25/06/2026
🌱 Waiting for Motivation? Try Action First. 🌱
I'm feeling rather pleased with myself today because I've finally planted out the last of my vegetables and plants grown from seed.
What's interesting is that, for whatever reason, I've found gardening much harder to get motivated for this year. Looking at trays of seedlings and jobs still to do seemed to require more effort than usual to get started.
So I used a strategy that I often share with clients: make the next step small enough to feel manageable.
Instead of focusing on everything that needed doing, I'd tell myself, "I'll just plant six."
Just six.
Once I'd started, something interesting happened. Six became ten. Ten became twenty. I'd often keep going far longer than I'd planned and achieve much more than I expected.
Neuroscience helps explain why. When a task feels too big, the brain can perceive it as a threat and encourage avoidance. Breaking it down into small, achievable steps reduces that sense of overwhelm and makes it easier to begin.
Then, every small action creates evidence of progress. The brain notices achievement, however modest, and rewards us with a little boost of feel-good neurochemicals. We feel more capable, more positive, and more motivated to continue.
In other words, motivation follows action, not the other way around.
I also celebrated each small step rather than focusing on what was left to do.
And now? the feeling is completely different.
Instead of seeing unfinished jobs, I'm looking forward to the rewards.
I already have tiny tomatoes and cucumbers forming on the plants that made it outside a few weeks ago.
So, whether it's gardening, exercise, work, or making changes in our lives, we don't always need to feel motivated before we start.
Sometimes we just need to take the smallest possible step.
Motivation catches up afterwards.
🌱 What's one thing you've been putting off that could be broken down into a smaller first step?
