How To Be Productive When You Just Don’t Want To
I’m not going to lie – I don’t want to write this blog post. I’m tired, cranky, and think I’m coming down with something. I’ve managed to distract myself with lots of other tasks. So, I’m being productive, but not on the task that I need to complete – you know, like writing this blog post.
I’ve sure you’ve had a few moments like this in the past. You have something to do or complete, but you REALLY don’t want to it. It seems hard or boring or just plain exhausting. And somehow it just doesn’t get done.
But it has to get done.
How do you give yourself a swift kick in the pants and get going? Let’s walk through some tips to get you more productive, especially when you just don’t feel like working.
How To Be Productive When You Just Don’t Want To
Goals
How does the task relate to your goals? If the task is for school or work, try to link it to your current long and short term goals. “I really don’t want to write this essay, but it will help me earn Honor Roll this marking period. That puts me one step closer to my dream college.”
Write that goal on a sticky note and put it next to your computer. Look at it every time you just want to get up and go.
Schedule It
If this is a longer-term assignment or task, be sure to schedule work time in your planner. And don’t wait until the end of the day to work on it, when you’re tired and ready to just stop working. Make it the first thing you work on. That way it will actually get worked on while you’re fresh.
Just Start It
Just get started. Tell yourself that you only have to work on it for 10 minutes. Set a timer and get started! After 10 minutes, reassess. While you may be ready to stop, chances are that you will be able to keep going. Even if you give up an come back later, you have started the task, making it easier later on.
I used this technique for this very blog post and it totally worked for me! I was only going to work on it for 10 minutes. Twenty-five minutes later and most of the blog post is written.
Take Breaks
If you’re trying to power through, you’re going to burn out. Instead, work for a concentrated period of time and then take a short break. (The Pomodoro Technique is ideal for this!) That break allows your brain and body to relax. It won’t be *quite* so hard to get back to work.
Use Rewards
Sometimes, the only thing that gets me through a task is knowing how I will reward myself at the end. Whatever gets you through, man! Find what motivates you – ice cream, a walk in the park, 15 minutes to play video games, guitar practice – and use it as a reward.
But be serious about this. Write the reward down and what you must do to earn it. And then keep to it. If you think you won’t make yourself do the work, go public! Tell someone and ask them to help hold you accountable.
Play Power Music
I can get some major work done to 80s power ballads. Seriously. For some reason, that music just gets me going. What does it for you? Beyonce? 90s rap? Whatever your power music is, get your playlist ready and rock it out.
A quick note on this – if you find yourself paying more attention to the tunes than your task, it might be time to make a study playlist.
Hopefully, these tips will help you get on the productivity train! Let me know how it goes in the comments below!
Related Posts: How to Stay Focused