A wacky way to stop procrastinating (Your Engine, Part III)

I’m starting this year by sharing two core concepts that I find most helpful to my clients — our compass + our engine. We spent a few weeks on compasses (1, 2, 3), and now we’re talking about engines (1,2). 

…

This week, let’s assume you do have fuel in the tank of your engine. 

The second issue that I encounter with my clients is that they struggle to actually turn on the ignition.

They never write that screenplay that’s burning inside of them.  

They avoid editing that research brief that is cognitively challenging, but so important. 

They keep putting off that grad school application until it’s the last minute and they’re rushed. 

You might avoid it forever (like the screenplay), or procrastinate it by doing other “useful” things (replying to every email at work when really you should be reading a research paper on that challenging topic.)

Today I want to share a practice that I’ve seen be shockingly effective when you are avoiding… you know… actually turning on that engine. 

…

But a warning, before I tell you about the practice:

This one is a little wacky. 

As in, when I suggest it to clients, they sometimes look at me like I’m kooky. But when they do it, they often come back and say, wow Katie, this thing really worked. 

…

Here’s the practice: Before you do that thing that you know you need to do…set a timer for 5 minutes and lie on the floor and do nothing. Then, get up and do the thing that you know you need to do.

That’s it. 

Lie on the floor.
Do nothing.
5 minutes. 

Then do the thing you need to do.

…

A quick Q&A:

1. Q: What do you mean by “Do Nothing” ?
   A: Lie on the floor and don’t take any action. It’s okay if your mind wanders a bit; you don’t have to formally “meditate” or “clear your mind.” Just don’t consciously think about something, like planning out your grocery list for this afternoon.
   
   

2. Q: What if it’s not socially acceptable to lie on the floor? I’m in an office and it would be too weird.
   A: No worries – a chair will work, too. Just make sure your laptop is closed, and you’re not stimulated by screens or other input. Sitting quietly in the bathroom stall will do the trick, in a pinch. 

…

This practice accomplishes, with elegance + simplicity, two important things: 

1. It lowers your agitation level.
   When you first lie on the floor, you may be quite jumpy + agitated in your body. Most of us are agitated to some degree, as we move through our days — and if you are anticipating doing something important, challenging, and/or emotionally-charged…you might be even more agitated. But if you lie there on the floor for 5 minutes, you will feel calmer and less agitated, to at least some degree.
   
   

2. It gives you a cognitive rest.
   Most of us are also chronically cognitively tired — and you know what we tend to avoid when we’re cognitively tired? Important, challenging, and/or emotionally-charged tasks!
   
   Giving yourself a few minutes to have an open, receptive, wandering mind is typically very cognitively restful (though it may not necessarily be “fun” – it may be a bit uncomfortable, at first). 

My clients typically find that once they are even a bit less agitated and cognitively rested, it is so, so much easier to turn the key in the ignition and do what they intend to do.

… 

So that’s my suggestion for you this week: 

1. Pick an activity that’s important, or that you have been struggling to get done. 

2. This week, lie on the floor for 5 minutes before doing it. 

Kooky? Absolutely.

Effective? Also yes. 

Try it and let me know how it goes ☺ 

Katie





p.s. Want to feel less busy + exhausted all the time? Struggle with people-pleasing? What to make progress towards what matters most? 1:1 life coaching can be a game changer for that — and much more.

Learn more here.

---

Want to receive essays like this every Sunday morning? Sign up for my newsletter!