We Are Drowning in Data: 3 Powerful Ways to Jumpstart Action and Break Free

⚡️Action is your savior - here are 3 ways to jump-start it.

It wasn't long ago that many actions were easier to take than acquiring the data required to make informed decisions. Today, we are drowning in data, and taking action has become more challenging.

Did the internet really change everything? Yup it sure did.

Only a couple of decades ago I wanted to:

Get inspired. There was no scrolling TikTok to see what other skaters or surfers were doing, but when the new Thrasher Magzine landed at 7-11, every punk with a skateboard knew it.

Start a business. I had no idea who to talk to about how that worked. Literally no idea at all, nor where to even start looking. I'd go to the bookstore, read a chapter or two (that was basically an old-school "review", and then purchase the book.

Learn how to get in shape. Again, I read some books. For the real cutting-edge news, I eagerly await the latest issue of a fitness magazine to hit the stands. Not only for information (mostly ads in disguise) but also for inspiration.

File a patent for an idea. To see if that idea was already filed, I'd spend hours upon hours at the library sorting through microfiche (if you're too young to even know what that is, ask AI).

But today? That's a different story. We can get anything, anywhere, anytime, in any form of media. It's never been easier to get any of the information you need to learn how to take action on anything.

But here's the rub: because of the infinite amount of content out there, it's also never been easier to do nothing.

Before, the effort required to learn about the thing rivaled the effort required to start doing the thing. But with zero effort expended, you will quickly drown in 90-second clips. What used to be effort is now largely entertainment.

Sometimes, we'll even take out our wallets in the hope of igniting action. Between courses, books, and gyms, people in the US are spending over $150 billion. Yet over half of them never use what they purchased.

Here are three ways to become the minority:

1. Leverage the Zeigarnik Effect to Jumpstart Momentum

The Zeigarnik Effect is when incomplete tasks stick in our heads more than completed ones. When you start something and leave it unfinished, your brain keeps circling back, nudging you to wrap it up. This can be incredibly useful when it comes to taking action: begin with a small, achievable step and leave it intentionally unfinished. It could be something as simple as writing that first paragraph, doing five push-ups, or making that single phone call. By starting, you set up a mental “open loop” that your mind will feel compelled to close.

Try This: Write down three small actions that could help you move closer to your larger objectives. Do the first part of each, and then stop. Let your brain work in the background and feel the urge to complete them.

2. Use the Principle of Activation Energy to Lower Barriers

This is the minimum effort required to initiate a task. The higher this threshold, the more likely we are to delay or avoid taking action. To combat this, lower the barriers to entry as much as possible. I’ll do this often when setting up a Catalyst Habit. Simplify the setup, gather all required materials, and eliminate distractions before you start.

Try This: If your goal is to start a daily workout routine, prepare your workout clothes the night before, have a set playlist ready, and a specific plan for the workout. When it’s go-time, you’ve removed as many obstacles as possible.

3. Embrace the Power of Small Wins to Sustain Discipline

Action breeds more action, and small wins create a positive feedback loop that fuels your discipline. B.J. Fogg’s (behavioral scientist at Stanford) Tiny Habits model promotes starting with actions so small that they almost feel trivial. But by succeeding at these bite-sized actions, you build confidence, which makes it easier to take on larger ones.

Try This: Identify a “tiny habit” related to your goal. If you want to read more, commit to two pages a day. Do this for a week, and then add two more, etc.