Turning Ideas Into Impact: The Magic of Starting With Small Actions

Ah, the perfect moment—your elusive muse. It’s out there somewhere, isn’t it? Perhaps it’ll arrive when the planets align, your inbox reaches zero, and someone invents a coffee that keeps you awake but somehow still lets you nap. Maybe you tell yourself you’ll start tomorrow. Or perhaps the day after that. You’ll tackle that project, start a workout plan, or finally organize the disorder in even one corner of your life—just as soon as the sun shines at the perfect angle, and you feel a magical surge of motivation. Waiting for the perfect moment to stop procrastinating feels productive, doesn’t it? After all, you’re planning to act. Just… later.

Spoiler alert: that moment isn’t coming.

Don’t feel bad. Procrastination is practically hardwired into the human brain. It’s your limbic system’s fault, really—that ancient, overprotective part of your brain that’s more interested in immediate comfort and perceived safety than long-term goals. It whispers things like, “That assignment/workout/conversation (fill in the blank) can wait. Wouldn’t it be better to re-watch Season 3 of your favorite show? For, you know… inspiration?” Meanwhile, your prefrontal cortex, the sensible grown-up part of your brain, sighs in frustration, trying to remind you that There Are Things That Need Doing, regardless of your resistance to them.

The result? A mental stalemate where you scroll Instagram and tell yourself, “Tomorrow will be different.”

So let’s unpack this myth of the perfect moment for a second. What exactly are you waiting for? A sudden spontaneous burst of energy? Spotting 11:11 on a clock? A thunderclap of motivation so powerful it will throw you into action like an Avengers-style superhero? I hate to be the bearer of bad news (and I’m sure you already know this), but motivation doesn’t work that way. Neuroscience shows that motivation isn’t what starts action—it’s what follows it. Your brain doesn’t reward you for thinking about doing something; it rewards you when you actually do it.

But taking action is the hardest part! Fortunately, even small actions trigger this reward system. When you take the tiniest step—say, writing one sentence of that report or clearing off one corner of your desk—your brain releases dopamine, giving you a tiny hit of satisfaction. That’s how momentum works. Start small, and suddenly, you’re in motion.

But no, you think. Surely it’s better to wait until you feel inspired. After all, great ideas and changes are best under perfect conditions. Except that’s another lie, procrastination tells you. Research shows that creativity doesn’t come from waiting for inspiration; it comes from showing up and doing the work, even when you don’t feel like it. Toni Morrison didn’t wait for her muse to show up; she started writing. Beethoven didn’t wait for a thunderstorm to feel dramatic; he sat at the piano. You don’t need the stars to align—you need to open your laptop.

Again, if you don’t actively combat it, the limbic system, your brain’s emotional headquarters, will take over. This ancient structure is great at protecting you from things it perceives as threats—like lions, tigers, or, apparently, spreadsheets. When you think about starting a difficult or unpleasant task, the limbic system lights up, screaming, “Danger! Stress ahead! Avoid at all costs!” It convinces you to sidestep the discomfort by scrolling your phone, reorganizing your spice rack, or doing literally anything else that feels easier.

Meanwhile, your prefrontal cortex—the rational, goal-oriented part of your brain—sits in the corner like an exhausted parent trying to remind you that, Hey, deadlines exist. The problem is the limbic system has a louder voice, especially when you’re stressed or tired. And that’s when procrastination strikes.

How does perfectionism play into the scenario? It’s often lurking in the shadows, egging on your procrastination. Perfectionism whispers, “Don’t start until you can do it flawlessly.” But perfection is just procrastination, all dressed up with nowhere to go. If you wait until everything is perfect, you’ll wait forever. The perfect moment isn’t real, and perfect results aren’t either. But progress? Progress is achievable, messy, and surprisingly satisfying.

Here’s a fun experiment: the next time you catch yourself waiting for that magical moment, call yourself out. Say out loud, “I’m waiting for the perfect moment to stop procrastinating.” It sounds ridiculous because it is. It’s like saying, “I’ll start exercising when I’ve already lost ten pounds.” The logic collapses under its own weight.

So, how do you escape this cycle? Start small—comically small, if necessary. Can’t write the whole report? Write the title. Can’t clean the whole kitchen? Wash one fork. Can’t overhaul your life? Drink a glass of water. You’d be amazed at how often tiny actions lead to bigger ones. This is why the classic “just start small” advice actually works. When you focus on a micro-task, you bypass the limbic system’s alarm bells. Writing one line of a daunting report feels less threatening than tackling the whole thing. Once you’ve started, your brain begins to associate the task with accomplishment instead of dread.

Another trick lies in reframing how your brain perceives the task. If you think of it as a mountain to climb, your limbic system will freak out. Instead, focus on the benefits. Research shows that imagining how you’ll feel after completing a task—relief, pride, and self-satisfaction—activates the brain’s reward center. Quite literally, you’re hacking your brain to make the task more appealing.

As we all know, the perfect moment to stop procrastinating is like Bigfoot—everyone talks about it, but no one’s actually seen it. What you do have is the present moment, messy and unremarkable as it may seem. It’s not perfect, but it’s always good enough to get started. So stop waiting. The only thing you’re running out of is excuses.

Procrastination isn’t a character flaw; it’s a habit. And like any habit, it can be rewired! It is so important to remember how much your brain thrives on repetition. Each time you act despite your doubts, you reinforce neural pathways that make it easier to act next time. The more you practice starting now, the less your brain will default to waiting.

When you understand how your brain works, you can trick it into moving forward: one small action, one dopamine hit, and one rewired neural pathway at a time.

Your limbic system might not love it, but your future self will.

And maybe clean that fork while you’re at it.

P.S. For many of us, it has been a year full of opportunities for growth. I chose to write about this topic right now because I want us all to look forward to the new year with as much positive anticipation as possible. The more we know, the more successfully we can grow, individually and as a collective. Learning how to shift procrastination and perfection are just a few of the strategies I address in my work, with the ultimate goal of calming all of our nervous systems and allowing us to collaborate and live more successfully and joyfully with one another. To check out my book, A Comprehensive Guide to Wellness in Law, with principles applicable to any field, dedicated to holistic mental wellness in the workplace, visit: https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/444223841/ May this next year to catapult you into the Grayt opportunities you seek!