Have you ever felt excited about a new project or idea, only to abandon it for the next shiny thing without finishing the first? You’re not alone! Many people, in this world full of choice, especially entrepreneurs in the early days, tend to jump from one shiny idea to another, endlessly chasing novelty. But is this something to be concerned about? Let’s explore why we do this and how we can break the cycle. This article looks into the science behind this behaviour and how we can train our minds to stay focused and see things through.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
–> Why We Chase Shiny Ideas — The Brain’s Reward System
–> The Role of Instant Gratification
–> The Downside of Idea Hopping
–> How to Stay Focused — Four Strategies to Beat the Shiny Idea Syndrome
Why We Chase Shiny Ideas — The Brain’s Reward System
The real culprit here is how our brain is wired — particularly the dopamine reward system. Dopamine is a powerful chemical that makes us feel good when we encounter something exciting or new. The thrill of starting a new project triggers a release of dopamine, giving us that ‘buzz’ of excitement. This is why coming up with new ideas feels so thrilling — your brain is rewarding you for novelty.
However, there’s a catch. Dopamine is more active when we anticipate a reward than when we do the work. The moment you transition from the excitement of planning to the hard work of execution, dopamine levels drop. That’s when the thrill fades, and you start thinking about the next shiny idea that could give you another dopamine hit.
At this point, we become particularly vulnerable to distractions as we try to fill the void left by the fading excitement. Whether it’s hopping between new projects, endlessly scrolling through social media, or binge-watching YouTube or Instagram videos, our brains are chasing the next dopamine hit, much like an addict seeking a new dose to overcome withdrawal.
However, this constant switching between these ‘pain killers’ not only fails to solve the problem but also makes it worse — contributing to shorter attention spans and fostering a tendency to favour quick and easy rewards over meaningful, long-term achievements. While occasional distractions and downtime are fine, when they become excessive, they become a threat to our progress.
This pattern also extends to other areas of life. Think of how some people struggle to commit to relationships, continually seeking the thrill of new dating options. Like project hopping, this can become a cycle of chasing excitement without ever settling into putting in the effort required to grow something meaningful.
The Role of Instant Gratification
Another major factor that drives us to jump between projects is instant gratification. As humans, we’re wired to prefer quick rewards over long-term effort. New ideas promise immediate excitement, while ongoing projects often feel slow and less rewarding.
For example, imagine you start a new fitness plan. After a few days, progress feels slow. Then you see an ad for a ‘faster’ workout, and suddenly, your brain convinces you that this new plan will be easier and quicker. Before you know it, you’ve abandoned your original goal for the next exciting alternative. This cycle of idea-hopping leaves us in a loop of unfinished goals.
This is where the famous ‘Marshmallow Experiment‘ comes into play. In the 1960s, researchers conducted a study in which they offered children a choice: they could have one marshmallow immediately or wait 15 minutes and receive two marshmallows. Those children who were able to delay gratification and wait for the second marshmallow were found to have greater success later in life—better academic performance, healthier relationships, and higher financial stability.
This experiment underscores the importance of resisting the urge for immediate rewards in favour of long-term gains. Yet, when we’re faced with a new idea or project, the immediate excitement of starting something fresh can feel just like that tempting marshmallow. It’s easy to jump ship for the instant gratification of novelty rather than sticking with the harder work of following through.
The Downside of Idea Hopping
While chasing shiny ideas feels good in the short term, it comes with some serious downsides. When you don’t finish what you start, you miss out on the real sense of accomplishment that comes from completing a project.
Constantly jumping between ideas can also leave you feeling overwhelmed, scattered, and frustrated. You might end up with a lot of half-finished projects but little to show for all that initial excitement. This can lead to burnout, as you’re always starting fresh but never reaping the benefits of seeing something through.
How to Stay Focused — Four Strategies to Beat the Shiny Idea Syndrome
Luckily, you can break this cycle! Here are a few strategies to help you stay focused and complete what you start.
1. Break Big Goals into Smaller Milestones
One reason we abandon projects is that the end goal seems too far away, making the process feel overwhelming.
Another reason is that overly ambitious goals might intimidate us without our conscious realisation, leading us to sabotage them to avoid potential failure. To save ourselves from potential disappointment, that’s only real at that point in our imagination, we shift to something new, changing direction before we even have a chance to fail.
By breaking big goals into smaller, bite-sized tasks, you can trick your brain into staying motivated.
Not only does this make a task seem more manageable, giving your reptilian brain no reason to freak out about unknown consequences, but also every time you achieve a small milestone, your brain gets another dopamine hit, keeping you motivated throughout the process. For example, if you’re writing a book, instead of focusing on the daunting task of finishing 300 pages, set smaller milestones like completing one chapter a week. Celebrate each small win to keep the dopamine flowing.
It’s important to stay consistent — every small step not only leads to overall success but also feels like a mini achievement in itself.
2. Use the 10-Minute Rule
Ever find it hard to start working on a project? The 10-Minute Rule is a simple yet effective trick. Tell yourself you’ll work on a task for just 10 minutes.
Often, once you get on the roll, momentum takes over, and those 10 minutes turn into an hour or more. This works because it lowers the mental barrier to starting a task—10 minutes feels manageable, and your brain doesn’t feel overwhelmed. Once you’re in it, you’ll often want to keep going.
Check these unconventional ways to beat procrastination:
3. Practice Mindfulness to Tame the Monkey Mind
Your brain naturally seeks novelty, but mindfulness can help you resist the urge to chase after shiny distractions. Mindfulness trains your brain to stay present, allowing you to focus on the task at hand instead of daydreaming about the next exciting idea.
Simple mindfulness practices like focusing on your breath for a few minutes a day can strengthen your ability to resist distractions. When new ideas pop into your mind, instead of acting on them immediately, you can acknowledge them, set them aside, and refocus on the task at hand.
4. Cultivate Confidence and Overcome Self-Sabotage
Sometimes we abandon ideas not because we lose interest, but because we start to doubt ourselves. Before we even begin, we devalue the idea in our minds, convinced that we’re not capable of seeing it through.
A helpful exercise is to take a brainstorming approach using the ‘Three Chairs’ technique. Set up three chairs labelled ‘Creator,’ ‘Critic,’ and ‘Realist.’ Start in the Creator chair, letting your imagination run wild with ideas, no matter how ambitious or unconventional. Next, sit in the Critic chair and evaluate these ideas with ruthless criticism. Finally, move to the Realist chair, where you can integrate feedback from both the Creator and Critic. This method helps you assess your ideas with balance and clarity, preventing premature self-doubt from holding you back.
To strengthen your confidence further, spend some time tuning into your true desires. Often, we make decisions based on what seems rational or expected, but until we satisfy our inner passions, we may struggle to commit fully. Before committing to any new project, spend a month focusing on what truly excites you versus what you think you ‘should’ pursue. Aligning your choices with your authentic wants will help you make decisions you can stick to.
Read this article about re-aligning our desires:
Conclusion: Stay Focused and Finish What You Start
The allure of jumping from one shiny idea to another is deeply rooted in how our brain’s reward system operates, driven by dopamine and the desire for instant gratification. While the excitement of novelty can be thrilling, it often comes at the cost of unfinished projects and long-term satisfaction. Through understanding this cycle and implementing practical strategies we can train ourselves to stay focused and complete what we start. By doing this, not only do we reach our goals but also experience the deeper rewards of perseverance and a true sense of accomplishment.
