The fine line between “preparing” and DOING
There’s a really fine line between preparing to do the thing and actually DOING the thing.
A lot of us (myself included) tend to get stuck in the “preparing” phase. Thinking, planning, learning, etc.
All of these are great and usually needed but the problem occurs when you STAY thinking, planning, and learning but never actually move forward or take any action.
You trick yourself into thinking you’re making progress bc you’re preparing… but what you’re actually doing is procrastinating. Subconsciously stalling.
Bc the next step when you DO the thing, when you start? It’s hard. It’s uncomfortable. It probably won’t be fun at first.
And it’s easy to pretend you’re moving forward when you really aren’t moving at all.
So here’s your Monday morning reminder to notice where you’ve been “preparing” and “planning” and where you’ve been avoiding DOING.
You’re ready. You already have everything you need.
Start the thing babe.
From personal experience, I've noticed that the act of preparing often feels productive but can quickly become a form of procrastination. For example, when trying to start a new project or build a habit, I used to spend more time researching and organizing than executing. It wasn’t until I consciously pushed myself to stop over-preparing and take small actionable steps that I saw real progress. What really helped was adopting the mindset that perfection is not required before starting. Accepting that the beginning might be uncomfortable or even messy makes it easier to overcome hesitation. This aligns with the pattern seen when people hit their income and health goals—they stopped researching and started moving. Movement, no matter how imperfect, creates momentum and valuable lessons. A practical tip is to set very simple initial goals just to initiate action. For instance, write one paragraph, make one call, or do a five-minute activity related to your goal. This breaks the cycle of planning paralysis and shifts focus from mental preparation to physical progress. Embracing 'aligned action'—combining your preparation with intentional effort—is key. It’s normal to feel discomfort when doing something new, but that discomfort signals growth. Resist the temptation to stay in the comfort zone of planning, and trust that you already have what you need to start. In summary, preparation is vital but must serve as a springboard rather than a stopping point. By recognizing when preparation turns into procrastination, and by deliberately choosing to take the first step, you create the conditions necessary for success and fulfillment.