That Thing You're Avoiding? It's Secretly Exhausting You
Let's talk about that kitchen drawer you keep meaning to organize. Or that email sitting in your drafts folder. Or maybe it's that quick phone call you've been putting off for... three weeks now?
Here's the thing: that tiny task you're avoiding? It's quietly draining your battery in the background, like those 47 browser tabs you forgot were open.
Your Brain is a Terrible Storage Unit
Think about it – every time you walk past that cluttered drawer, your brain whispers, "Hey, remember that thing you need to do?" And you whisper back, "Not now, brain. I'm busy." But your brain doesn't actually let it go. It keeps that task running in the background, eating up precious mental energy.
It's like carrying around a backpack full of pebbles. Each undone task is just a tiny stone, but by the end of the day? You're wondering why your shoulders hurt.
Here's what's really happening when you procrastinate on the small stuff:
- The Mental Ping-Pong: Your brain keeps bouncing between "I should do this" and "I'll do it later" – exhausting!
- The Restart Tax: When you finally do the task, you waste energy remembering what it was, why it mattered, and how to begin
- The Guilt Hangover: That nagging feeling follows you around like a needy pet, constantly tugging at your attention
Why Your Future Self Will Thank You
Remember the last time you finally crossed off something that had been haunting your to-do list for ages? That rush of relief? That surge of "I can conquer the world" energy?
That's not just in your head. Completing small tasks creates real momentum. It's like dominoes – knock one down, and suddenly you're on a roll.
When you tackle that annoying little task:
- You free up mental RAM for the stuff that actually matters
- You build trust with yourself (yes, that's a thing)
- You create energy instead of draining it
Your "Just Do It Already" Game Plan
Ready to reclaim your energy? Let's turn that mountain of "I'll do it laters" into "Done and dusted."
Step 1: The Brain Dump
Grab a piece of paper (yes, actual paper) and write down every single tiny task that's been nagging at you. Don't judge, just dump. That weird email you need to send? Write it down. The button that needs sewing? On the list it goes.
Step 2: The Two-Minute Rule
Circle anything that would take less than two minutes. These are your quick wins. Set a timer and knock out as many as you can in 20 minutes. It's like a productivity sprint, but fun.
Step 3: Calendar, Don't Contemplate
For tasks that need more than two minutes, don't just hope you'll feel like doing them someday. Give them a real date and time in your calendar. Treat them like appointments with a very important person (spoiler: that's you).
The Bottom Line
Those small tasks you're avoiding aren't going anywhere. They're just sitting there, slowly sipping your energy through a tiny straw. But here's the beautiful truth: you can get that energy back, starting right now.
Pick one thing – just one small thing – and do it today. Not tomorrow. Not "later." Today.
Your future self is already doing a happy dance.
P.S. - Want some accountability or need someone to cheer you on? Drop me a line and tell me what task you're finally tackling. I love a good "I finally did the thing!" story. Seriously, they make my day.
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