I hate to admit it… But you might relate to this—I’m addicted to sidetracking.
You dream big, right? You love brainstorming, strategizing, and setting goals. That’s me too. I can meticulously sketch out elaborate plans to bring my visions to life. Planning isn’t my problem. The challenge? Finishing. Unless there’s a hard deadline staring me in the face, I tend to drag things out longer than necessary.
Take January 2019, for instance. I had a grand plan: read four specific “purpose” books in one month. Fast forward to September, and I was only on book three. I devoured The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho in July, started Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl in August, and was knee-deep in The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron—a 12-week workbook—by September. The final book on my list? The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren is a 40-day devotional.
Now here’s the kicker—I still managed to read eighteen other books (plus about twenty books of the Bible). But let’s be real—that’s just another form of sidetracking.
Dictionary.com defines sidetracking as diverting away from a central issue or previously determined plan. Hand raised—that’s me. I finish eventually, but it takes me way longer than it should. It even took me ten years to finish my four-year bachelor’s degree. My friends and family joked that I must’ve been graduating with a doctorate.
Are You Addicted to Sidetracking?
Case in point: picture this—you plan a fun outing in Dubai for your weekly couple date with your spouse. You’ve got the whole day mapped out: hit one of the malls, do a little shopping, grab some American comfort food, then head to the Dubai Frame and finish at Jumeirah Beach. Perfect plan, right?
But then you spot a movie theater inside the mall. Suddenly, you’re thinking, Why not add a movie to the day? We’re already here. It’s right there within walking distance. Why not?
Your significant other, on the other hand, is the rational one. Calmly, they remind you, That’s not what we planned.
At the moment, you’re a little irritated. You couldn’t understand why you had to plan to go to the movies if the opportunity was right in front of you. But looking back, you realize the wisdom in his rationale.
If you had added a two- to three-hour movie, it would have made the day unbearably long. You might have been too tired—or run out of time—to visit Dubai Frame and Jumeirah Beach. The truth is, there are only 24 hours in a day, and you can only do so much. Sticking to the plan meant you actually finished what you started. In other words, you stayed focused.
The individual in the story is me. My name is Chalanda Asamoah, and I’m addicted to sidetracking.
Is There A Cure For A Sidetrack Addict?
In “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” Dale Carnegie shares numerous examples of how praise and encouragement motivate people to achieve more. He cites Charles Schwab, American investor and founder of the Charles Schwab Corporation, who once said:
“I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among my people the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.”
I couldn’t agree more with Carnegie—or with Schwab. Personally, I’ve noticed how words of encouragement move you. In fact, they move me so much that sometimes my own spirit wakes me up before the sun does. Case in point: my internal alarm clock jolted me awake at 4 a.m., driven not by obligation, but by a spark of motivation.
I found unexpected joy in video messaging Daniel each morning, proudly reporting that I had run laps around the mosque and knocked out my daily ab exercises—sweat glistening on my skin like liquid determination. His replies became fuel. He’d send back a video, his voice filled with pride, showering me with praise that made my heart flutter:
“Well done, baby.”
“Good job.”
“Keep it up.”
And when he noticed a body part a little tighter, firmer, or more toned, it felt like fireworks going off inside of me. I realized just how much pleasure I take in his compliments, how deeply words of encouragement push me to stay focused and finish what I start.
Positive, What?!?!
Daniel, without even realizing it, was practicing positive reinforcement. According to PositivePsychology.com,
“Positive reinforcement refers to the introduction of a desirable or pleasant stimulus (praise, appreciation, encouragement) after a behavior (exercise). The desirable stimulus (praise) reinforces the behavior (exercise), making it more likely that the behavior (exercise) will reoccur.”
That definition hit home. His simple words—“Well done, baby,” “Good job,” “Keep it up”—kept reinforcing my consistency. And when he noticed the results of my effort? That was the ultimate motivator.
PositivePsychology.com also explains a version of reinforcement called token reinforcers:
“Token reinforcers are awarded for performing certain behaviors and can be exchanged for something of value.”
For instance, if you completed 15,000 steps per day during the week, you could reward yourself with a massage or something simple, like a pedicure. These small rewards don’t just feel good—they provide extra incentive to finish what you start.
Your Turn
24 You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one runner gets the prize. So run like that. Run to win! 25 All who compete in the games use strict training. They do this so that they can win a prize—one that doesn’t last. But our prize is one that will last forever. 26 So I run like someone who has a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something, not just the air. 27 It is my own body I fight to make it do what I want. I do this so that I won’t miss getting the prize myself after telling others about it. 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27
The key is to set one to three clear goals at a time and actually finish them. Then, reward yourself. For example, I finished reading and applying The Artist’s Way and The Purpose Driven Life by Thanksgiving (2019), so I treated myself to an Oman boat cruise. That’s token reinforcement at work. Additionally, I kept the carrot at the end of the stick in front of me on my vision board.
Maybe for you, the reward is travel too. Because when you pair discipline with a destination, the journey becomes even more motivating.
Set your top 1–3 goals, achieve them, and then let me design your reward: a custom travel itinerary that turns your success into an unforgettable adventure.
Ready To Elevate Your Next Journey?
Let’s start planning your custom itinerary today.
Love This Content?
If this content made you smile, taught you something, or lit a fire under your goals, treat me to a cappuccino or a cocktail.
Cheers to growth, wealth, and a little indulgence!
Awesome message.. Thank you so much for allowing me to enter into your life and learn about more about myself. I realized I am addicted to side tracking. The encouraging ways that you suggested can help me improve my way of not pushing my plans to the side. I truly thank you.
Thank you for reading the post and your transparency. I thought I was the only one. LOL! Yes, sidetracking is a REAL addiction. Let’s GROW together. See you on the other side!!!
I prolong plenty of tasks myself, unless it’s pertaining to my employment..Lol. Then it’s mandatory I complete it, because if I prolong it, there are serious consequences I could be faced with. I really need to start completing my personal task especially the task that’ll help me grow personally and financially! I had a conversation with my son who is a college student about sidetracking and I believe I am a positive reinforcement to him and always try to keep him encouraged. I think we should all be a positive reinforcement to each other and a token reinforcement to ourselves. Thank you for this message Mrs. Asamoah!!
Thank you for commenting. Please continue to encourage our future generation to stay on track and value time. It’s so easy to think we have all the time in the world as young people then before we realize it we’re almost 40 or 50.
Guilty! I’m a sidetracker and a procrastinator! It’s a terrible combination!! I have good intentions but horrible follow through at times!
Thank you for reading and commenting. You said it…the follow-through. It took me a minute but I found out that accountability partners, a deadline, and/or visual reminders work for me. For instance, I wanted to fit in a dress for my 40th birthday, Daniel held me accountable with gym workouts (not the food..LOL), the date was my actual birthday, and I hung the dress I wanted to wear on the window. I saw it first thing when I woke up and right before I went to bed.