Don't Overplan. Just Start and Figure It Out As You Go

Sometimes I think planning is one of our most highly sophisticated procrastination techniques. 

I'm not anti-planning by any stretch. Megan and I are big time planners on every aspect of life for the most part. We're probably thrown off more when things are not part of "the plan." 

It's great to know where you want to go and how you're going to get there. That's what planning is. 

Planning is not meant to put off doing the work. 

I think it can be an easy trap to find yourself in a situation of not doing anything. It could be because you want to have every detail figured out before you take the first step. You want to make sure that first step is the right step. That you aren't making a mistake. That you're on the path that you are meant to go on. 

I think that's great. Thoughtful decisions are the best kind of decisions. 

However, there are times where you need to (as one of my friends has told me): "either crap or get off the pot."

Instead of contemplation, just do something. Anything. Sometimes the act of doing helps you figure out where you want to go. 

Not sure what you want to do with your life job-wise? Don't wait for the perfect situation. Just find something and go for it. I've been at jobs that weren't part of my ideal scenario but I learned a lot about what I liked/didn't like and discovered some strengths along the way. Plus, I've found that mortgage and utility companies don't really care if I've reached self actualization at work yet. 

Wanting to start a blog but not sure what to write about? Just start writing something. Anything. Anyone who has followed this blog for an extended period of time knows that this site has taken a few pivots content-wise over the years. 

Wanting to start running but not sure about running workouts? Just start jogging. Run until you get tired, go a little further, then stop. Rinse. Repeat. You may find some routes you like better along the way. 

The list could go on. I think the thing is that you have the freedom to not have it all figured out before you take the first step. You have freedom to pivot. To make mistakes. To learn from them. To me, knowing that is liberating once it really sets in that it's okay to change courses over time. 

If you wait to long to make a decision, what may have been a great opportunity may pass you by because it wasn't "the perfect thing" that you had built up in your mind. 

Don't dwell too long on decisions. Just start something. You'll figure out the rest on the way.

I know I still am.