Too Many Ideas, Laziness and Guilt: The Problem (Part 1)

In the midst of my busy mind, I often find myself juggling numerous ideas, all competing for attention.

“I should write a blog about this,” I say, and then, “Wait, maybe it’s a perfect YouTube video idea!” It goes on, “I should restart my YouTube channel,” and “What about spending more time on my craft hobby?”

Oh, and let’s not forget, “I need to start exercising regularly,” and “Perhaps I should try a side hustle for extra income?”

But, by the end of the day, I feel overwhelmed and call myself lazy for not pursuing any of these passions.

Having so many ideas is a blessing, but it’s also causing me to struggle with inaction, laziness, and guilt.

I know I’m not alone in this, so I want to share how we can handle this creative chaos together.

Let’s explore some simple strategies to make sense of our thoughts, break down big tasks and conquer procrastination.

Embracing the Creative Mindset

Having a lot of new creative ideas is a good sign. This indicates that the creative juices of our minds are working perfectly.

These ideas are what bring inspiration to us. They bring us out of the creative blocks and might even turn into something big if worked upon.

But, we need to realise that not all ideas are to be taken seriously.

We need to realise our limitations. It’s about finding a balance between exploring new ideas and giving ourselves the freedom to let some of them go.

Next time an idea comes across, welcome it with open arms. Embrace your creative mindset. Later on, try to prioritize and focus on the ideas that truly resonate with you.

Here’s how I do it:

1. Let the idea brew into my mind for a while
2. Go to Google 😅 and search about the existing dimensions of it
3. Write the idea somewhere random (I always carry a diary to jot down such things, and occasionally, I do it digitally as well.)
4. And then forget about it

The fourth step here helps me judge if the idea is worth taking seriously or not.

If the idea still sticks in my mind in the coming days, I then go further into exploring it.

The key here is “to not take instant action” and give yourself time to think.

Root Causes of Inaction

Laziness is a consequence, not the cause.

When facing too many ideas, we try to avoid all of them and conceal this behind our passivity.

The actual causes of inaction could be:

• Fear of failure
• Lack of confidence
• Perfectionism
• Pressure to be productive all-day
• Lack of resources/guidance

Take, for instance, the idea of re-starting my YouTube channel. Various thoughts flood my mind: “Can I compete with others in my niche? Will I stay consistent? Do I have the skills for the long run? What if I give up halfway?”

This one example clearly illustrates how a single idea triggers a cascade of fears — fear of failure, lack of confidence, and the pursuit of perfection.

This pattern is common for many of the ideas we encounter daily. These fears overwhelm us, leading to inaction, which then results in feelings of laziness and, eventually, guilt for not being productive.

Conclusion

Transforming the abundance of ideas into a strength is possible with the right approach. By implementing a method to analyze, categorize, and prioritize your thoughts, you can break free from the cycle of idea-laziness-guilt.

Central to this process is cultivating self-awareness. We’ll delve deeper into the solution in the upcoming article. Stay tuned!