How to Start Small (When You’re Used to Overcomplicating Everything)

I get it because I’ve been there. And honestly, I still catch myself slipping back sometimes. When you’re wired for big thinking and big goals, starting small feels… underwhelming. Like, what’s the point of taking a tiny step when there’s this massive vision you’re chasing? It almost feels like you’re selling yourself short. I used to think if I wasn’t pushing at full speed, I wasn’t doing enough. And if I wasn’t doing enough, I wasn’t enough.

But that mindset kept me stuck for years. Staring at to-do lists that never seemed to shrink. Feeling frustrated because I had all the ideas and none of the movement. I thought I had a motivation problem. I didn’t. What I had was an overcomplication problem. And it was exhausting. 

Here’s what I’ve learned: starting small isn’t about thinking small. It’s about giving yourself a way in. A door you can actually open, instead of standing there trying to break it down with your shoulder because you think you have to earn your way through.

Overcomplication Is Just Another Form of Avoidance

For me, it wasn’t obvious at first. I thought I was being responsible by planning everything to death. I’d research, outline, rework… and then do absolutely nothing with it. I was convinced that if I just had the perfect plan, I’d finally be able to take action. But that day never came. I wasn’t planning- I was hiding. Overcomplicating was my way of avoiding the fear of getting it wrong, the fear of wasting time, and the fear that maybe, deep down, I wasn’t capable after all.

When I finally saw it for what it was, it stung. But it also gave me a way out. Overcomplication is just avoidance dressed up as productivity. It makes you feel like you’re doing something… until you realize you’ve spent three hours color-coding a plan you’re too overwhelmed to start.

Starting Small Is How You Build Trust (With Yourself)

I had to rewire the way I thought about progress. For the longest time, I believed that if it didn’t feel hard or intense, it didn’t count. But here’s what I know now: the people who consistently move forward don’t wait for big bursts of energy or clarity. They just take the next small step. And then another. And that momentum? It adds up faster than you think.

Starting small builds trust. Not in the idea that you might be able to pull this off, but in the reality that you are. That you’re showing up for yourself. That you’re following through, one action at a time. And every time you do that, you’re collecting evidence. You’re telling your brain, “See? We can handle this.” And that trust? That’s where the magic happens.

What It Looked Like for Me (And How You Can Do It Too) 

When I finally let myself start small, everything shifted. I stopped trying to overhaul my entire life in one day and asked myself, “What’s the next obvious move?” Sometimes it was opening the laptop and writing a sentence. Sometimes it was reaching out to one person instead of feeling like I had to post to every platform, every day. I started focusing on one promise at a time- and keeping it. Not because it was grand, but because it was doable. And that was enough.

If you’re like me, here’s my advice:

Start so small it feels a little ridiculous. Send the email draft, not the whole sequence. Jot down the messy bullet points instead of writing the entire blog (yep, even this one started as a couple of notes). If it feels too easy, you’re on the right track. This isn’t about proving anything. It’s about building momentum you can actually sustain.

And celebrate the hell out of it. Every small move is you breaking the pattern. Every step forward matters. Don’t wait for the big wins to feel proud- you’re building the habit of showing up. And that’s everything.

Small Steps Lead to Big Shifts 

Once you get this, it’s hard to unsee it. You start noticing how often you’re tempted to make things harder than they need to be. You catch yourself before you spiral into overthinking. You choose the simple next step. And when you do, you move.

That’s where the difference is.

Not in some huge, flashy overhaul.

But in the quiet, steady decisions to trust yourself, to keep it simple, and to keep going.

So, if you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself this:

What’s one small step I can take today? 

Then take it. No fanfare. No pressure. Just forward.

You’ll be amazed at where you are in a week. A month. A year.

Inside Abolish Procrastination, we do this work together- making momentum feel natural, not forced. If you’re ready to stop overcomplicating and start moving, I’ve got you. Let’s get you back in motion- one simple step at a time.