How To Start Something New in 5 Simple Steps

You know that burst of excitement when you’re about to start something new? You’re fired up and ready to dive in. You might even get started, going strong until you hit a snag. But at some point, reality kicks in — you realize how long it could take to make the change or get where you want to go. 

If you’re like me, right about then, you may notice your excitement fade and frustration set in. The toddler part of your brain wants results right now, and the thought of waiting feels unbearable. Instead of taking the next step, your brain whispers, “Let’s get to it later. It’ll take too long right now.”

Sound familiar? 

I thought it might. As mentioned, my brain loves to do this, too. But here’s an annoying truth—are you ready for it?

The time is going to pass anyway. (I know, I told you it’s annoying.) But seriously, it’s true. It may take time to reach that goal, build that habit, or make that change, but the time will pass regardless.

So why not start now?

If you’ve ever found yourself avoiding something you genuinely want to do because your brain says, “It’ll take too long,” you’re in the right place.

We’re exploring the topic in depth throughout episode 271 of the I’m Busy Being Awesome podcast, and I think you might love it.

In Episode 271: You Will Discover:

• Why starting now—no matter how small—builds momentum
• How to shift your focus from the outcome to the process
• 5 simple strategies to start something new and overcome the “it’ll take too long” mindset

You can listen to the episode above or stream it on your favorite podcasting app here.

Prefer to read? No problem! Keep scrolling for a summary of the key takeaways.

Episode #271: How To Start Something New in 5 Simple Steps (Transcript)

Today, we’re diving into one of those mindsets that keeps so many of us stuck: the belief that it will take too long to make a change or reach our goals. You know the one I’m talking about, right?

The feeling that because something will take time, it’s almost not worth starting. But here’s the truth: the time is going to pass anyway.

There’s a Chinese proverb that I love — perhaps you’ve heard it before — but I want to offer it as a reminder at the top of this episode.

‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.’

This couldn’t be more relevant to what we’re talking about today. Because whether we start that new habit, project, or goal today or not, the days, weeks, and months will keep moving forward. And when we look back, we’ll either see progress or wish we’d started sooner.

The Reality of Passing Time

Now, here’s something I hear all the time from people who are just starting to make real changes in their lives.

They realize that transformation takes time. It takes repetition. It takes iteration.

These are all the things I talk about over and over again on this podcast because they matter so much for anyone who’s working with their ADHD brain—or really anyone who’s trying to create lasting change.

The reality is, we can’t snap our fingers and expect things to be different overnight. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth starting. Quite the opposite!

Starting today, even with the smallest step, is what builds momentum and leads to those lasting changes.

We’re currently heading into the final quarter of the year. Now, I know a lot of us start thinking about everything we haven’t done yet, and it can feel overwhelming, like we’re running out of time.

But I want to flip that perspective.

Instead of seeing this time as the end of the year, I see it as the perfect time to get started. Think about it—imagine the momentum you could build between now and January. Instead of waiting for the new year to make things happen, you can start creating traction right now.

And by the time the new year rolls around, you’ll already be ahead!

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Before we dive into today’s examples, I want to take a quick moment to say something for those of you listening outside of real-time. If you’re hearing this after the new year or at a different point in the year, don’t think you need to skip this episode. Even though I’m using the new year as a reference point, simply think three months ahead from where you are now. The concept still applies—whether it’s the start of a new year, a new quarter, or even just a random Tuesday.

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One more important note before we get started…

This episode is not about… pushing yourself past your capacity or hustling through things just for the sake of it. We all have plenty on our plates, so please hear me when I say that this is not an invitation to overwhelm your brain or your nervous system with more to do, more to achieve, more to check off the list. 

Also, this isn’t an episode to use against yourself for something that feels like an intellectual yes but isn’t a full-body yes. If you’re new to that concept, I highly recommend popping back to Episode #172: Procrastination, ADHD, And The Intellectual Yes, where we dig into it more.

Essentially, a full-body yes is when something doesn’t just make sense in your head—it feels right in your entire body. You feel aligned with the decision, both mentally and emotionally.

If this is something you genuinely want to do but you’ve been reluctant to get started because you know it’s going to take time—and you kind of just want it to happen faster—that’s exactly what I’m talking about today.

And if you’re like me, I’m willing to bet that you’ve got at least three or four areas that pop into your mind when you stop and think about it.

Let’s break this down with a few examples.

Examples of Things You Could Get Started On

Scenario 1: Reaching Your Q4 Goals in Business 

Maybe you set some big goals for your business this year, and here we are in the fourth quarter, and you’re not quite where you thought you’d be.

Maybe you had plans to grow your client base, hit certain revenue milestones, or launch a new product, but things didn’t quite go as expected. Now, you might think that it’s too late—that the year is nearly over, and what’s the point?

But let me tell you, that doesn’t mean anything about what’s still possible.

You’ve still got plenty of time to lean in if you want to. You could make more progress in these next three months than you think. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

Focus on small actions, whether that’s:

• Streamlining your processes
• Reaching out to potential clients
• Revisiting a launch plan

… you could see a lot of movement by the time the year wraps up.

There’s so much opportunity ahead if you want to take it.

Scenario 2: Learning a New Skill 

Maybe you’ve been thinking about learning something new—whether it’s an instrument, painting, coding, or even cooking. And maybe your brain is telling you, ‘I don’t have time for this. It’ll take too long to get good at it.’

Here’s the thing: what if you committed just 10 or 15 minutes a day? That might seem insignificant, but by the end of the year, that adds up. You’d have already put in hours of practice. 

Since I have a background in music, this one seems especially true in my mind. If you practice your scales or simply pick up your instrument and play it for 10 or 15 minutes a day, you’d end up with at least 15 hours of focused time. That is a significant amount of time. Plus, you’d not only have progress under your belt, but you’d also have built a habit, making it easier to keep going.

Scenario 3: Starting a Routine 

Speaking of which, let’s talk about routines.

Maybe you’ve been wanting to:

• Establish a morning routine
• Get into a workout habit
• Start a daily journaling practice

…but every time you try to start, it seems too overwhelming—like there’s too much to do, and it’s going to take too long to see results.

How to Overcome the Mindet of ‘it will take too long’

Let’s dive into how we overcome this mindset of ‘it’s going to take too long’—because I know it’s something that holds a lot of us back.

We think about how much time it’s going to take to get where we want to go, and the brain immediately shuts down, overwhelmed by the enormity of it all. But here’s the thing: we don’t need to focus on the whole journey right now. We just need to start small.

1. Start Small 

I talk about this concept all the time—taking baby steps. And I know some of you might roll your eyes at that because, trust me, I get it.

When you’re someone with big ideas and grand visions, it’s easy to dismiss the idea of starting small. But here’s the reality: small steps add up. One tiny action today can lead to another tomorrow, and before you know it, you’ve built real momentum.

Think about it like climbing a mountain. You don’t get to the top by looking at the peak the entire time and worrying about how far away it is. You get there by focusing on each step you take, one after the other.

Maybe today, it’s researching one thing for your business. Maybe tomorrow, it’s setting aside 10 minutes to practice a new skill. It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be something. The key is movement.

2. Focus on the Process

And here’s where we make that shift from being outcome-focused to process-focused. I know it’s tempting to only think about where we want to be—especially when it feels like we’re so far from the goal.

However, when we shift our focus to the process, we create space for showing up to the goal and for letting the momentum build over time.

Think about the last time you started something and kept at it.

Even if you didn’t see big changes right away, each day you showed up, you were building momentum. You were creating a foundation. And that foundation is what allows for bigger progress later on. It’s like when you’re building a house—you start with a solid foundation before you add the walls and the roof. It might feel slow at first, but every brick you lay is moving you closer to that finished structure.

So instead of focusing on the end result—on how long it’s going to take—focus on what you can do today. Focus on showing up, taking that small step, and trusting that the momentum will come with time.

3. Act as the Person You Want to Become 

Here’s the fun part—this is where we get to start embodying the identity of the person we want to become right now.

I love this concept because it shifts us out of the waiting game and into action. You don’t have to wait until you’ve hit the milestone or achieved the goal to start being that person. You can start acting as that version of yourself today.

Ask yourself,

• What would the version of me who’s already reached this goal do?
• How would they think?
• What small actions would they take?

Maybe they would prioritize their time differently. Maybe they’d spend a little time each day on their goal. Maybe they’d stop doubting themselves so much and just start.

When we start embodying that identity today—whether it’s as a business owner, a creative, someone with a strong routine, whatever it is—we create alignment between where we are now and where we want to be. And that alignment helps us stay stick with it, even when things feel hard or slow.

Here’s the truth: You’re not just working toward becoming that person—you are that person. Every action you take today is evidence of that. And when you start seeing yourself that way, it becomes easier to keep moving forward, no matter how long the journey seems.

5 Practical Steps to Get Started On Something New

Alright, so we’ve talked about shifting our mindset and focusing on the process, but now it’s time to get practical. How do we actually take these ideas and put them into action? I’ve got five steps to help you get started today, and I want you to really lean into these as we enter the fourth quarter.

Action 1: Identify Your ‘Tree to Plant’ 

First things first, let’s figure out what your ‘tree’ is.

What’s that thing you’ve been putting off because it feels like it’s going to take too long?

Maybe it’s…

• A goal you’ve been meaning to work on all year but haven’t touched
• Something new that’s been on your mind for a while
• A personal project that feels too overwhelming to even start

Whatever it is, I want you to pinpoint it.

And remember, this doesn’t have to be something massive. It could be anything that feels important to you but has been pushed aside because of that ‘it’s going to take too long’ mindset. And since we’re in the fourth quarter, this is the perfect time to start.

Think about:

• Where you want to be by the end of the year
• What progress you could make if you planted that tree today.

Action 2: Break It Down 

Once you’ve identified your tree, it’s time to break it down.

I know I talk about this all the time, but that’s because it’s crucial for making progress, especially for ADHD brains.

Take your big goal and break it into smaller, manageable steps.

If your goal is to launch a business, what’s the first step? Is it creating a website? If you’re learning a new skill, maybe the first step is dedicating 10 minutes a day to practice.

The idea is to take that big, overwhelming goal and make it bite-sized. Because when we break it down, we make it less scary and more doable. It also helps you build momentum, which—as we know—is the key to sticking with something.

Action 3: Make Room For This Activity 

Now, let’s talk about making time for this goal, habit, or project.

We all know how easy it is to get caught up in the whirlwind of daily life, and before we know it, weeks or even months pass by without any real progress toward what we want. That’s why it’s so important to intentionally make room for this activity.

This doesn’t mean you have to overhaul your entire schedule or block out huge chunks of time every day.

In fact, I’m all about starting small here, too.

Maybe you carve out 10 or 15 minutes in the morning or at the end of your workday. Or maybe it’s something you do once a week on a Saturday afternoon. The key is finding a way to make room for it in your life.

Action 4: Set a Start Date

Spoiler alert—the start date is today!

I invite you to lean in and consider taking that first step today. Not next week, not next month. Today.

Use this Q4 energy as your reason to get going. Whether it’s researching your next move, blocking time in your calendar, or sending that first email, make today the day you take action.

There’s something powerful about starting now. It takes away the pressure of waiting for the ‘perfect time,’ and it helps you avoid getting stuck in the waiting game. Plus, once you’ve taken that first step, it’s easier to keep the momentum going.

Action 5: Reflect and Adjust 

Finally, and this is a big one—reflect and adjust. No plan is ever perfect, and things aren’t always going to go smoothly. That’s okay.

What matters is that you start, and then as you go, you can reflect on what’s working and what’s not.

Maybe you’ll need to tweak your routine or adjust your approach. That’s part of the process.

What’s important is that you don’t let perfectionism or fear of failure stop you. As always, this is about progress, not perfection. And sometimes progress means trying something, reflecting, and then adjusting as you move forward.

So, take a deep breath, identify your tree, break it down into steps, make time, and start today. The time is going to pass anyway—why not make the most of it?

Final Thoughts & Fourth Quarter Momentum

Again, we’re in the fourth quarter of the year, which is often when we start reflecting on what we have (and haven’t) done. But instead of seeing this time as the ‘end’ of the year, I invite you to see it as an opportunity to jumpstart the next phase.

What if you started today?

Picture yourself at the beginning of January. If you take action now, by then, you’ll already have traction.

You’ll have created momentum to carry you into the new year with confidence and progress. Fourth quarter is such an incredibly opportunity to lean in, take small steps, and build that forward momentum so that when the new year comes, you’re not starting from zero—you’re already ahead.

Visualize This…

Imagine yourself standing at the start of the new year.

You’re looking back at these last few months, and instead of feeling stuck or wishing you had started, you see that you’ve already made progress. You’ve already taken steps toward your goal, and now you have something to build on.

What’s one thing you’ve been putting off because you thought it would take too long? Try identifying one thing right now.

Whatever it is—whether it’s a personal goal, a professional one, a new routine, whatever—let’s make it happen.

You don’t have to wait until January to get started. The time is going to pass anyway, so why not use it to build traction and momentum? Why not make these last few months count and set yourself up for success?

👉 Want to work together and learn proven ADHD strategies that work best for you as you design your unique tool kit? I’d love to connect. Now is the time. Learn more about how we can work together with my small group coaching program, “We’re Busy Being Awesome,” and one-on-one coaching.

Reminder… ‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.’

So let’s plant that tree. Let’s start building momentum, and let’s make things happen.

Links From The Podcast

• Learn more about both 1:1 and small group coaching with Paula here 
• Get the top 10 tips to work with your ADHD brain (free ebook!)
• Discover my favorite ADHD resources here
• Get the I’m Busy Being Awesome Planning System here
• Get the Podcast Roadmap here
• Get the ADHD Routine Revamp here