3 Tips to Get Yourself to Take Action
3 Tips to Get Yourself to Take Action
By Crystal Charles
You know you’ve got things to do so why aren’t you doing them!?
Maybe you’re waiting for motivation to strike. Maybe you’re tired. Maybe the thing on your to-do list feels overwhelming, annoying, or even a little scary. At the end of the day, that task is still staring you in the face!
Sound familiar?
Whether you’re a copywriter, a creative, or just someone trying to get stuff done, you’re not alone. The truth is, motivation is unreliable. It’s fleeting. Most of the time, it’s not going to show up when you need it most. So….. instead of waiting for the spark, let’s create a system that gets you moving on your terms.
I’m sharing 3 simple powerful tips to help you get yourself to take action! Even when you really don’t feel like it. These aren’t hacks for hyper-productivity. They’re tools to help you stop spinning your wheels and move forward.
Why Taking Action Matters
There’s no shortage of planners, tools, or inspirational quotes online.
None of it matters if you’re stuck in your own head. When we don’t take action, we pay the price. Deadlines get missed. Stress piles up. Confidence dips. Goals stay just out of reach.
The good news? Anything can be tackled in small manageable chunks.
“Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.” — William James
Research backs this up: checking off tasks releases dopamine (the brain’s “feel good” chemical) which reinforces progress and keeps momentum going (source). So, no matter how small, doing something matters more than doing it perfectly.
Tip #1: Do a Total Brain Dump
Get it out of your head and onto the page.
Before you can take action, you need to see what you’re working with. Sit down and do a total brain dump. Write down everything—and I mean everything—you’ve been meaning to do. Work stuff, home stuff, personal stuff. Don’t filter, don’t organize. Just dump it all out.
Why this works:
When your to-do list lives in your head, it grows into this vague, shapeless anxiety cloud. But when you see it on paper, it becomes something you can manage. You’re not just thinking about what you need to do—you’re seeing it. That shift alone can help you take the first step.
Tip #2: Ask Yourself “Why Aren’t I Doing This?”
Name the resistance. Then you can deal with it.
It’s easy to label yourself lazy or unmotivated, but those are surface-level stories. If you’re avoiding a task, it’s usually one of two things:
Fear: Forget Everything And Run!
Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of what happens next. “What if I mess this up?” “What if I succeed and can’t keep it up?” We don’t like to admit it, but fear keeps us stuck.
Task Avoidance:
Sometimes the task just isn’t enjoyable. Folding laundry. Taking out the trash. Or, if you’re anything like me, anything that feels tedious, repetitive, or boring.
Why this works:
When you can identify why you’re not taking action, you can stop blaming yourself and start problem-solving. It turns resistance into a clue, not a character flaw.
Ask yourself:
1. What’s the real reason I’m putting this off?
2. Write it down.
3. What’s one small thing I can do anyway?
Tip #3: Break It Down and Set a Timer
Shrink the task. Set a deadline. Get it on the calendar.
Big tasks feel scary. So make them smaller and smaller and smaller.
Instead of “Write blog post,” try “Open Google Doc and title it.”
Instead of “Clean kitchen,” start with “Set a timer for 5 minutes and wipe down one counter.”
Why this works:
Starting is the hardest step. Once you’re in motion, your brain clicks into gear.
The key is to make the first step so small and doable it would be so silly not to do it.
I love using online-stopwatch.com because you can set themed timers to set the tone. Are you feeling zen, silly, or dramatic? It’s the little things that make it fun and keeps you coming back.
And if you need to, schedule it. Put “Clean out inbox for 10 minutes” on your calendar like it’s a meeting. Because it is—with yourself!
Final Thoughts
Taking action isn’t about being perfect. It’s about creating movement where there was once stillness. Any progress is good progress. Done is better than perfect, and action (any action) beats staying stuck.
Remember: The river takes the path of least resistance. Find yours. And when you make a move, no matter how small—celebrate it. Reward yourself. You deserve it.
Which of these tips will you try first? Drop a comment and let me know, I’d love to cheer you on!
And if you’re stuck on your next big project and need a creative partner to help you get it off the ground, schedule your free copy consultation with me.
Let’s beat resistance together.
