Overcoming New Task Paralysis
How great would it be if all of life's challenges came with a roadmap or task list for meeting them? You would think about what you want to accomplish or the creative idea you want to materialize and, magically, the step-by-step instructions would appear.
My life has been the opposite of being handed instructions. I've found that each new direction I took required deep thought and learning sprinkled with trial and error. When I looked at the time and effort needed to make a change, it was often daunting.
As a coach, I help clients overcome the paralysis that often accompanies adopting a new mindset or making a change. There is a typical question that I hear when a client is challenged: "Is there a worksheet for that?"
Why We Feel Paralyzed in the Face of a New Challenge
The reasons that we feel an inability to start on a new challenge can be varied and complex. If we think about where the pushback originates from, we can see that there are some common causes.
If you are a writer, you've likely been met with writer's block. You are staring at a blank page and where you previously had ideas of what you wanted to share, your mind shifts to match the empty page. This can happen to others, too, not just writers. If someone asks you to think creatively without providing a place to begin, it can feel as though your mind empties of all thought.
Perhaps you find the thought challenge too difficult to take on with everything else that's on your mind. That can be due to feeling pressure to complete a task in a specific amount of time, feeling overwhelmed with your to do list, or trying to tackle too many ideas all at once.
Lack of Clarity
Sometimes, a client will need more information or structure around what they are being asked to do. If they have never thought about a particular concept before or aren't accustomed to allowing their ideas to flow freely, they may be unsure about how to begin. Struggling with what the requirements are, or the meaning of the task can lead to an inability to move forward.
Worry about Being Wrong
Some people feel as though they can't state an idea or set direction unless they are 100% sure that it's correct. That's a tough bar for anyone, but for some it can mean that they hold back on thinking creatively and sharing their ideas because they aren't convinced that they are right.
Moving Beyond the Paralysis
There are some mental tricks to try and habits that you can develop to ease you into new challenges.
Choose an amount of time that feels easy, such as five minutes, to record notable words, images, charts, whatever comes to mind when you think of the topic that's challenging you.
Noting your ideas frees up mental space for you to have other thoughts. Instead of trying to keep it all in your head to shape your ideas, record them as they occur to you.
Ask questions.
If a task lacks the clarity that you need to begin, ask for more information. There may be a large chunk of data missing that would be helpful for you to have initially. Or there could be something less weighty but key for you to understand such as structure or format.
Suspend judgement.
We have all heard the adage that we are often our own worst critics. As ideas occur to you, rather than dismissing them as insufficient or wrong, allow your thoughts to flow.
To Worksheet or Not to Worksheet
Back to the client question, "Is there a worksheet for that?" I do occasionally offer up a template, worksheet, or other aid as a starting point. Providing a potential first step can help people overcome the feeling that they have no idea what to do or where to start. But I prefer to let them see where their thoughts lead them. The results are often far more creative and enlightening than either of us anticipated.
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