When I’m faced with a challenging task, sometimes my comfort-seeking brain will do anything but the thing.

Clean the kitchen. Scroll. Reorganize my desktop. Check my email for the fifth time.

It’s almost like I have to build up the courage to begin.

And honestly, this is normal. When something feels difficult, uncertain, or mentally demanding, our brains naturally look for something easier and more immediately rewarding.

So I’ve found that awareness is the first step.

Instead of beating myself up for procrastinating, I can pause and ask:

What would help me shift into a state where beginning feels a little easier?

Here are a few things I’ve been using to help get into flow:

I let the stream of consciousness flow onto the page first thing in the morning. It helps me clear out some of the mental noise before I ask my brain to focus.

Working from home means there are endless things for my brain to notice and turn into an excuse. Sometimes leaving the house and working from a café gives me a fresh perspective, more mental engagement, and a little built in accountability.

This is one of my favorites.

Sound can influence our attention and arousal, and binaural beats use slightly different frequencies presented to each ear to create the perception of a third rhythmic beat that can shift your brainwave state

And this is why I love listening to crystal singing bowls.

I recently recorded this 3 hour crystal singing bowl sound bath specifically for those moments when you want to settle in, focus, create, study, work, or simply spend some uninterrupted time with yourself.

Instead of telling myself, “I need to work on this all day,” I give myself a defined window. Sometimes knowing I only have to focus for 30 or 60 minutes makes starting feel much less overwhelming.

Honestly, sometimes the simplest solution is the most effective. If my phone isn't within reach, there's one less opportunity for my brain to choose the easy dopamine hit over the thing I actually want to do.

And through all of this, I'm reminding myself:

I don't have to shame myself into being productive.

I can notice where I am, meet myself there, and create the conditions that support where I want to go.

Some days flow comes easily. Some days it takes a little more intention.

Neither means you're doing it wrong.

So if you've been putting something off, ask yourself: What would make beginning feel a little easier?

Then start there.

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