Often we get so caught up in the future that it paralyzes us.

Or we feel so overwhelmed by everything we have to do that we accomplish nothing. Not the stuff we have to do… or that we want to do.

Our task lists, calendars, projects, dreams, and goals seem to cause more angst than hope. So we veg out in front of the television. Or mindlessly scroll on our phones.

Anything to avoid facing what we need to do.

The solution is simple: do the next right thing.

I’ve heard this phrase from both Julia Cameron and Michael Hyatt.

It’s a simple idea with wildly beneficial results. Rather than staying paralyzed and accomplishing nothing, the next right thing creates a tiny step forward.

It doesn’t feel like much, but then it’s not supposed to.

One step forward each day adds up to 365 tiny steps over a year. That’s a lot of progress.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, ask yourself this question:

“What’s the smallest, easiest next step I can take?”

Then do that and only that. Afterwards you can reevaluate and decide whether to take another step or stop and chill out.

But at least you’ve taken that one step. And that’s one more than you would have otherwise.

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