Lesson five: get past the starting threshold

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to modify tasks to get you past the starting threshold.

Key ideas: 1️⃣ Unclear, vague tasks induce discomfort, leading to avoidance. Make tasks less ambiguous; specify them clearly. 2️⃣ Large tasks can be overwhelming and inhibit action. Break tasks into smaller components to overcome the "getting started" threshold. 3️⃣ Procrastinators often overplan as a way of avoiding the task. Define only the first few steps to prevent falling into this pitfall. 4️⃣ Establish a habit of using these strategies by including these two questions at the top of your to-do list: (1) "Is this task specific enough - do I know the exact steps I need to take?" (2) "Is this task small enough for me to easily cross the 'starting threshold'?"