Doing the thing! After the buzz and excitement of the Get Animated conference on Wednesday—where I felt so inspired, encouraged, and full of ideas—I came home with a head full of plans and a to-do list the length of my arm.
And then… well… not a lot happened.
I opened the notebook. I reviewed the to-do list. I colour-coded a few things. I added a couple more bullet points. I reorganised my calendar. I made a second cup of coffee. I stared out the window. I even washed the dishes and threw things in the slow cooker for tea!
You know—really productive stuff. 😬
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in planning mode, this blog is for you. Because knowing how to stop planning and start creating is one thing… but actually doing it? That’s the challenge.
This gem of an email landed in my inbox, courtesy of James Clear (of Atomic Habits fame), featuring a quote by a programmer/writer who goes by Loopy. It hit me right between the eyes:
“Things that aren’t doing the thing:
Preparing to do the thing isn’t doing the thing. Scheduling time to do the thing isn’t doing the thing. Making a to-do list for the thing isn’t doing the thing…”
And it went on to list a dozen more “not doing the thing” actions—all of which I had basically done that morning. I laughed. Then winced. Then made cup of coffee number three.
Because wow—it’s so easy to look like we’re doing the thing. To feel busy. To check boxes. To read about productivity and creative habits. But really? None of that is the thing.
The only thing that is doing the thing is… doing the thing.
So today, that’s what I’m reminding myself. One small action beats ten perfect plans. I don’t need to figure it all out before I start. I just need to start.
Open the document. Write the email. Follow up that contact. Sketch the next idea. Press record. Post the story.
Even if it’s scrappy.
Even if it’s short.
Even if it’s not quite ready.
Because Weebert’s World wasn’t built in a day—or even with a master plan. It was built from bits of scrap, a bit of belief, and a lot of trying things out as we went. That’s still the approach.
So if you, like me, are sitting with a to-do list and wondering why the momentum hasn’t quite kicked in after the buzz of a big event—this is your gentle nudge.
Don’t just plan the thing. Do the thing. Start messy. Start small. Just start.
Lotty x
#WeebertsWorld #DoingTheThing #HowToStartCreating #OvercomingProcrastination #JustStart #CreativeMomentum #AtomicHabits #JamesClear #GetAnimated2025 #StartBeforeYoureReady #ProgressNotPerfection #WomenInBusiness #StorytellingWithHeart #CreativeHabits #MotivationForMakers
