Nothing happens without action.  It is almost a ridiculous statement isn’t it? Of course nothing happens without action. But not everyone moves into action. We see that all the time with family members, work colleagues and friends. There are several reasons why people don’t take action.

FIVE REASONS why people don’t get started

1. Procrastination is the most obvious one. The dictionary says procrastination is ‘to put off till another day or time; defer; delay’. In the self evaluation process of coaching we ask about 30 important questions. One of those is ‘do I have the habit of procrastination?’ Out of the 100’s people I’ve coached, only about 5 said NO. We soon found out though possibly that wasn’t the correct answer. Everyone procrastinates about something. Dishes, cleaning, tax, having that important but difficult conversation with someone. We procrastinate because we are rewarded in some way to put the task off till another time. The secret is to find out what that reward is and compare it to the reward of actually doing the task. The benefits of action are always greater in the long run than inaction. Being constantly reminded that we keep putting things off is like a power drain in our subconscious mind.

2. Not chunking down. Some tasks are too big. Take de-cluttering the house for example. Looking at the lounge, bedroom, study and garage can be overwhelming if you are a clutter or hoarder. Best to start small. Maybe the dining room table and keep that clear. Or the desk in the office. They say the best way to eat and elephant is one mouthful at a time. One great little trick I use is, to ensure the first step my clients take in achieving their goals is one that can be done in 24 to 48 hours. At least they are off the starting block.

3. Being double minded. A proverb says ‘A double minded person is unstable in all their ways’. If you are vacillating between two positions it debilitates you. Get off the fence. Take some action.

4. Indecision. What’s stopping you from making a decision to begin? Lack of clarity. Fear of failure. Some people are crippled by the fear of making a mistake. Especially if they are a perfectionist. ‘If it can’t be done perfectly then I won’t begin. I’d hate to be seen as a failure’. The failure is not in attempting, the failure is doing nothing. The best way of framing life is that there is no such thing as a failure only a learning experience. That takes the judgement out of it.

5. Analysis paralysis. It’s good to do your research. It’s good to analyse all options but some people get stuck in analysis paralysis because they spend endless hours going over and over the variety of options and researching. Move that thinking into action.

Make a decision, chunk down tasks, take action. Even a small step. Begin now or today.

Ever thought about having some professional coaching?  Take action and book a complimentary one hour consultation NOW. #DareToBeYourBest.