WEBVTT - Second Cup: Just get going and see what happens

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning.

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<v Speaker 1>This is Laura.

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<v Speaker 2>Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's tip is for

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<v Speaker 2>when you are feeling stuck, Just get going and see

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<v Speaker 2>what happens. Maybe not much will happen, but you might

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<v Speaker 2>be in a slightly better spot than you are in before.

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<v Speaker 2>Today's tip comes from a guest essay in The New

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<v Speaker 2>York Times by author and executive coach Brad Stolberg. In

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<v Speaker 2>the article, Stollberg describes the psychological concept of behavioral activation.

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<v Speaker 2>This is the practice of creating motivation through doing something

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<v Speaker 2>instead of relying on motivation to get started. Sometimes we

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<v Speaker 2>are motivated and eager to dive into a new project.

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<v Speaker 2>Other times, times, even if we rest and give ourselves

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<v Speaker 2>grace and patience, the momentum just doesn't come. That's when

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<v Speaker 2>Stolberg tries for behavioral activation. He uses the pocket phrase

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<v Speaker 2>just get going and see what happens. I love this.

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<v Speaker 2>It is all about action and openness. Just get going

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<v Speaker 2>and see what happens. He isn't promising that once you

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<v Speaker 2>get going it will get easier, or that you'll feel

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<v Speaker 2>good about what you're doing, or even that you will

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<v Speaker 2>see results. Instead, you can just do little something and

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<v Speaker 2>be curious about what will happen. No judgment, no expectation,

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<v Speaker 2>but in openness to seeing if anything changes. I think

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<v Speaker 2>there are good reasons for all of us to adopt

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<v Speaker 2>this mindset. After two years of a pandemic with its

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<v Speaker 2>resulting stresses and strains, not to mention natural disasters and

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<v Speaker 2>other sources of turmoil at home and abroad, we are tired.

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<v Speaker 2>So many people are simply worn out, and motivation is

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<v Speaker 2>hard to come by. When you're feeling stuck and having

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<v Speaker 2>trouble getting started, it can often help to just do something.

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<v Speaker 2>Don't wait until you're motivated. Instead, just start do the

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<v Speaker 2>easiest part, do something in the middle. Write one sentence,

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<v Speaker 2>put one number on your spreadsheet, look up one statistic

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<v Speaker 2>you know you will need. Maybe the motivation will come.

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<v Speaker 2>Hopefully the motivation will come. As Stolberg says, just get

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<v Speaker 2>going and see what happens. But even if not much happens,

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<v Speaker 2>well you are one sentence closer than you were a

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<v Speaker 2>few minutes ago. This approach can work for professional projects,

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<v Speaker 2>home projects, self improvement efforts, and so much else. Having

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<v Speaker 2>trouble getting motivated to start looking for a new employee,

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<v Speaker 2>because everyone keeps saying it's a terrible time to hire.

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<v Speaker 2>Just make a list of steps you might take to

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<v Speaker 2>find someone wonderful. Maybe you will become optimistic about one

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<v Speaker 2>of the strategies you identify. You'll be energized to get started,

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<v Speaker 2>or you won't be, but at least you'll have an

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<v Speaker 2>item for tomorrow's to do list. Overwhelmed at the thought

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<v Speaker 2>of packing up your apartment for an upcoming move, aim

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<v Speaker 2>to pack one box and fill one bag of things

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<v Speaker 2>to donate this weekend. By the time you've done that,

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<v Speaker 2>maybe you'll have a better idea of a timeline for

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<v Speaker 2>getting everything out the door, or you will still be tired,

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<v Speaker 2>but you are one box closer to done. By just

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<v Speaker 2>doing something, you may overcome your inertia and generate some

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<v Speaker 2>energy or excitement for a you've been struggling to start.

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<v Speaker 2>Don't assume that motivation has to proceed the first step. Instead,

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<v Speaker 2>taking that first step maybe exactly what you need to

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<v Speaker 2>generate some momentum, and if not, well, at least you're

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<v Speaker 2>closer than you were. So get going and get curious

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<v Speaker 2>to see what happens next. In the meantime, this is Laura.

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<v Speaker 2>Thanks for listening and here's to making the most.

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<v Speaker 1>Of our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear from you.

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<v Speaker 1>You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else.

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<v Speaker 1>Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at

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<v Speaker 1>Before Breakfast Pod. That's b the number four then Breakfast pod.

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<v Speaker 1>You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast

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<v Speaker 1>Podcasts at iHeartMedia dot com that Before Breakfast is spelled

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<v Speaker 1>out with all the letters. Thanks so much. Should I

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<v Speaker 1>look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is a

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