Issue No. 88

One day at work, I stared at my to-do list like it was some kind of enemy. The list was long, packed with small, annoying tasks that needed to be done yesterday. Nobody else could do them, and I couldn’t ignore them either. Still, I sat there, overwhelmed, scrolling aimlessly on my phone, avoiding the inevitable. My mind raced: “Where should I even start? What if it takes all day? How did I end up with all this?” Minutes turned into half an hour, and all I had done was let the weight of that list grow heavier in my mind. Finally, something clicked. I told myself, “You’re wasting more energy dreading this than it’ll actually take to finish it. Let’s just get it over with.”

I picked the first task on the list, started working, and didn’t stop. Then came the next one, and the one after that. Before I knew it, two hours had passed, and I had completed every single thing on that list. Just like that, it was done. And all the stress, all the dread, disappeared. I couldn’t help but laugh a little at how much time I’d wasted procrastinating instead of tackling it head-on. The freedom I felt afterward was a reminder that sometimes the best way forward is to simply stop thinking and start doing.

Another time I felt this way was when I had to retake a Korean language exam for my visa renewal. Preparing for it wasn’t something I was looking forward to—especially with all the other responsibilities I had at the time. But there was no getting around it. I knew I needed to study, review, and pass that test to move on with my life. At first, I dreaded the thought of starting. I could feel myself falling into the same pattern of overthinking: “What if I’m not prepared enough? What if I fail?” But I reminded myself of what I’d learned before. There wasn’t any point in wallowing or waiting. I had to get it over with. So, I opened my books, studied what I needed to know, and took the exam. It wasn’t perfect, but I passed, and just like that, I was free to move forward.

These moments taught me an important truth: overthinking is often more painful than the task itself. When you focus too much on what you don’t want to do, it becomes larger and scarier in your mind. You give it power over your mood, your energy, and your time. But when you stop letting your thoughts take over and just start doing, you realize that most tasks aren’t as bad as they seemed. You chip away at them, and before you know it, they’re behind you.

Of course, this doesn’t mean rushing into things recklessly or ignoring tasks that require careful planning. But for many of the everyday challenges we face—work assignments, studying for an exam, errands, or even making an uncomfortable phone call—there’s no benefit to waiting. If you know it has to be done, dragging it out just prolongs the discomfort. The relief you feel after getting it over with is always worth the initial push.

This mindset has helped me in countless situations. Instead of sitting in dread or wasting time crafting excuses, I remind myself that my time and energy are better spent tackling the problem. Once it’s done, I get to enjoy that sense of accomplishment and the freedom to focus on what matters most to me.

So, the next time you find yourself avoiding something you don’t want to do, take a moment to step back. Ask yourself: “Is thinking about this making it any easier?” Chances are, it isn’t. The task won’t magically disappear, but your anxiety about it can—once you stop overthinking and start acting. You’ll be surprised at how quickly those dreaded tasks can shrink when you meet them head-on. Sometimes, the best solution is the simplest one: just get it over with.

Until next week,