Do What’s In Front of You

Stop reading advice articles (like this one) and just do something.

Photo by James Kovin on Unsplash

Let’s keep this one short.

We’re all guilty of procrastination. It’s an exceedingly widespread vice, and everyone from beggars to CEOs is prone to it. But why, though?

Everyone procrastinates for various reasons. Personally, I do it simply because I think too much. I tend to plan too far ahead, then worry about too many things before I even started. Then I end up starting too late, if at all.

Failing to plan is planning to fail, yes, but not starting is actually failing.

Don’t plan too far ahead. Don’t see too far down the road.

In the words of Karen Blixen (a.k.a Isak Dinesen):

“Perhaps he knew, as I did not, that the Earth was made round so that we would not see too far down the road.”

Take a quick glance at the horizon, then just walk toward it. The road will reveal itself with every step you take.

Often, the thing you need to do is right in front of you. And just as often, all the tools and knowledge you need to do that thing are already in you. There’s no need to overthink it. There’s no need to ruminate.

I’m saying this mostly for myself. But who knows, maybe you need to hear it too.

Now stop reading this article, and do something. Do anything.

Do what’s in front of you.