’s what I recommend:</p>
<ol><li><strong>Pick a task that’s important/meaningful, but that you’ve been putting off</strong>. Usually it’s easy to find one. Look at your list, think about what you’ve been avoiding. Pick one, even if it’s a fairly random choice, it doesn’t matter.</li><li><strong>Find a way to make it meaningful &amp; joyful</strong>. How can you view this task so that it serves others, that it’s an adventure or play, that it feels powerful opportunity? Even just a little bit is good. Connect to that.</li><li><strong>Shrink down the task</strong>. YOu don’t have to do the whole thing. Just a bit of it. For example, instead of having to write this whole blog post, I can focus on just writing the first few paragraphs. This will help lower resistance, because</li><li><strong>Clear everything away</strong>. Close your browser, disconnect your phone, close applications. Remove distractions. Give yourself the gift of simplicity.</li><li><strong>Dive in joyfully</strong>. You only need to start. You can work on staying with the task later. Just start! See it as a dance, a way to serve, a way to bring the full vitality of your being! Pour yourself in.</li></ol>
<p>Appreciate this act of starting. It’s delicious and profound.</p>
<h3>How to Practice the Art of the Start</h3>
<p>An amazing way to practice this is to set yourself a challenge to do this once a day, 5 days a week, for a month.</p>
<p>By doing it just once a day, you’ll relieve yourself of the pressure of trying to do it all day long. You can be deliberate about it and find a way of viewing the task that feels powerful and joyful.</p>
<p>By doing it most days in the week, for a month, you will get better at it quickly.</p>
<p>Here are some additional tips:</p>
<ol><li><strong>Keep a simple journal</strong>. Write down things that help and things that don’t help. Use it as a learning log.</li><li><strong>Do a short review every week</strong>. I recommend having people you report to, so that you’re sharing it with others, like an accountability group.</li><li><strong>Do it with others if it helps</strong>. That means you might meet someone on Zoom once a day where you each tackle the things that you’ve been putting off. It gives you the little push you need to start.</li><li><strong>Enjoy the practice</strong>! Don’t make this a sacrifice, another burden in your life. Make it a playful, joyful adventure. Something that feels meaningful and delicious.</li></ol>
<p>I also highly recommend my <a href="https://fearless.zenhabits.net/">Fearless Training Program</a>, where we work on this together.</p>
</div> 
<h5></h5>
<div>
</div> 
<div>

<p><span>Previous post:</span><br/><a href="https://zenhabits.net/trustable/">Becoming Trustable</a></p>
<p><span>Next post:</span><br/><a href="https://zenhabits.net/delight/">Delight in Uncertainty</a></p>
</div> 
</div> 
<footer>
<div>
<div>
<h1>Life-changing training programs and live experiences</h1>
<h1>from Zen Habits:</h1>
<div>
<a href="https://seachange.zenhabits.net/">
<div>
<img src="https://zenhabits.net/wp-content/themes/zh4/images/logos/sc-logo.svg"/>
<p>Transformation,<br/>one change at a time</p>
</div>
</a>
<a href="https://fearless.zenhabits.net/">
<div>
<img src="https://zenhabits.net/wp-content/themes/zh4/images/logos/ft-logo.svg"/>
<p>Fall in love with<br/>uncertainty</p>
</div>
</a>
<a href="https://ignite.zenhabits.net/one-thing">
<div>
<img src="https://zenhabits.net/wp-content/themes/zh4/images/logos/fm-logo.svg"/>
<p>Free Live Masterclass<br/>Getting Your One Thing Done</p>
</div>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<form>
<input/>
<input/>
<input/>
<input/>
<input/>
<input/>
<input/>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Get Zen Habits in Your Inbox
</div>
</div>
<div>

<div>
<input/>
</div>
</div>
<div>

<div>
<input/>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<button>
Get Updates
</button>
</div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
</form>
</div><script>
				window.cfields = [];
				window._show_thank_you = function(id, message, trackcmp_url) {
				var form = document.getElementById('_form_' + id + '_'), thank_you = form.querySelector('._form-thank-you');
				form.querySelector('._form-content').style.display = 'none';
				thank_you.innerHTML = message;
				thank_you.style.display = 'block';
				if (typeof(trackcmp_url) != 'undefined' && trackcmp_url) {
					// Site tracking URL to use after inline form submission.
					_load_script(trackcmp_url);
				}
				if (typeof window._form_callback !== 'undefined') window._form_callback(id);
				};
				window._show_error = function(id, message, html) {
				var form = document.getElementById('_form_' + id + '_'), err = document.createElement('div'), button = form.querySelector('button'), old_error = form.querySelector('._form_error');
				if (old_error) old_error.parentNode.removeChild(old_error);
				err.innerHTML = message;
				err.className = '_error-inner _form_error _no_arrow';
				var wrapper = document.createElement('div');
				wrapper.className = '_form-inner';
				wrapper.appendChild(err);
				button.parentNode.insertBefore(wrapper, button);
				document.querySelector('[id^="_form"][id$="_submit"]').disabled = false;
				if (html) {
					var div = document.createElement('div');
					div.className = '_error-html';
					div.innerHTML = html;
					err.appendChild(div);
				}
				};
				window._load_script = function(url, callback) {
					var head = document.querySelector('head'), script = document.createElement('script'), r = false;
					script.type = 'text/javascript';
					script.charset = 'utf-8';
					script.src = url;
					if (callback) {
					script.onload = script.onreadystatechange = function() {
					if (!r && (!this.readyState || this.readyState == 'complete')) {
						r = true;
						callback();
						}
					};
					}
					head.appendChild(script);
				};
				(function() {
				if (window.location.search.search("excludeform") !== -1) return false;
				var getCookie = function(name) {
					var match = document.cookie.match(new RegExp('(^|; )' + name + '=([^;]+)'));
					return match ? match[2] : null;
				}
				var setCookie = function(name, value) {
					var now = new Date();
					var time = now.getTime();
					var expireTime = time + 1000 * 60 * 60 * 24 * 365;
					now.setTime(expireTime);
					document.cookie = name + '=' + value + '; expires=' + now + ';path=/';
				}
					var addEvent = function(element, event, func) {
					if (element.addEventListener) {
					element.addEventListener(event, func);
					} else {
					var oldFunc = element['on' + event];
					element['on' + event] = function() {
						oldFunc.apply(this, arguments);
						func.apply(this, arguments);
					};
					}
				}
				var _removed = false;
				var form_to_submit = document.getElementById('_form_1_');
				var allInputs = form_to_submit.querySelectorAll('input, select, textarea'), tooltips = [], submitted = false;

				var getUrlParam = function(name) {
					var regexStr = '[\?&]' + name + '=([^&#]*)';
					var results = new RegExp(regexStr, 'i').exec(window.location.href);
					return results != undefined ? decodeURIComponent(results[1]) : false;
				};

				for (var i = 0; i < allInputs.length; i++) {
					var regexStr = "field\\[(\\d+)\\]";
					var results = new RegExp(regexStr).exec(allInputs[i].name);
					if (results != undefined) {
					allInputs[i].dataset.name = window.cfields[results[1]];
					} else {
					allInputs[i].dataset.name = allInputs[i].name;
					}
					var fieldVal = getUrlParam(allInputs[i].dataset.name);

					if (fieldVal) {
							if (allInputs[i].dataset.autofill === "false") {
								continue;
							}
					if (allInputs[i].type == "radio" || allInputs[i].type == "checkbox") {
						if (allInputs[i].value == fieldVal) {
						allInputs[i].checked = true;
						}
					} else {
						allInputs[i].value = fieldVal;
					}
					}
				}

				var remove_tooltips = function() {
					for (var i = 0; i < tooltips.length; i++) {
					tooltips[i].tip.parentNode.removeChild(tooltips[i].tip);
					}
					tooltips = [];
				};
				var remove_tooltip = function(elem) {
					for (var i = 0; i < tooltips.length; i++) {
					if (tooltips[i].elem === elem) {
						tooltips[i].tip.parentNode.removeChild(tooltips[i].tip);
						tooltips.splice(i, 1);
						return;
					}
					}
				};
				var create_tooltip = function(elem, text) {
					var tooltip = document.createElement('div'), arrow = document.createElement('div'), inner = document.createElement('div'), new_tooltip = {};
					if (elem.type != 'radio' && elem.type != 'checkbox') {
					tooltip.className = '_error';
					arrow.className = '_error-arrow';
					inner.className = '_error-inner';
					inner.innerHTML = text;
					tooltip.appendChild(arrow);
					tooltip.appendChild(inner);
					elem.parentNode.appendChild(tooltip);
					} else {
					tooltip.className = '_error-inner _no_arrow';
					tooltip.innerHTML = text;
					elem.parentNode.insertBefore(tooltip, elem);
					new_tooltip.no_arrow = true;
					}
					new_tooltip.tip = tooltip;
					new_tooltip.elem = elem;
					tooltips.push(new_tooltip);
					return new_tooltip;
				};
				var resize_tooltip = function(tooltip) {
					var rect = tooltip.elem.getBoundingClientRect();
					var doc = document.documentElement, scrollPosition = rect.top - ((window.pageYOffset || doc.scrollTop)  - (doc.clientTop || 0));
					if (scrollPosition < 40) {
					tooltip.tip.className = tooltip.tip.className.replace(/ ?(_above|_below) ?/g, '') + ' _below';
					} else {
					tooltip.tip.className = tooltip.tip.className.replace(/ ?(_above|_below) ?/g, '') + ' _above';
					}
				};
				var resize_tooltips = function() {
					if (_removed) return;
					for (var i = 0; i < tooltips.length; i++) {
					if (!tooltips[i].no_arrow) resize_tooltip(tooltips[i]);
					}
				};
				var validate_field = function(elem, remove) {
					var tooltip = null, value = elem.value, no_error = true;
					remove ? remove_tooltip(elem) : false;
					if (elem.type != 'checkbox') elem.className = elem.className.replace(/ ?_has_error ?/g, '');
					if (elem.getAttribute('required') !== null) {
					if (elem.type == 'radio' || (elem.type == 'checkbox' && /any/.test(elem.className))) {
						var elems = form_to_submit.elements[elem.name];
						if (!(elems instanceof NodeList || elems instanceof HTMLCollection) || elems.length <= 1) {
						no_error = elem.checked;
						}
						else {
						no_error = false;
						for (var i = 0; i < elems.length; i++) {
							if (elems[i].checked) no_error = true;
						}
						}
						if (!no_error) {
						tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "Please select an option.");
						}
					} else if (elem.type =='checkbox') {
						var elems = form_to_submit.elements[elem.name], found = false, err = [];
						no_error = true;
						for (var i = 0; i < elems.length; i++) {
						if (elems[i].getAttribute('required') === null) continue;
						if (!found && elems[i] !== elem) return true;
						found = true;
						elems[i].className = elems[i].className.replace(/ ?_has_error ?/g, '');
						if (!elems[i].checked) {
							no_error = false;
							elems[i].className = elems[i].className + ' _has_error';
							err.push("Checking %s is required".replace("%s", elems[i].value));
						}
						}
						if (!no_error) {
						tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, err.join('<br/>'));
						}
					} else if (elem.tagName == 'SELECT') {
						var selected = true;
						if (elem.multiple) {
						selected = false;
						for (var i = 0; i < elem.options.length; i++) {
							if (elem.options[i].selected) {
							selected = true;
							break;
							}
						}
						} else {
						for (var i = 0; i < elem.options.length; i++) {
							if (elem.options[i].selected && !elem.options[i].value) {
							selected = false;
							}
						}
						}
						if (!selected) {
						elem.className = elem.className + ' _has_error';
						no_error = false;
						tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "Please select an option.");
						}
					} else if (value === undefined || value === null || value === '') {
						elem.className = elem.className + ' _has_error';
						no_error = false;
						tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "This field is required.");
					}
					}
					if (no_error && elem.name == 'email') {
					if (!value.match(/^[\+_a-z0-9-'&=]+(\.[\+_a-z0-9-']+)*@[a-z0-9-]+(\.[a-z0-9-]+)*(\.[a-z]{2,})$/i)) {
						elem.className = elem.className + ' _has_error';
						no_error = false;
						tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "Enter a valid email address.");
					}
					}
					if (no_error && /date_field/.test(elem.className)) {
					if (!value.match(/^\d\d\d\d-\d\d-\d\d$/)) {
						elem.className = elem.className + ' _has_error';
						no_error = false;
						tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "Enter a valid date.");
					}
					}
					tooltip ? resize_tooltip(tooltip) : false;
					return no_error;
				};
				var needs_validate = function(el) {
					return el.name == 'email' || el.getAttribute('required') !== null;
				};
				var validate_form = function(e) {
					var err = form_to_submit.querySelector('._form_error'), no_error = true;
					if (!submitted) {
					submitted = true;
					for (var i = 0, len = allInputs.length; i < len; i++) {
						var input = allInputs[i];
						if (needs_validate(input)) {
						if (input.type == 'text') {
							addEvent(input, 'blur', function() {
							this.value = this.value.trim();
							validate_field(this, true);
							});
							addEvent(input, 'input', function() {
							validate_field(this, true);
							});
						} else if (input.type == 'radio' || input.type == 'checkbox') {
							(function(el) {
							var radios = form_to_submit.elements[el.name];
							for (var i = 0; i < radios.length; i++) {
								addEvent(radios[i], 'click', function() {
								validate_field(el, true);
								});
							}
							})(input);
						} else if (input.tagName == 'SELECT') {
							addEvent(input, 'change', function() {
							validate_field(this, true);
							});
						} else if (input.type == 'textarea'){
							addEvent(input, 'input', function() {
							validate_field(this, true);
							});
						}
						}
					}
					}
					remove_tooltips();
					for (var i = 0, len = allInputs.length; i < len; i++) {
					var elem = allInputs[i];
					if (needs_validate(elem)) {
						if (elem.tagName.toLowerCase() !== "select") {
						elem.value = elem.value.trim();
						}
						validate_field(elem) ? true : no_error = false;
					}
					}
					if (!no_error && e) {
					e.preventDefault();
					}
					resize_tooltips();
					return no_error;
				};
				addEvent(window, 'resize', resize_tooltips);
				addEvent(window, 'scroll', resize_tooltips);
				window._old_serialize = null;
				if (typeof serialize !== 'undefined') window._old_serialize = window.serialize;
				_load_script("//d3rxaij56vjege.cloudfront.net/form-serialize/0.3/serialize.min.js", function() {
					window._form_serialize = window.serialize;
					if (window._old_serialize) window.serialize = window._old_serialize;
				});
				var form_submit = function(e) {
					e.preventDefault();
					if (validate_form()) {
					// use this trick to get the submit button & disable it using plain javascript
					document.querySelector('#_form_1_submit').disabled = true;
							var serialized = _form_serialize(document.getElementById('_form_1_'));
					var err = form_to_submit.querySelector('._form_error');
					err ? err.parentNode.removeChild(err) : false;
					_load_script('https://zenhabits.activehosted.com/proc.php?' + serialized + '&jsonp=true');
					}
					return false;
				};
				addEvent(form_to_submit, 'submit', form_submit);
				})();
			</script>
</div>
<div>
<h2>Join 2,000,000 breath-taking readers:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/zen_habits">Twitter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/OfficialZenHabits/">Facebook</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.patreon.com/zenhabits">Patreon</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<nav>
<div><ul><li><a href="https://zenhabits.net/uncopyright/">Uncopyright</a></li>
</ul></div> </nav>
</div>
</footer>
<script>
/* <![CDATA[ */
var php_data = {"ac_settings":{"tracking_actid":1000583938,"site_tracking_default":0,"site_tracking":1},"user_email":""};
/* ]]> */
</script>
<script src="https://zenhabits.net/wp-content/plugins/activecampaign-subscription-forms/site_tracking.js?ver=5.7.2"></script>
<script src="https://zenhabits.net/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js?ver=5.7.2"></script>

</body></html>

computerscience

Computer Science

product

Product & Design

<ul><li><a href="https://zenhabits.net/training/">training </a> </li><li><a href="https://zenhabits.net/books/">books </a> </li><li><a href="https://zenhabits.net/about/">about </a> </li><li><a href="https://zenhabits.net/archives/">Archives </a> </li> </ul>

Getting Good at Just Starting a Difficult Task

<p>The tendency to put off difficult tasks that we don’t want to face is almost universal. </p>

<p>And it turns out, the moment of starting a task is often so much harder than actually doing the task. </p>

<p>Once we get started, there can be challenges (and we will want to switch to something else) … but if we can just start, then half the battle is already won. </p>

<p>So getting good at starting something tough can be a powerful skill to master. </p>

<p>Let’s talk about how to master it. </p>

<p>Why is it so hard to start? We feel uncertainty, fear, stress, overwhelm about the task. Or it makes us feel bad about ourselves, inadequate in some way. </p>

<p>It’s like opening a box that you know is goig to cause you pain — <em>of course </em>you’d put off opening the box! We want to protect ourselves from that kind of stress. </p>

<p>We can force ourselves to touch the electric fence, but that can only last for so long. We only want to put ourselves through so much pain before we start to question why we’re making ourselves suffer. </p>

<p>The opportunity is in finding a new way of seeing these tasks — instead of filled with overwhelm, stress and inadequacy … can we find a more powerful way of seeing the uncertainty of this task? Can it be an opportunity, an adventure, a playground, an expression of our art? Can it be a dance of joy, a powerful way to serve others with love? </p>

<p>Find that for yourself. What is the opportunity of this task? What would make it meaningful and joyful? </p>

<p>Connect to that before you start, and things will get easier. </p>

<p>Once you’ve taken a look at how you’re viewing the task, and find a new way to view it … you’re ready to train yourself at starting! </p>

<ol><li><strong>Pick a task that’s important/meaningful, but that you’ve been putting off </strong>. Usually it’s easy to find one. Look at your list, think about what you’ve been avoiding. Pick one, even if it’s a fairly random choice, it doesn’t matter. </li><li><strong>Find a way to make it meaningful & joyful </strong>. How can you view this task so that it serves others, that it’s an adventure or play, that it feels powerful opportunity? Even just a little bit is good. Connect to that. </li><li><strong>Shrink down the task </strong>. YOu don’t have to do the whole thing. Just a bit of it. For example, instead of having to write this whole blog post, I can focus on just writing the first few paragraphs. This will help lower resistance, because </li><li><strong>Clear everything away </strong>. Close your browser, disconnect your phone, close applications. Remove distractions. Give yourself the gift of simplicity. </li><li><strong>Dive in joyfully </strong>. You only need to start. You can work on staying with the task later. Just start! See it as a dance, a way to serve, a way to bring the full vitality of your being! Pour yourself in. </li> </ol>

<p>Appreciate this act of starting. It’s delicious and profound. </p>

<p>An amazing way to practice this is to set yourself a challenge to do this once a day, 5 days a week, for a month. </p>

<p>By doing it just once a day, you’ll relieve yourself of the pressure of trying to do it all day long. You can be deliberate about it and find a way of viewing the task that feels powerful and joyful. </p>

<p>By doing it most days in the week, for a month, you will get better at it quickly. </p>

<ol><li><strong>Keep a simple journal </strong>. Write down things that help and things that don’t help. Use it as a learning log. </li><li><strong>Do a short review every week </strong>. I recommend having people you report to, so that you’re sharing it with others, like an accountability group. </li><li><strong>Do it with others if it helps </strong>. That means you might meet someone on Zoom once a day where you each tackle the things that you’ve been putting off. It gives you the little push you need to start. </li><li><strong>Enjoy the practice </strong>! Don’t make this a sacrifice, another burden in your life. Make it a playful, joyful adventure. Something that feels meaningful and delicious. </li> </ol>

<p>I also highly recommend my <a href="https://fearless.zenhabits.net/">Fearless Training Program </a>, where we work on this together. </p>

<p><span>Previous post: </span><br><a href="https://zenhabits.net/trustable/">Becoming Trustable </a> </p>

<p><span>Next post: </span><br><a href="https://zenhabits.net/delight/">Delight in Uncertainty </a> </p>

Life-changing training programs and live experiences

<p>Transformation,<br>one change at a time </p>

<p>Free Live Masterclass<br>Getting Your One Thing Done </p>

<ul><li><a href="https://twitter.com/zen_habits">Twitter </a> </li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/OfficialZenHabits/">Facebook </a> </li><li><a href="https://www.patreon.com/zenhabits">Patreon </a> </li> </ul>

<ul><li><a href="https://zenhabits.net/uncopyright/">Uncopyright </a> </li> </ul>

Getting Good at Just Starting a Difficult Task - zen habits

Starting A Difficult Task

Start The Shift And Accomplish The Difficult Task

The Art Of The Start

Miles 's ideas are part of this journey:

Related collections

Similar ideas