May 3
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We get overwhelmed with new things. Or, things that aren't black and white.
Learning a musical instrument. Figuring out how taxes work. Finding a balanced diet. The list goes on.
Our primitive brain - the amygdala, the "resistance," the "fight-or-flight response," whichever name you prefer - says something like...
This is overwhelming. Let's do this tomorrow.
It's okay. Everyone struggles with this. No one will blame you if you quit.
How does anyone learn how to do this? Surely, it's only for talented people.
There is a simple mind hack that can help you navigate this. I call it the "What's Next Hack."
When you are working on something...anything...and feel overwhelmed.
Or, when you have so many things clawing at your attention, you just want to crawl under your desk and hide.
Simply ask yourself, "What's next?"
Meaning, what's the next step you have to do?
Then answer it. Concretely.
If you're working on taxes, it might be pulling up your bank account to pull transactions. If you're working on a new piece of music, it might be actually taking the music out and going to the piano.
After you complete the step, then ask the question again.
What's next?
Rinse and repeat.
Without a clear mental structure like this, your brain will do something like this when it's not sure what to do...
asd;flkjasd;flkjasd;fkjas;fldkjasd;lfkjasl;jl;j;glkasdjf;daslkrjwe;lruewoivsaf;lkdsajf;lkasdj;lkrjurinkdugikaidsufjnasigdsnfsiuojd;ujlausdjkaiodufjaejklruisdakjnvbjikrwejlkfsudafoilaksujlvkfbuerjfnufisadlkfniubkf
No wonder we procrastinate so much...
Try it next time you feel that urge to put a project away or procrastinate. Ask what's next. Then actually do it. So long as what's next isn't quitting the project, of course.
Give it a try. Come back and let us know what happens.
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For parents, students, and anyone else who believes that music can and should be a meaningful part of everyone's life.
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