Inertia, Motivation & Good Questions

Sometimes I find myself in a loop. It seems to happen way more during the pandemic.

In these loops, I’m not doing what I actually want to be doing, but I’m stuck in a ‘good enough’ rut. Like watching Netflix. Or over-researching. Or watching 472 YouTube videos to pick out some new camera bag.

Getting started on the things I WANT can be hard for me. For lots of us.

As soon as my brain interrupts the loop long enough for that insight, I try my best to ask myself a question:

What’s one, easy thing that I can do to make my life better, right this second?

For me, it’s often turning on music. Sometimes tea. Sometimes getting outside.

All of those are easy enough to do. Sometimes, I don’t even have to stand up. Thank you sonos.

The small step in the right direction breaks the inerita and, at least 60% of the time, fundamentally breaks me out of the loop.

I chalk that up to the power of good questions.

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PS — I asked myself that just now. When I asked the question, I stood up and turned on some music. Realized I should really do some laundry. And while walking down to the washing machine, I came up with the idea for this post. Now, I’m going to head out the door on a walk and strategize about the day before me.

Pattern interrupts work.