How to set boundaries
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Have you ever sat down with a solid block of time, ready to tackle a big project, only to spend that entire time just planning how to start? Maybe you’ve got your to-do list out, your notes spread across the table, and you’re thinking, ‘Okay, I just need to get organized.’ But before you know it, your time’s up and all you’ve done is shuffle things around.
Or maybe, like one of our listeners, Shanna, you find yourself making endless lists, revising your schedule for the fifth time, or trying to map out the perfect strategy for an assignment, only to realize that the real work hasn’t even begun yet. Shanna’s juggling a lot right now—she told me that she often spends her early mornings planning her day but then struggles to actually get started. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and you’re definitely in the right place.
Today, we’re diving into a topic that hits home for a lot of us: overplanning and analysis paralysis. We’ll be talking about:
- What overplanning and analysis paralysis actually are, and why they happen
- How to recognize when you’re stuck in these cycles
- Practical strategies to break free from overplanning and start taking action
- And how to build a routine that encourages doing, not just planning
Shanna, this episode is especially for you, and for anyone else who tends to overthink or feels overwhelmed by endless planning.
Feeling stuck in planning mode doesn’t have to be just the way it is. Stick around, and I’ll share some tips to help you feel more focused, more prepared, and ready to take on whatever’s next.
What Overplanning and Analysis Paralysis Are
So, let’s start by unpacking what overplanning and analysis paralysis actually are, and why they happen—especially when you’re balancing a lot like Shanna is.
Overplanning is exactly what it sounds like: spending too much time preparing, organizing, and thinking about a task rather than actually doing it. It often stems from a desire to get everything ‘just right’ before you begin, which can lead to endless tweaking and revising of your plans. And while it might feel productive in the moment, it can easily become a form of procrastination.
Then there’s analysis paralysis, which is when you’re faced with so many choices or so much information that you end up stuck, unable to make a decision or take action. This can happen when you’re trying to decide the best way to approach a project, weighing all the possible options, or trying to anticipate every possible outcome before you start. Sound familiar?
These behaviors often go hand in hand, and they’re particularly common in high-stress situations or when you’re juggling multiple responsibilities. For someone like Shanna, who’s managing a full-time job, a toddler, pregnancy, school, and family life, it’s no wonder that her brain is working overtime to try to stay on top of everything. But sometimes, that very effort to stay on top can lead to feeling overwhelmed and stuck.
What’s important to understand is that overplanning and analysis paralysis often come from a place of fear—fear of making the wrong decision, fear of failure, or even fear of not being perfect. It’s like your brain is saying, ‘If I just plan a little more, if I just think this through one more time, I can avoid making a mistake.’ But in reality, this kind of thinking just keeps you from making any progress at all.
Now, don’t get me wrong—planning is a good thing! Having a roadmap for your tasks and knowing what steps to take can be incredibly helpful. But when planning becomes excessive, it can prevent you from actually moving forward. The key is finding that balance between planning enough to feel prepared and not so much that you never get started.
So how do you know when you’ve crossed the line from helpful planning into overplanning and analysis paralysis? Let’s talk about some signs to watch out for.
4 Signs You’re Overplanning
1. You’re Stuck in the Planning Phase
One of the biggest red flags is spending a disproportionate amount of time planning rather than doing. If you’re constantly revising your to-do list, tweaking your schedule, or mapping out every tiny detail of a project without actually starting the work, it’s a sign that you might be overplanning.
Take a step back and ask yourself: Am I spending more time preparing than I am actually taking action? If the answer is yes, it might be time to shift gears.
2. You Feel Overwhelmed by Decisions
Another sign of analysis paralysis is feeling overwhelmed by the number of decisions you need to make. This could be decisions about what task to tackle first, how to approach a project, or even which tools or resources to use. If you find yourself agonizing over these choices to the point where you’re not making any progress, it’s likely that you’re stuck in analysis paralysis.
Sometimes, the sheer number of options can freeze us in our tracks. Remember, it’s better to make a decision and move forward than to stay stuck in indecision.
3. You’re Seeking Perfection
Perfectionism is a common driver of overplanning. If you find yourself thinking, I just need to get this perfect before I start, or constantly revising your plans to eliminate every possible flaw, you might be falling into this trap. While it’s natural to want to do things well, perfectionism can lead to endless planning without any real action.
Perfection is an illusion, and chasing it can keep you from making meaningful progress. It’s important to remind yourself that done is better than perfect.
4. You’re Avoiding the Actual Work
Finally, if you’re using planning as a way to avoid the actual work, that’s a clear sign of overplanning. It’s easy to convince yourself that you’re being productive because you’re ‘getting organized’ or ‘preparing,’ but if you’re using these tasks to procrastinate, you’re only delaying the inevitable.
Ask yourself if you’re planning because it’s necessary, or if you’re doing it to avoid diving into the hard work. If it’s the latter, it’s time to take a deep breath and start taking action.
Recognizing these signs is the first step to breaking free from overplanning and analysis paralysis. Once you’re aware of them, you can start to shift your focus from planning to doing.
5 Strategies to Break Free from Overplanning
Alright, now that we’ve talked about what overplanning and analysis paralysis are and how to recognize the signs, let’s dive into some practical strategies you can use to overcome them and start making real progress.
1. Set Time Limits for Planning
One of the most effective ways to keep your planning in check is by setting a time limit. Decide ahead of time how long you’re going to spend planning—say, 10 or 15 minutes—and set a timer. When the timer goes off, it’s time to move from planning to doing. This helps you avoid getting stuck in the planning phase and forces you to take action, even if you don’t feel 100% ready.
If you find yourself spending your entire morning planning in planning mode, try setting a timer for just 10 minutes. Use that time to map out your top priorities for the session, and then dive into the first task as soon as the timer rings.
2. Break Tasks Down into Smaller Steps
When you’re feeling overwhelmed by a big project or a long to-do list, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overplanning. One way to combat this is by breaking tasks down into smaller, more manageable steps. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, focus on the first small step you can take to get started.
For example, if you’re working on a big school assignment, don’t try to plan out the entire project in one sitting. Instead, break it down into bite-sized pieces—like gathering research materials, outlining your paper, or writing the introduction. By focusing on one small step at a time, you’ll be less likely to get overwhelmed and more likely to take action.
3. Use the ‘Good Enough’ Mindset
Perfectionism is a major contributor to overplanning, so it’s important to adopt a ‘good enough’ mindset. Remember that it’s better to make progress and complete something imperfectly than to never finish because you’re striving for perfection. Give yourself permission to let things be ‘good enough’—whether that’s a rough draft of an assignment or a first attempt at a new task.
Instead of trying to create the perfect plan for your day, aim for a plan that’s just ‘good enough’ to get you started. You can always adjust and improve as you go, but the key is to start somewhere.
4. Create a Morning Power Hour
If you’re struggling to get started in the morning, try dedicating the first hour of your day to focused, uninterrupted work. I like to call this a ‘power hour.’ During this time, commit to working on a specific task without distractions—no planning, no overthinking, just doing.
By setting aside this focused time, you’ll build momentum and make real progress before the day even begins.
5. Prioritize Action Over Perfection
Finally, prioritize taking action over creating the perfect plan. Start with the tasks that will move you forward, even if you’re not entirely sure about the ‘best’ way to do them. The more you take action, the easier it will become to keep moving forward.
Action is the Antidote to Overthinking
If you find yourself hesitating, remind yourself that action is the antidote to overthinking. Once you start, you’ll often find that things aren’t as complicated as they seemed during the planning phase.
These strategies are all about finding the balance between planning and doing—enough planning to feel prepared, but not so much that it keeps you from making progress. Remember, the goal is to move forward, even if it’s one small step at a time.
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