For instance, maybe you don’t feel like working on an essay due for your college English course. Reframing the task could help you acknowledge that doing it will get you one step closer to finishing the course. Plus, practicing your writing skills will be beneficial in your aspirations to be a journalist.
Intrinsic motivation comes from feelings of autonomy, mastery, and purpose. Look for ways your task is linked to these three factors. Can you complete the task on your own terms? Will it help you master a skill? Will it help you make purposeful progress towards an end goal you care about? Harnessing the power of intrinsic motivation is an especially powerful way to get creative work done.
“I’ve finished tough projects before, and I can do it again. ” “I’m not afraid to make mistakes. Making mistakes is part of making progress. ” “I value my time, so I make getting things done a priority. ”
For example, maybe you loathe having to do the laundry, but your partner actually enjoys it. You can request to swap chores with them and complete an undesirable chore that this person has to do. That way, both of you get your chores done, but you don’t have to do one that you particularly hate doing.
For example, if you are dreading cleaning your room, you might say to yourself, “I am grateful that I have a room to clean. Many people are not as lucky. ” Or, if you are dreading writing a big paper for a college English class, then you might write out something like, “I am grateful that I have the chance to attend college. There are millions of people around the world who would love to be able to do this. ”
For instance, you could make plans to go out with your friends after finishing the first draft of your paper, or visit your favorite coffee shop after you finish cleaning the kitchen.
Pumped up music is basically anything that gets your heart-beating and your body moving. Dance music can provide a source of entertainment and distraction from an unpleasant task. Think along the lines of Kanye West’s “Stronger” for lyrics that make you want to get stuff done. Or, try Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” for a nice, kick-butt confidence boost to complete the task at hand.
If you’re having trouble finding someone to team up with in real life, consider seeking out an online group for support and accountability. Approach a friend and say “Hey, I have to help my dad clean out the garage today. Want to join in? We can put on some tunes and have lunch at the pizzeria?”
Sharing your goals with other people may also make those goals seem more real and tangible to you, making it easier to get started. Post on your social media pages about what you’re doing. Say, “I’m giving up sugar for a month. I need to overcome my sugar addiction. Who’s with me?” You may even find a buddy online to do the task with you and help hold you accountable.
Try making yourself a cup of tea, lighting a candle, and putting on a favorite movie or TV show, such as Harry Potter or something else that you find comforting. Make sure to choose something that won’t be too distracting, but that will offer you opportunities to look up and take breaks now and then. Going to a neighborhood coffee shop may also help to make your task more enjoyable. Order yourself a special drink and choose a cozy table to complete your task. Even opening a few windows and putting on some music can help to brighten your environment and make the task seem less daunting.
For instance, try starting a new exercise routine by taking walks at a park, where you can enjoy the fresh air and the beauty of nature. If you’ve stalled on a creative project, think back to what inspired the project in the first place, and see if you can use that inspiration to re-motivate yourself. [11] X Research source If you hate a task through and through, it’s unlikely that you’ll stick with it for long, especially if it’s a recurring task like working out. Instead of trying to force yourself into doing something you can’t stand, look for alternate ways to accomplish the same thing.
When you’re breaking down a big project, to-do lists can be a helpful tool for sorting and organizing all of your smaller sub-tasks. For example, if your task is “Pack the apartment for moving,” you may start by packing your off-season clothing, memorabilia, and décor. Then, you can gradually pack a few things each day to progress towards the overall goal.
Adjust the Pomodoro technique to your liking. Some people might find that they get better results working in time intervals of 15 minutes or 40 minutes, for instance.
Trying to get through a task as quickly as possible can actually make you dislike it more. Slow down and you might find it’s not as bad as you thought. For example, maybe you have to prep your meals for the week ahead–a long and boring task that you do not look forward to on Sundays. You could add creativity and excitement to this task by finding fun, new recipes to try. Looking forward to cooking something novel may help you get through a long evening of meal preps.
