Personal Productivity
How to Breeze Through the Tasks You Hate - and Finish Them Easily
AUTHOR: Audrey Robinson
Most people struggle with procrastination at some point, usually around tasks that we hate to do. Even the most motivated individuals will have certain responsibilities that they just can’t stand doing, and often wind up leaving them for last. Here are some tips for finding your motivation and checking these dreaded chores off your list.
Block Out Some Time
If you’re having trouble just picking it up and working on it, dedicate some time to work on that project and only that project. If you tell yourself that you’re going to devote the second half of your day to that task and only that task, it will encourage you to get all your other work done in the morning, so that when the time comes, there are no other pressing matters that still need to be handled.
Lose the Distractions
Put away your phone, turn off the TV, and close any programs and web-browsers that you won’t be using. Set any notification settings to Do Not Disturb and close your office door. By clearing away the distractions, you won’t be tempted to pick up your mobile device when it dings, or tune into a television program that has nothing to do with your work.
Get Organized
Gather the materials that you need and make a list that contains all the parts of the project, in order. Arrange everything that you will need in an accessible way near the work-space. You can even take advantage of a planning and organizing app designed to help you increase productivity and reduce stress.
Break it Up
Once you’ve planned and organized your task, you don’t need to tackle the whole thing all at once. Break the task up into sections and focus on one thing at a time. It’s much easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel when the end of the tunnel is a whole lot closer. As you complete each section, check it off the list and take a short break.
Use Timers
Setting a timer for working can actually help you become more productive. There is actually a perfect formula for productivity: work for 52 minutes, then take a 17 minute break, then repeat. It may seem strange but defining a time that you are going to work for, and then knowing that a break is coming at the end can help you stay focused. You wont be tempted to jump up to grab a snack or a glass of water, and if you need to use the bathroom, you can push it aside because you know the opportunity is coming.
Bribe Yourself
There is nothing wrong with deciding that you’re going to treat yourself to a special reward for completing a task that you’re dreading. Decide that when it’s done you’ll go out to eat, or to see a movie, or even something as simple as taking a nap. Just make sure that your reward is a motivation enough to see you through the job.
Hire Someone to Do It for You
If you’re really struggling with a task that you don’t want to deal with, and it’s not proprietary to your company, feel free to outsource the work. This can be especially true for large household chores that you have been putting off. There are plenty of websites out there in the gig economy that allow you to post a job that you need done, that can help find someone to do it.
No matter how difficult the task is, or how much you hate the idea of doing it, you’re still going to have to get it done. Following these strategies can help you get a handle on the things you hate, so that you can get them done and move on to better things.
One comment
The other thing that I have found to be very effective is to just outsource the things you absolutely hate doing. While this does come at a cost, if you use a Virtual Assistant or outsource other tasks such as social media management you can free up a lot of time for the things you do enjoy. I use this strategy a lot with my startup Task Pigeon and it has significantly improved the amount of time I have available to focus on the core needs of my business.
The other thing that I have found to be very effective is to just outsource the things you absolutely hate doing. While this does come at a cost, if you use a Virtual Assistant or outsource other tasks such as social media management you can free up a lot of time for the things you do enjoy. I use this strategy a lot with my startup Task Pigeon and it has significantly improved the amount of time I have available to focus on the core needs of my business.