WEBVTT - Just get going and see what happens

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.

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<v Speaker 1>Good Morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.

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<v Speaker 1>Today's tip is for when you are feeling stuck, Just

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<v Speaker 1>get going and see what happens. Maybe not much will happen,

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<v Speaker 1>but you might be in a slightly better spot than

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<v Speaker 1>you are in before. Today's tip comes from a guest

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<v Speaker 1>essay in The New York Times by author and executive

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<v Speaker 1>coach Brad Stillberg. In the article, Stillberg describes the psychological

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<v Speaker 1>concept of behavioral activation. This is the practice of creating

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<v Speaker 1>motivation through doing something instead of relying on motivation to

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<v Speaker 1>get started. Sometimes we are motivated and eager to dive

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<v Speaker 1>into a new project. Other times, even if we rest

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<v Speaker 1>and give ourselves grace and patience, the momentum just doesn't come.

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<v Speaker 1>That's when Stolberg tries for behavioral activation. He uses the

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<v Speaker 1>pocket phrase just get going and see what happens. I

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<v Speaker 1>love this. It is all about action and openness. Just

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<v Speaker 1>get going and see what happens. He isn't promising that

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<v Speaker 1>once you get going it will get easier, or that

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<v Speaker 1>you'll feel good about what you're doing, or even that

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<v Speaker 1>you will see results. Instead, you can just do a

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<v Speaker 1>little something and be curious about what will happen. No judgment,

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<v Speaker 1>no expectation, but an openness to seeing if anything changes.

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<v Speaker 1>I think there are good reasons for all of us

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<v Speaker 1>to adopt this mindset. After two years of a pandemic

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<v Speaker 1>with its resulting stresses and strains, not to mention natural

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<v Speaker 1>disasters and other sources of turmoil at home and abroad,

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<v Speaker 1>we are tired. So many people are simply worn out,

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<v Speaker 1>and motivation is hard to come by. When you're feeling

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<v Speaker 1>stuck and having trouble getting started, it can often help

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<v Speaker 1>to just do something. Don't wait until you're motivated. Instead,

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<v Speaker 1>just start do the easiest part, do something in the middle.

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<v Speaker 1>Write one sentence, put one number on your spreadsheet, look

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<v Speaker 1>up one statistic you know you will need. Maybe the

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<v Speaker 1>motivation will come. Hopefully the motivation will come. As Stolberg says,

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<v Speaker 1>just get going and see what happens. But even if

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<v Speaker 1>not much happens, well you are one sentence closer than

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<v Speaker 1>you were a few minutes ago. This approach can work

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<v Speaker 1>for professional projects, home projects, self improvement efforts, and so

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<v Speaker 1>much else. Having trouble getting motivated to start looking for

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<v Speaker 1>a new employee, because everyone keeps saying it's a terrible

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<v Speaker 1>time to hire. Just make a list of steps you

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<v Speaker 1>might take to find someone wonderful. Maybe you will become

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<v Speaker 1>optimistic about one of the strategies you identify. You'll be

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<v Speaker 1>energized to get started, or you won't be, but at

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<v Speaker 1>least you'll have an item for tomorrow's to do list.

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<v Speaker 1>Overwhelmed at the thought of packing up your apartment for

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<v Speaker 1>an upcoming move, aim to pack one box and fill

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<v Speaker 1>one bag of things to donate this weekend. By the

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<v Speaker 1>time you've done that, maybe you'll have a better idea

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<v Speaker 1>of a timeline for getting everything out the door, or

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<v Speaker 1>you will still be tired, but you are one box

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<v Speaker 1>closer to done. By just doing something, you may overcome

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<v Speaker 1>your inertia and generate some energy or excitement for a

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<v Speaker 1>project you've been struggling to start. Don't assume that motivation

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<v Speaker 1>has to proceed the first step. Instead, taking that first

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<v Speaker 1>step maybe exactly what you need to generate some momentum,

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<v Speaker 1>and if not, well, at least you're closer than you were.

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<v Speaker 1>So get going and get curious to see what happens next.

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<v Speaker 1>In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening and

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<v Speaker 1>here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody,

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<v Speaker 1>I'd love to hear from you. You can send me

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<v Speaker 1>your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with

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<v Speaker 1>me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod.

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<v Speaker 1>That's b E the number four, then breakfast p o D.

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

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

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

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

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<v Speaker 1>of I heart Radio. For more podcasts from I heart Radio,

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<v Speaker 1>visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever

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<v Speaker 1>you listen to your favorite shows. Ye