Task paralysis can be particularly frustrating when faced with a blank page. Whether it’s an email, a report, or a social media post, the sight of an empty document can trigger a sense of dread that makes starting feel impossible. The longer you sit staring at the blank space, the harder it becomes to begin.
But there’s a simple way to get past this: ask someone else to start it for you.
Let someone else help
Having someone else write the first sentence, a rough outline, or even just a heading can remove the initial barrier that keeps you stuck. Once the dreaded white space is filled, it doesn’t matter if the content is correct or not. The point is it’s often much easier to continue with something, rather than nothing.
The key here is momentum—once something is on the page, your brain perceives the task as already underway, making it feel less overwhelming.
Task Paralysis strategy
This strategy works well in different situations….
If you’re struggling with writing an email, ask a colleague or virtual assistant to draft the first line. If you’re avoiding a social media post, get someone to jot down a few bullet points to shape your thoughts. Even asking AI or a writing tool to generate an opening sentence can make the task feel far more approachable.
For those who frequently experience this type of paralysis, delegating the starting point to a virtual assistant or accountability partner can be invaluable. Task paralysis often becomes more manageable if you have something to ‘edit’ rather than start from scratch entirely.
Longer Term Strategies
If you have access to a virtual or a personal assistant, the structured support they offer means that instead of feeling overwhelmed by where to begin, you can focus on refining or completing what’s already there.
If you work alone, then another longer term strategy is to use previous documents, creating a template almost, to help you with new similar tasks. Remember that amazing presentation that dazzled your boss or your clients, well dig it out, make a duplicate, and then tailor this to the new presentation.
If you have a new document to create, why not do an online search for accessible templates. Products such as Canva, have a suite of premade documents and social media templates to use. Similarly tools like Capcut can also help with social media tasks, by opting to use one on their pre-existing templates.
ADHD Coaching
If staring at an empty screen leaves you feeling stuck, don’t wait for motivation to strike— ADHD coaching can also help with developing strategies to work around these blocks, ensuring that small obstacles don’t stop progress altogether.
Reach out if you would like to discuss how Focusify Ltd can help tackle your task paralysis.
