I’m going to start this article with a brief visit back to high school physics. Wait! Before you run screaming in terror, bear with me.Newton’s First Law of Motion states that an object in motion will stay in motion and an object at rest will stay at rest unless acted on by an unbalanced force. This is often known as the Law of Inertia.

This law may not be particularly interesting in and of itself (unless you’re an avid pool player). What is interesting is that human behavior tends to work in exactly the same way.

For example, have you ever found yourself thinking a lot about something you’d like to do but find it nearly impossible to get into gear? Yet other times you’ll be working in a nice groove on an interesting project, and nothing but the most basic biological urges can make you stop what you’re doing?

In both cases, inertia’s at work. Simply put, it’s easy to stay moving, but hard to get started. This applies to things as small as cleaning out your closet, or as complex as looking for a new career.

For some people, overcoming inertia is no problem. For the rest of us-how do we get past our internal resistance to start endeavors we know will make us happier in the long run?

I’d like to say the answer is as straightforward as Newton’s law…but it’s not. The things that keep us from taking action are varied and complex, and can include:

• Fatigue, illness, or other suboptimal physical state
• Uncomfortable emotions
• Other things competing for our time and attention
• Doubt in our ability to succeed
• Anticipated level of difficulty, frustration, or tedium involved
• Bad prior experience doing the same or similar task
• Lack of resources available to help get the job done

However, it is possible to overcome your inertia and get moving. The key is to discover or create that “unbalanced force” that works best for you. And often it doesn’t take much. Here are some strategies you can try:

1. Give yourself an official start date. Write it on your calendar. Tell your friends. Make it known to yourself and everyone that you are committed to do this.

2. Don’t try to embark on a new project when you are sick, tired, or stressed. Don’t give up but rather focus on bringing back your health and balance, and commit to start when your “tank is full.”

3. Similarly, trying to make yourself do something when you are sad, angry, depressed, or scared may only bring you down further. Don’t beat yourself up. Just give yourself permission to start when you’re feeling more positive.

4. Get crystal clear on the benefits of your desired outcome, so that you visualize the rewards in much greater detail than the challenges surrounding the task. Pretend you’ve already reached your goal, then write a short story about it, including how it felt to be successful.

5. Think about what you already have at your disposal to get the job done. What knowledge or information do you have? Whom do you know who can help? What have you already done towards your goal?

6. Write down the steps to your goal. Sometimes our inertia comes from being unclear on exactly what it will take to get the job done. Breaking it down into smaller pieces can lift the weight that keeps you from starting.

7. Identify which steps in the process you know you’ll enjoy. Also figure out which ones you are dreading. Then ask for help, hire out, or otherwise delegate those tasks that may keep you from getting to the more desirable parts of the job.

8. If you are resisting because of some previous experience, ask yourself what you would do differently this time around. Focus on what’s unique about this situation and what you’ve learned that will now support your success.

9. Get a project partner. Someone who is willing to check in with you and vice versa as you both work on your goals.

10. See how your commitment to this goal will benefit others around you. Sometimes we’re more than willing to do things for others that we’re not willing to do for ourselves alone.

You may find that even one of these strategies is enough to break through your inertia, creating momentum that propels you towards your goal. Or you may have to try several in order to tap into that force that finally gets you off that chair and into your life.

So…what would you like to get started on today?

OK, summer’s pretty much over but your mind and heart may not be quite ready to give up on longer days, shorter pants, sunblock, and barbecues. Nevertheless, there’s something in the air (a throwback to school days, no doubt) that calls us to roll up our sleeves, redouble our efforts, and kick our lives back into gear.

Problem is, that’s sometimes easier said than done.

What do you do when you have a goal but don’t seem to be motivated to get it done? Well, lots of things: daydream, distract yourself with idle tasks, multi-task inefficiently, and engage in all sorts of avoidance behaviors that many of us struggle with but rarely admit to.

Maintaining focus and self-discipline is something we face at one point or another in our lives (or our day!). We feel we should do something, and would if only we felt motivated, or had the self-discipline, or both.

But as we know, simply willing ourselves to get going is often a losing battle. Instead, try changing your perspective from motivation to inspiration. Here are some ways to shift your thinking from “oh no” to “let’s go!”

1. Once upon a time. Depending on the size of the goal, pick a point in the future (one week, six months, five years) and imagine telling someone how you accomplished it. In great detail. Often outlining the process in your head can break through your resistance to action.
2. Out of the mouths of babes. Imagine asking a child (or actually ask one) how they would get the job done. Listen to the fun, creative answer, and apply what works!
3. Prime the pump. What’s the smallest increment of action you can take to start your goal? Do that one small thing. You may then find yourself drawn to the next small step. And the next.
4. Capture the state. What does “inspiration” feel like to you? Think about the last time you felt truly fired up to do something, then put your body and mind in that state. Use that energy to propel you forward.
5. Change your language. When it comes to getting things done, how do you talk about yourself? “I’m lazy.” “I procrastinate.” “I’m good at starting things…” Change your thoughts and words to those of completion and accomplishment. Even if you don’t believe it at first, keep it up and watch your actions change…
6. Do a values check. Make a list of your top 10 values. What’s most important to you? Does this task or goal support one or more of these values? If so, how? If not, ask yourself why it’s on your list.
7. Buddy up. Team up with a trusted friend, and share your goals. Set up a schedule of mutual accountability. Get together and treat yourselves when you’ve both met your goals.
8. Model your hero. Think about someone you admire (friend, celebrity, fictional character). What’s their attitude? How would they do this? Then pretend you’re just like them.
9. Do an inventory. Get out some paper, write your goal at the top, and make two columns: What I Have and What I Need. In the first column, list everything you have to accomplish your goal (tools, materials, know-how, personality traits, etc.) and in the second, what you don’t have. What shows up in the second column may shed light on why you’re stuck and how to fix it.
10. Build on your successes. Think about everything you’ve accomplished so far today (including getting out of bed!). No matter how small, you do many wonderful things every day. Make a habit of recounting your successes every night, and soon you’ll be looking for more things to go after tomorrow.

So, pick one thing you’d like to get done. Start with something small, apply one or more of these strategies, or make up your own. What would you like to feel inspired about today?