The Reasons and Effects of Inaction

Some of the effects of physical and mental inaction, idleness and inactivity are lack of personal growth and success, having health and weight issues and feeling discontent.

The reasons for immobility are laziness, doubts, fears and feeling indifferent. But if you look deeper, you may find that the major reason for idleness is because there is an absence of goals, visions or passions in life.

If you make a study on successful individuals, you will find that they are action oriented. They didn't stand still and remain motionless even when challenges showed up. Successful individuals are aware that inactivity is a great enemy and a danger.

They pushed themselves and developed the disciplines to take consistent action. They will pause to contemplate and evaluate their progress and once they get the feedbacks, they take a different action or repeat the same and move on until they reach their goals.

We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don't let yourself be lulled into inaction. - Bill Gates

How to Overcome Inaction

Determine your major goal in life.

Having a passionate goal and being able to see it materializing in your mind is one of the best ways to overcome inertia and procrastination. When you know what you want and you want it badly, nothing and no one can stop you.

Think about something that you have achieved right now that was once a goal. What did you do to acquire it? What made you move and take action? Use the same strategy to overcome your lack of action.

Break them down.

Sometimes, thinking of having too many things to do can make you feel overwhelmed. It can stop you from taking action or from finishing what you are supposed to do. One of the solutions is to break them down.

Let's say you want to lose a few kilograms. Think of only one thing you can do immediately and take action. Once you start moving, you will develop the momentum.

Imagine the end result.

Create a picture of the end result that you wish to experience. Once you have done that, visualize it regularly. Keep your focus on your goals. If you think you can't do that, cut out and paste pictures from magazines and create a dream board. Imprint them in your mind and soon you will be able to see them inside your head.