They say starting is the hardest part, and apparently a lot of people agree.
According to a new online survey, 60% of respondents said they have delayed making a change that could improve their lives because the amount of work involved seemed greater than the possible reward.
The tasks people put off were not necessarily huge life decisions either. Common examples included starting a fitness routine, decluttering the house, redecorating, completing home repairs and applying for a new job.
But here is the interesting part.
Once people finally stopped procrastinating and made the change, 70% reportedly said the results turned out better than they expected. Many also admitted they wished they had taken action sooner.
It is easy to understand why we procrastinate. Starting something new can feel overwhelming, especially when you are already busy. Sometimes the hardest part of going to the gym is getting dressed. The hardest part of cleaning out the closet is opening the door. And the hardest part of finding a better job might simply be submitting that first application.
The lesson may be that we sometimes spend more time worrying about how difficult something will be than actually doing it.
So what is one thing you have been putting off that you know could make your life better?