Hi Mate!

You’ve got one big task in front of you, and no matter what you do, starting it feels impossible.

Sound familiar?

You're not alone.

I’ve been there—staring at that massive project, knowing it needs to get done but feeling completely stuck.

The weight of it felt overwhelming, frustrating, and impossible to escape.

The longer you wait, the heavier it feels—like an immovable mountain growing larger by the minute, threatening to crush you under its weight.

You try to distract yourself with smaller tasks or tell yourself you’ll tackle it “later,” but deep down, you know procrastination only makes it worse.

The real issue isn’t the size of the task.

It’s the mental block created by viewing the whole thing at once.

When you focus on all the steps you need to take and the decisions waiting to be made, it’s no wonder you feel paralyzed.

It’s like trying to eat an entire meal in one bite—impossible, overwhelming, and, ultimately, unproductive.

But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to feel this way.

What if, instead of one massive task, you could break it down into manageable pieces that felt easy to start?

What if you could get past that mental block and make steady progress—without the overwhelm?

That’s exactly what I’ll share with you in this article by sharing a simple, proven method that helped me tackle even the biggest, most daunting tasks.

Once I started using this approach, I went from feeling stuck to actually enjoying the process of getting things done.

Instead of staring at a mountain, I focused on placing one piece at a time. And before I knew it, I was making real progress.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a step-by-step strategy for making any task feel doable.

No more procrastination, no more stress—just real progress, one step at a time.

Ready to dive in?

Why Big Tasks Feel Impossible

Before we dive into the method I use to break down big tasks, it’s important to understand why large tasks can feel so impossible in the first place.

Grasping this will give you better control when applying the method later.

When you’re faced with a big task, your brain doesn’t just see a to-do—it sees one massive, unmanageable challenge.

Suddenly, it’s not just about getting it done anymore. Instead, the task becomes a looming, overwhelming presence, too big to grasp all at once.

And when that happens? You freeze. You delay. You avoid.

Why does this happen?

The answer lies in two psychological concepts:

• Cognitive overload

• Fear of the unknown

Our brains are wired to handle information and tasks in small, manageable chunks.

But when faced with something huge, especially something with lots of steps or uncertainty, it triggers overwhelm.

The fear of the unknown adds to the paralysis—the decisions you haven’t made yet, the problems you haven’t encountered.

This uncertainty can magnify the task, making it feel even more daunting.

Anxiety sets in, and soon it feels like you're juggling too many things without knowing where to begin.

Naturally, your brain’s instinct is to drop everything.

This is when procrastination kicks in.

Instead of tackling the big, scary task head-on, your brain seeks easy wins—smaller tasks that feel productive but are actually distractions.

Checking your email, organizing your desk, tackling things you usually avoid—anything to provide relief from the pressure of that looming task.

But here’s the thing: while these smaller tasks might give you brief relief, they don’t solve the real issue.

The big task is still there, lurking in the background, and the more you avoid it, the bigger and more intimidating it becomes.

Over time, that single task can morph into a mental monster, taking up space in your mind, building stress, and sometimes even robbing you of sleep.

How to Tackle Big Tasks without Feeling Overwhelmed

Centuries ago, Lao Tzu wisely said,

It’s a truth that has stood the test of time, but in today’s fast-paced world, we often forget its significance.

Instead of taking small, manageable steps, we aim for giant leaps, expecting everything to happen in the blink of an eye.

This mindset is where we often go wrong.

Let me ask you this:

When planning a trip, do you try to figure out every single detail before you even leave the house?

Or do you start with the basics—picking a destination, packing your bags, and then figuring out the rest as you go?

Most of us approach a journey step by step, tackling each challenge as it comes our way.

Yet, when it comes to big tasks, we often make the mistake of trying to tackle everything at once, overwhelming ourselves in the process.

But what if you applied the same logic you use for trips to your big tasks?

What if, instead of stressing about every unknown obstacle, you simply focused your attention and energy on the next small step ahead?

By shifting your focus from the destination to the next step in your journey, you ease the mental burden.

It’s no longer about conquering the whole mountain in one go.

It’s about making steady, intentional, and continuous progress, one step at a time.

This is how we take control of overwhelm and avoid the trap of procrastination.

And it’s the key to making those seemingly impossible tasks feel much more manageable.

What is the Secret Method

The secret method is the LEGO Method.

Let me tell you all about it.

Just like building a LEGO project, you don’t start by trying to construct everything at once.

You begin with one small piece and gradually connect more until, bit by bit, the full structure takes shape.

The beauty of this method lies in its simplicity.

Each task, no matter how big, is broken down into tiny, actionable steps—just like individual LEGO bricks.

These small steps are easy to handle, and as you complete each one, you make measurable progress toward your goal without feeling overwhelmed.

By treating your task like a LEGO project, you can focus on manageable steps that lead to completing the whole.

Here’s how:

Step-by-Step Guideline

1. Define Your Goal

Imagine the final product.

What are you trying to create?

Get as clear and specific as possible about your end goal, so every step moves you directly toward that vision.

2. Identify Major Sections

Now, break the big task into major sections or chunks.

These are like the key parts of your LEGO set—such as the walls, towers, or foundation of what you’re building.

Seeing these sections helps you understand the larger picture.

3. Detail the Small Steps

Once you’ve identified the big sections, break each one down into smaller, actionable steps.

Think of these as the tiny LEGO pieces that come together to form the larger structure.

Each step should be something you can complete in one focused effort.

4. Tackle One Step at a Time

Pick just one small step to start with.

Don’t worry about the entire task or other sections—just focus on adding one piece at a time.

This prevents overwhelm and helps build momentum.

5. Assemble the Sections

After completing several small steps, start connecting them.

Just like assembling LEGO pieces, your task will begin to take shape, and seeing that progress keeps you motivated.

6. Fix Misplaced Pieces

If something doesn’t fit or isn’t working as expected, adjust it.

Just like with LEGO, if a piece doesn’t fit perfectly, you can move it around.

Flexibility is key—adjustments are a natural part of the process.

7. Celebrate Small Wins

After completing each section or small task, celebrate your progress.

Just like finishing part of a LEGO set, every win—no matter how small—gives you energy and motivation to keep going.

LEGO Method in Action

Let’s say you’ve got a human anatomy exam coming up, and just looking at the textbook makes your brain freeze and overwhelming.

You need to study everything—the skeletal system, muscular system, circulatory system, and more.

It feels like too much to handle at once, and the idea of trying to learn it all is overwhelming.

That’s where the LEGO method comes in.

Instead of trying to cram all the material at once, you break it down into smaller, manageable parts, just like building a LEGO model piece by piece.

Here’s how to use this method to study without getting overwhelmed, stress, and procrastinate:

1. Define Your Goal

Your goal is clear: pass your human anatomy exam.

But to make this even more specific, you might aim to fully understand the key concepts of each system in the body (e.g., skeletal, muscular, circulatory) and be able to answer questions on them confidently.

This gives you a clearer target.

2. Identify Major Sections

Break down the subject matter into the main body systems. For example:

• Skeletal system

• Muscular system

• Circulatory system

• Nervous system

These are the “big blocks” of your LEGO project, making the task less intimidating by focusing on one system at a time.

3. Detail the Small Steps

Now take each system and break it into even smaller, bite-sized tasks.

Let’s take the skeletal system, for example:

• Learn the names and functions of major bones (skull, femur, ribs, etc.)

• Understand how joints work and different types of joints

• Study how bones grow and repair

These smaller steps are your “LEGO bricks”—each one simple and manageable.

By focusing on just one brick at a time, you're not trying to memorize everything at once, making the process less stressful.

4. Tackle One Step at a Time

Instead of trying to memorize the entire skeletal system in one go, start with just one small step.

For example, begin with the names of the major bones.

By giving your full attention to this single task, you’ll avoid the overwhelm and build momentum, which makes it easier to move on to the next step, like understanding how joints work.

5. Assemble the Sections

Once you’ve covered the skeletal system in these smaller chunks, start piecing it all together.

Review the names of the bones, how joints work, and how bones grow.

Now, you’ll have a complete understanding of the skeletal system as a whole, and you’ll see how all the little parts fit together.

6. Fix Misplaced Pieces

If you realize there’s something you’re not grasping—say, you’re confused about the difference between ball-and-socket and hinge joints—it’s okay to go back and review.

Just like with LEGO, sometimes you need to adjust a few pieces to make everything fit perfectly.

7. Celebrate Small Wins

Finished studying the skeletal system? Great!

Take a moment to acknowledge that win.

Each completed section is like placing another block in your larger structure, and celebrating these small wins gives you the energy to tackle the next section, like the muscular or circulatory system.

Conclusion

By applying the LEGO method, you can approach any complex subject—whether it’s human anatomy, literature, or even a massive work project—with a sense of calm and focus.

Breaking things down into small, easy-to-handle pieces helps you make steady progress and see the bigger picture without feeling overwhelmed.

Remember, progress isn’t about tackling everything at once—it’s about building piece by piece, just like LEGO.

Whether you’re prepping for an exam or managing a large task at work, taking things one step at a time allows you to see how each part connects and brings you closer to your goal.

So next time you’re staring down a mountain of work, break it down, take it slow, and start building.

Catch you on Thursday at 1:23 PM EDT!

Discipulus.

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