Going through the motions is incredibly useful. It gets you showing up, which means it gets you started. You’re metaphorically greasing the grooves. It’s better than the alternative, which is not getting started. 

One way to do this is just ask yourself, “What’s the next physical action?” Then plan a time and place to do it and follow through. (Ideally, maybe right now!)

Copywork—the exercise of typing out someone else’s work—is a way of applying this idea. It’s a good warm up to start writing on a cold day.

At the same time, going through the motions won’t be where you stop. Just showing up is the bare minimum. Doing the bare minimum is much better than failing or getting zero, it’s also the equivalent to a passing grade. If you’re aiming for excellence, going through the motions is best used as a way to build momentum, not as a substitute for doing your best.