Transitions are torture for me.

Finishing one task and starting another? It sounds simple. It’s not. At least not for me.

My wife can attest.

Years ago, when our daughter was little, we were driving home close to bedtime. My wife turned around and said, “Okay, just so you know — we’re heading home, then supper, then bath, then bed.”

I asked what she was doing.

“Helping her with her transitions.”

I’d never even heard the concept before. My wife understood something I wouldn’t figure out for years.

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THE STUCK

Classic ADHD brain. Once I’m in the zone, I’m in. But switching? Moving from one thing to the next? It’s like my brain needs a full reboot.

I finish an email. I know I need to do some online banking next. But instead of doing it, I’ll grab a drink. Check my phone. Wander around. Open the fridge. Close the fridge. Open it again like something new appeared.

An hour later, I still haven’t started.

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THE PRAYER

This one tortured me for years.

I’m a religious guy. So I prayed for an answer.

Nothing fancy came. No burning bush. No ten-step system.

Just a small idea.

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THE PIVOT

Here’s what came to me:

When I finish a task, I start the next one immediately. Even if it’s just for 30 seconds.

Finish the email. Log into online banking. Pull up the account. Then walk away.

Go make a tea. Stare at the fridge like it has answers. Whatever.

But when I come back? I’m not starting. I’m continuing.

The transition already happened.

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WHY IT WORKS

Starting is the hard part. The resistance. The friction. The “I’ll do it later.”

Here’s what’s underneath: we think we need to feel ready. Motivated. Clear-headed. We tell ourselves we’ll start when the moment is right.

The moment is never right. So we wait. And waiting feels like wisdom — but it’s just avoidance in a nice outfit.

But if you’ve already started — even for 30 seconds — you’re past it.

You’re not facing a blank screen. You’re picking up where you left off.

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THE MONEY VERSION

Here’s the trick: I don’t start with the hard thing.

I start with something I actually like. (I’m weird — I like email.)

Then, before I step away, I transition straight into the thing I’ve been avoiding. The budget. The credit card statement. The spreadsheet I haven’t opened in two weeks.

30 seconds. Just open it. Look at it. Then walk away.

When I come back, I’m not starting from scratch. I’m continuing.

The pleasure carried me into the pain. And the pain isn’t so bad when you’re already in it.

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THE CONNECTION

Last week I told you about Kari. One question. One pivot. A cascade.

Not all pivots look like hers. Some are tiny. 30 seconds tiny.

A turn. A small shift. Everything downstream changes.

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NOTHING FANCY

I figured this out recently. Not ten years ago. Recently.

I’m still working on it. Still forgetting. Still wandering around when I should be transitioning.

But I’m not waiting until I’ve mastered it to tell you about it. That’s not how this works. You share what’s helping while it’s still helping.

My week feels different when I do it.

Nothing fancy. Just 30 seconds.

Avraham
Your Financial Coach

P.S. Now I gotta transition to my next task — my own budget. Thirty seconds. Then my tea. ☕