Have you ever felt too tired to start a task, only to feel more energized once you finally began? That is the paradox of energy: ⚡ Doing a task can create momentum. 🔋 Avoiding it can consume energy. When we postpone an unpleasant, uncertain or overwhelming task, it does not necessarily disappear from our attention. We may continue thinking about it, anticipating the difficulty and feeling the pressure of an approaching deadline. Avoidance can provide short-term relief, but often creates longer-term stress. Starting changes the experience. Even a small step can: ✅ Reduce uncertainty ✅ Make the task feel more manageable ✅ Create visible progress ✅ Increase confidence ✅ Clarify what needs to happen next This connects with the progress principle developed by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer: making progress in meaningful work, even through small wins can positively affect motivation and the everyday experience of work. But this is not simply a personal productivity issue. In our work with organizations, we often find that delayed tasks point to problems in the work environment: 🔹 Priorities are unclear 🔹 Tasks feel too large or poorly defined 🔹 Employees lack
A brilliant reminder of the paradox of energy. Momentum doesn’t wait for motivation — it’s created by action. Starting, even with a small step, transforms uncertainty into clarity and stress into progress. In both personal productivity and organizational culture, energy flows where engagement begins. 🌿✨
Behrd ?
Thanks for the post. This reminds me of the Zeigarnik Effect which suggests that once we start a task, our brain creates a cognitive tension around completing it. That unfinished task stays mentally active, motivating us to keep going. This may explain why taking the first step can feel difficult, but action itself often creates momentum and energy. Sometimes, doing the work gives us the energy to keep working. But it can also be a double-edged sword: leaving a task unfinished and open-ended for too long can keep it active in our minds, gradually draining our mental energy.