How To Take Action: 5 Ways To Go From Planning To Doing
Planning, a form of procrastination? I thought it was a productivity tool! In today’s world, there’s an overwhelming amount of information at our fingertips. We have access to more data than we know what to do with, which leads to many questions and a ton of research. As a result, we spend so much time figuring out how to take action that we lose sight of the ultimate goal: moving from point A to point B.
How to take action
Planning is one of the best productivity tools we have. Although, it can be a form of procrastination when excessive. Most of us plan and plan but don’t implement enough. Execution takes courage and persistence. It’s easy to find yourself in that perfectionist bubble—wanting everything to be flawless before taking the first step. However, life is never perfect, and time lost is gone forever. Spending more time composing a plan than putting it into action is dangerous. It convinces you that you’re productive when you’re actually deferring getting started. When you take action, you see the value in your efforts and understand the importance of getting things done.
Going from planning to doing
Preparation is only the beginning. Once you’ve laid the groundwork, here are five tips to help you to take action:
- Be realistic. We cannot escape the inevitable. The future is coming whether you are ready for it or not. You allow precious time to slip through your fingers when you choose to put things off. Instead, use that time to prepare for the life ahead. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. So what are you waiting on?
- Just take the first step. Do something. Action creates momentum. Taking the first step builds energy that empowers you to keep going and do more. There are many times when there is no blueprint; you are the first. “If you build it, they will come” is not just a great line from an iconic movie. So get started on your dreams. Do something to bring you closer to your goals.
- Put a time limit on your planning. It’s excellent to have a plan. Yet, you shouldn’t spend more time thinking about what you’re going to do than doing it. Planning is rewarding because it can make you feel like you’ve accomplished something. However, when you fail to limit your planning, you risk losing your most valuable commodity, time.
- Focus on your “Why.” Why are you pursuing this dream in the first place? What need does it meet? Focusing on your reason for doing something can help you get off the sidelines and get into the game.
- Always consider your future self. Whom do you want to be? How do they look, eat, and live? Learn to fight for your future self. Procrastination is a preoccupation with how you feel in the moment. A fulfilling life involves playing the long game. Make decisions today that will impact the future you want to live tomorrow.
A new plan
Someone once said that “procrastination is the thief of time.” Choose to design a life where you know how to take action in any situation. It’s time to move from procrastination to productivity. Don’t get stuck in the planning stage. Once you’ve determined your strategy, take action! Make changes later. Just get started! When you stop seeing only the obstacles in front of you and start seeing opportunities around every corner, you will be glad you did!
