Getting better at starting new things
I’m not great at starting new things. I’d love to be someone who just does stuff but instead I have a tendency for overthinking, and a seriously annoying inner critic who has an endless list of why my latest ideas are either a waste of time or doomed to failure. Over the past year I’ve been trying to hack my brain to get better at diving into new projects and sustaining momentum. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.
Take the pressure off
There will be plenty of setbacks and moments of frustration but it pays to remember new things are supposed to feel hard. I don’t know why I expect to try something and immediately master it, avoiding all the feelings of discomfort. This is completely unrealistic. When you remind yourself of this, it relieves some pressure and the focus returns to the process rather than the outcome.
Let go of perfection
“I can do it perfectly next time” is a mantra that has helped to avoid losing momentum. If, like me, you have a tendency to focus on imperfections or relentlessly push yourself to do better, you can very quickly suck the joy out of a finished project. Learning something new is a process of incremental improvements.
Design your environment
Identifying what’s blocking you and making tweaks to your environment is a game changer when it comes to building a regular practice. Working on sewing projects used to mean carrying everything downstairs, taking over the back room, and packing everything back up at the end of a session. Setting up a permanent space in my office makes it easy to chip away at a project over time. It also sets me up perfectly for the next mental trick.
Just do the next small thing
When a project seems overwhelming, make a deal with yourself to just complete the next small step. It’s a great way to get you moving again. The next small thing (cutting out a pattern piece, writing one paragraph) is almost always less effort than you think. Breaking a project into tiny steps enables you to get into the flow of doing a few more things and before you know it, two hours have passed.
Don’t force it
If you’re getting tired, frustrated, or stuck, and a little persistence doesn’t get you past that feeling, do the opposite to the ‘next small thing’ trick. Stop what you’re doing and walk away. The more you associate working on a new thing with positive feelings, especially in the very early stages, the easier it’ll be to push through the frustration that comes with learning something new.
Set aside a regular time
As James Clear says in Atomic Habits, ‘habits form based on frequency, not time’. At first you’ll need to put some effort into working on your thing regularly, but after a few weeks it will become part of your routine. Having a regular block of time in your calendar acts as a reminder and represents a commitment to sticking with your new project.
Do it with other people
This isn’t about having an ‘accountability buddy’ to ensure you’re consistently working on your new thing. Other people can be your biggest cheerleaders. Join (or create) a group, work with a friend, take a class, or seek out a mentor. The right people not only offer practical advice and help, but they’re great at recognising and celebrating your progress and providing reassurance when your confidence wobbles.
Celebrate your wins
A powerful thing happens when you pause to acknowledge the small wins as you learn. You begin to understand that the real success is in all the tiny steps towards being able to do the thing well. Celebrate the first time you get something right or solve a problem you’ve been temporarily stuck on. I keep a list I can refer to when I need an injection of positivity. Prioritising progress over perfection will help you find more joy in the process.