When working on a new project how do you overcome self-doubt and fear?
"Somebody has to do it; why not you?"
The question "Why not you?" (or "Why not me?" which was the title of Mindy Kaling's book) has an air of teasing or inevitability. Art will be created, books will be written, jobs will be filled, and all of these things deserve to have you at least try for them. I understand the fear and the feeling of impostor syndrome. I didn't call myself a writer for years! But the worst thing that could happen is maybe somebody doesn't respond positively to your work. So? Don't focus on the two people who just unsubscribed from your newsletter/left you a bad review/ignored your last Instagram post. Focus on the millions more who can find and fall in love with your work.
What are your top three tips for dealing with procrastination?
1. Steal 15 minutes. If you're feeling unmotivated and that's turning into procrastination, give yourself—and yes, I said "give yourself," not "force yourself"—15 minutes. Set a timer on your phone or microwave or Moosti.com for 15 minutes and then type, break down your to-do list, or knock off one tiny item related to your project. Something about the ticking clock always gets me going.
2. Don't do it. Seriously, what would happen if you just didn't do whatever you're procrastinating doing? Think about it for a second. Now if the idea of not doing it gives you that itchy uh-oh feeling or you hear a little voice screaming, "No, no, you must!" then I have some good news for you: you have to do it! And if the idea of not doing it makes you shrug and go "meh, that's fine, I can live without it," then maybe it's an idea you need to let go of. Perhaps this was a leftover project or task from a previous version of yourself and you're procrastinating because it simply doesn't interest you anymore. That's OK! Give yourself permission to move on and let something new and better into your life.
3. Text a friend. So simple, but it actually works. A few weeks ago, I was majorly procrastinating editing a story that was overdue. I texted a friend this message: "I need to finish editing this piece by the end of today, and I will text you when I'm done!" This was to hold myself accountable and to send a little flare to someone else about my priority for that day. And sure enough, I edited the piece! Honestly, having to text her later and say, "Well, I didn't do it...again" would have been embarrassing. So I guess I gently shamed the procrastination right out of myself!
There are all sorts of tips and tricks you can try to focus more and cure procrastination, but I also want to share one fundamental belief I have about working that has given me comfort during this hard year: feel good about the progress you've already made, and believe that there is a lot more where that came from. Because there is.
