Life Advice: Getting Started Truly Is The Hardest Part
1/17/2025
There was a time in my life before this site, when I knew nothing about creating a webpage. There was a time in my life before I started to transition, and there was a time when I had never seen any episodes of any Gundam anime. I am a believer in the phrase "Getting started is the hardest part." It's rough out here to get new projects underway; life is full of distractions and reasons to delay. I'm not a psychologist, but this guy is, Peter Gollwitzer. At some point in middle school or so, I had come across something his research had concluded. Paraphrasing here, but the piece of advice was something like, "If you tell other people what you're starting on, you're less likely to finish." You may or may not agree with that, but ever since I've thought about the process of learning and doing new things differently.
I wouldn't dare suggest that I am the master of getting things done; we all have our moments of delay or triumph. But allow me to share some of my experience, just on the off chance it could help you out. If you want to read more stuff that Mr. Gollwitzer has said, I think there are a lot of great ideas in this summary.
#1 - Consider keeping your favorite ideas to yourself for a while.
Your mileage may vary, but that initial piece of advice I stumbled upon certainly applies to me. I would say this primarily applies to working on some new project that requires a new skill. I'm gonna use the word 'consider' here because I think it may vary from person to person. You may, say, be so motivated and believe in what you are doing that it actually does serve as a motivator. Maybe you're so excited about, say, some idea for a video, that you will push through and learn video and audio editing.
Now, supposedly, if you tell other people, "I'm going to make this video that will save the reputation of Bubsy 3D" or whatever, you may receive a premature sense of accomplishment. This is what would slow you down, as you get into the difficulty of picking up those new skills to make that happen.
Consider also the unnecessary pressure you put on yourself to deliver once you make some kind of announcement. Not to presume you'd be braggadocious, but why put that on your shoulders? If you're learning something new, you are a student and should be kind to yourself.
#2 - Take it slow.
There's no need to have something to show for your work and effort right away. Speaking on web design, I think just setting up your work environment and software is a big enough first step! Screw the code part, day one! Something like art seems very similar. You've gotta do some lines and basic shapes first. And then forever afterwards, from my understanding. Doing a little bit of something each day is something that works much better for me compared to long sessions. I often hear that can be true of, say, voice training.
Working on something new is a little change in your lifestyle, in my opinion. So treat it like that; make a small adjustment to whatever routines you may (or may not) have. If that seems difficult or doesn't mesh with your lifestyle, don't worry. You can miss a day, or a session. What's the rush if you haven't told anyone, and haven't worked up your anticipation? I don't write for this site every day. I'm actually fairly guilty of 'cram sessions' to finish certain articles. I allow myself the ~luxury~ of letting life, work, and leisure get in the way. I like doing weekly posts, but it's my site and I can do what I want. Likewise, it's your new hobby/pursuit/endeavor, so take it easy. That said...
#3 - If you feel inspired, act!
I haven't self-diagnosed with ADD/ADHD (yet), but I tend to enjoy floating between my activities. An hour ago I just injected. An hour before that, I think I was taking a nap and watching Vinny Vinesauce. The point is, I like my freedom to do whatever at a moment's notice, as long as my other responsibilities are forgiving. For me, then, I try to do something the sooner it crosses my mind. If I let it go, it becomes a simple, fleeting "Oh yeah, I should do that..." But holding onto that thought and putting other things down helps make it actionable. I imagine this is different for the more itinerary/planning-minded types among us. Right now, I'm thinking, "I'll feel really good if I get this mini article out, and take a small step towards the next." So, I'm trying to focus on that for a while. I'm sure "focus" is a scary word for some, I understand your mileage may vary; For me, if I'm really hunkering down, it's no notifications for Discord and some music that I won't have to change. In extreme measures, no music. Seriously, you'd have thought I'd never heard of a playlist with how often I alt-tab to YouTube...
Sometimes I'll need to make a real plan or appointment. I have yet to go to a makeup store like I've been meaning to. Going back to point #2 helps me digest the idea. I don't have to learn every single thing about prettying up my face that day, and I can give myself a comfortable budget. Hell, if I can't go out (I got quite sick!), let's study some videos and tutorials. That totally counts as doing a little bit each day! See how all this stuff works together?
None of these three things are ironclad rules. Especially when it comes to my transition, I am a huge yapper. Of course, I think that's helping me connect with others and myself, even if it might be affecting my day-to-day actions. It can be good to share your joys, goals, and victories. So, there are certainly benefits to breaking some of my suggestions.
Getting started is rough. Blank sheets of paper are scary. "How To Do XYZ Thing" can end up overloading you with information. But I'm sure you've got your own strategies! Whatever you want to do next, I believe you can do it. If any of my little strategies or thoughts could aid you, I'd consider it an honor.
See you next time!
- Jane