Starting small and breaking things down

2 min read. Updated .

Big plans are easy to make and hard to start. Clean the house, get back in shape, or catch up on everything can feel so large that nothing happens.

Smaller works better. Clear one counter. Walk for ten minutes. Answer one email. If even that feels like too much, go smaller again.

Every activity in the planner and the app can have a smallest version, the least you could do that still counts. On a hard day, doing the smaller version is a real result.

You can also break a larger activity into steps and plan each one on its own. Many people start with the easier activities on their list and work toward harder ones over a few weeks.


Everyday Insight’s tools are for education and personal reflection. They are not therapy or medical care, and they are not for emergencies. In an emergency, call 911. If you are in crisis in the United States, call or text 988. Mental health resources

Plan an activity

Next readMaking a plan you’re likely to keep Specific plans, tying an activity to something you already do, planning around what might get in the way, and exact times or parts of the day.