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Daisy Simon posted an update
1. Shrink the task to something embarrassingly small
Don’t “write the article.” Just open the doc. Type one sentence. Lower the bar until it feels impossible to resist.2. Use the 5-Minute Start Rule
Tell yourself you’re only working for 5 minutes. Momentum usually takes over once you begin.3. Make the first step friction-free
Set up your space: open tabs, gather notes, close distractions. Make starting smooth, not heroic.4. Identify the real block
Are you overwhelmed? Afraid it won’t be perfect? Stuck because you don’t know the first step? Naming the emotion dissolves half of it.5. Do a “brain dump” first
If your mind is cluttered, spend 3 minutes writing everything you’re thinking or worrying about. It clears mental fog.6. Set a ridiculously small time box
Work for 10 minutes, then stop. Counterintuitively, brief sprints make you want to continue.7. Remove one distraction on purpose
Not all — just one. Put your phone in another room or block one app. Micro-discipline works better than full discipline.8. Pair the task with a reward
Finish the first step → get a treat (coffee, a break, a walk). Your brain loves immediate rewards, not delayed ones.9. Make it public (lightly)
Tell a friend, “I’m starting this in the next 10 minutes.” Accountability pushes you into motion.10. Don’t wait to feel motivated
Start while unmotivated. Motivation is a result of action, not the cause.
