Ever wondered why you're smart AND stuck?
Science gave us answers on a silver platter
The more capable you are, the harder it becomes to act.
It’s why you constantly have BIG ideas: finally posting on LinkedIn, starting that podcast, or posting that TikTok video. But find yourself watching time pass by as you struggle to act.
P.S. over in the Sprint100 community we have our first co-working session coming up. We’re using body doubling to focus on content creation!
JOIN THE FREE 1OO DAY SPRINT COMMUNITY
We’re also starting Sprint 3 on Tuesday, so if you’ve been thinking about joining, the best time to start is with a new sprint.
In this issue:
How your brain is wired to freeze
If you’re smart, you’re likely a high achiever. That means you’ve mastered the art of functioning so well that everyone around you sees you excelling at your job, maintaining your relationships, even achieving big goals.
But it’s the big, scary, transformative stuff that stays locked away in your list of ‘business ideas’ or ‘someday goals’.
Am I wrong?
The good news is that this isn’t inherently a you problem. It’s just your brain and how it’s wired. The great thing about wiring is that you can change it—rewire it.
Your amygdala, the ‘fear centre’, is just scared of change. You’ve likely spent your whole life maintaining a sense of predictability.
You’re in a comfort zone that keeps things stable, but doesn’t make you feel 100% happy. Because in order for that 100% happiness level, you need an element of unpredictability.
The amygdala won’t let that happen (or, it’ll do its best to prevent you from changing the status quo).
So what happens? You find reasons not to go after your big ideas. You find reasons to take your time perfecting them or waiting for the right time.
You stay stuck.
The 3-pronged solution
Your brain can’t tell the difference between a big step and a small step, until after you’ve taken it.
So let’s bypass these threat detection systems that exist in the amygdala: find small things we can do consistently.
1️⃣ Identify a micro-commitment
What’s a teeny, tiny task related to the idea you’re putting off? Commit to finding something small and doing it at a regular cadence.
2️⃣ Re-engineer your environment
Most of the time, your willpower isn’t failing you. Your environment is betraying you.
Remove ‘decision points’ from your workspace—all the points at which you’re giving your brain a chance to hesitate and negotiate its way out of action.
Working with your phone in the same room? Your notifications will pull you away.
Have your desk facing a TV? Move it to another room or in front of a window.
Keep your project in an app that takes 3 logins and 10 clicks to access? Bring it out and find a better app.
3️⃣ Find an external accountability anchor
Relying on your motivation and internal accountability doesn’t work. In fact, external accountability helps you follow through on your plans by 65-95%.
How can you anchor your idea in an external accountability system? You could promise to pay someone an unfathomable amount if you don’t follow through. You could post about your progress or idea online to create public accountability.
Try this 3-stepped approach to bringing your ideas out of the graveyard they’re currently in. Struggling to think of how? Reply to this email with a line about your idea and I’ll help you thing of the teeny tiny action you could do to get started.
Upcoming mini-course!
I’m putting together a content creation + batching + repurposing mini-course!
Instead of letting your content ideas gather dust and stay unposted—whether it’s time or your amygdala holding you back—there are clever ways to post more, without giving up your time and energy.
Most of us have 9-5s, other businesses, or other projects that take up our time. It’s just not practical + good for our energy to be focussing all day everyday on ‘omg what do I post today’.
Over the last 6 months, I’ve doubled my TikTok growth and quadrupled my Instagram presence with less effort than when I had a corporate 9-5.
The mini-course will have:
3 in-depth tutorials—
creating + editing good, engaging content
batching as a busy person
repurposing for a smart content strategy
Notion content calendar with proven templates + automations
Bonuses including:
my favourite ChatGPT prompts and hacks
plug and play top performing hooks
swipe file of my top performing content
If you get on the waitlist you get:
Early access to the tutorials
Exclusive launch price for 48 hours before it launches to everyone else
Personalised content feedback (I charge £250 for this normally)
I’m looking for 2 more people to test this course with. Reply back and let me know if you’re open to looking over it next week in exchange for some feedback or a testimonial. It’ll make sure I release highly valuable content!
Speak soon,
Devamsha