How to Break Through Inertia and Get Started

Do you ever find yourself staring at a blank page, unsure where to begin??

You know you have ideas, projects, or plans swirling in your head, but something holds you back from diving in.

I’ve been there, and I think I’ve finally pinpointed the solution—just ask me a question.

Why is it so much easier to get started when someone asks you a question?

I’ve noticed that when I’m asked something specific, it’s like a mental nudge that moves me past the inertia of that dreaded blank page.

That simple prompt is often the momentum I need to hit the "start" button, whether I’m beginning a new chapter or tackling a fresh project.

Inertia is a tricky thing. It keeps us in place, making it feel like any first step is an enormous leap.

But when someone asks a direct question or provides a prompt, it’s as if they’re handing you the initial push you need to set everything in motion.

Suddenly, the task doesn’t feel as daunting. You’re no longer trying to create something from nothing—you’re responding, reacting, moving.

A close friend of mine shared a similar experience from her grad school days.

She often struggled to begin writing papers.

But once she printed her draft out, things shifted.

Editing on paper gave her clarity, and soon she had a presentable paper in hand. I completely relate.

Once I’ve written something, I find it much easier to edit when I print it out. Somehow, holding the physical pages makes everything clearer.

Why?

I believe it’s because our brain engages differently when working with something tangible versus digital.

It feels like a fresh perspective—a literal shift from screen to paper—helps me see the work in a new light, making the process less overwhelming.

I’ve come to think of it as a “tap of energy.”

It’s that little push, whether from a question or a fresh perspective, that breaks the inertia and transforms thinking into action.

It works for writing, but it’s also true for so many other tasks—starting a book you’ve been meaning to read, launching that dream project, making those business development calls you’ve been putting off.

So, here’s my question for you:?What type of energy tap do you need to get started on your goals?

Here are some ideas of how you can create that “tap of energy for yourself:

-Writing a Book: Instead of thinking, “How do I write this entire chapter?” ask yourself, “What’s one specific message I want to convey I the opening paragraph?

• Starting a Business Development Call: If you’re avoiding calls, reframe it with a question like, “What’s one simple question I can ask my potential client that will get them talking ab out their needs?”
• Organizing a Workspace: Rather than focusing on organizing your entire office. Instead, ask, “What ‘s the one thing cluttering my desk right now that I can clear in the next 10 minutes?”
• Reading a book: If you’ve been meaning to start reading that book sitting on your shelf, ask yourself, “What’s the first chapter about, and how could it inspire me today?”

These specific questions act as catalysts. They make the overwhelming feel doable.

Once you’ve taken that first step, it’s so much easier to keep going, and the sense of accomplishment builds momentum!