Just Start

What analysis paralysis looks like in college: How to stop researching and start doing

BY Abby Sala  ★ October 15th, 2026

Photo Credit: Abby Sala

Has a fear of what might happen ever been the reason you procrastinate? I’ve been there. I know what it feels like to realize that in the time you spent planning, multiple tasks could have been completed already. Now that we have my credentials out of the way, why is it so hard to just start?

Analysis paralysis might not be a term you’re familiar with, but the feeling definitely is. Analysis paralysis is the overthinking that makes decision-making so difficult. It usually comes from a fear of making the wrong choice. Everyone in college has that one thing they keep saying they'll start. Maybe it's working out, reading, journaling or posting online. No matter what it is, most of us are stuck in planning mode. 

So why do we do this? It can range from something as simple as texting a friend back to a long-term goal like starting a workout routine. Both get put off because we think the only way to do something is to do it perfectly the first time. To put it simply, we over-research and overplan because we think mistakes are embarrassing. Spoiler: nobody's grading us.

Michael Gilbride illustrates this perfectly by comparing us to a Roomba. Stick with me for this one. Roombas bump into furniture over and over again, but that's how they learn the layout of a room. Then they know where to go and don't bump as much. We'd never mock a robot for that, yet we're harsh on ourselves for the same thing.

I’ve boiled down  my years of experience with procrastination to a few tips that combat this head-on. So, if you’d also consider yourself a Type-A perfectionist, I'd encourage you to keep reading.

1) Remember that you have more time than you think

Time will pass no matter what. Do I want to spend it burying myself deeper in planning mode, or will it be better used if I just start? It's 100% up to you. If my social media addiction has taught me anything, it's that I have so much more time than I think. Next time you have a free night and want to plop on the couch for a scrolling session, try doing something else. Get up and start what you keep saying you want to do. 

2) Start small

You’ve had “read a book a month” as a  New Year’s resolution for three years? Same. Sometimes, an unrealistic expectation is the barrier itself. That task will be way less daunting if you just start by reading 10 pages of a book that excites you one night instead of scrolling before bed. Yep, that’s it.  

3) Expect messiness, but expect it to get better

The key to breaking the cycle is learning to tolerate imperfection. Get comfortable with discomfort. Your first try might be clunky, and honestly, that's the point. That's the Roomba method. 

Set a 10-minute timer tonight, start the thing you keep putting off and stop when it rings (or keep going if you're feeling it). We're all so much more capable than we think. The best part is that it's totally in your hands. Nobody's expecting you to have it all figured out or finish everything the same day you start.

Edited by Kiera Miller