How I Get Myself to Do Boring Work
This is part of my How to Stop Procrastinating series.
Hey, friends!
I work as a computer programmer, and my average day is packed with tedious tasks and boring work. Parts of my day job are as exhilarating as watching paint dry or, worse, watching fishing on TV. (Sorry to fans of fishing shows, but they’re sooo boring, even more so than watching golf.)
For a long time, I struggled with procrastination. I struggled to get myself to do all of that boring work.
How did I get myself to do boring work?
I discovered a trick of sorts. And it has three steps.
Step 1: I stop fretting about the future and how horrendously awful these tasks are. Instead, I narrow my vision to just this moment and ask myself, “What’s the next step?” This moment is all that matters. All that matters is what I choose to do right now. (In fact, this moment is all that exists, but let’s not get too existential here!)
Now, this is easier said than done. My mind often wanders into future concerns or past regrets. But I can bring it back to the present by asking, “What’s the next step?” (I often have to ask this several times before my mind will cooperate.)
(Side note: This works because our brains love answering questions. Want to feel good? Ask your brain, “What’s amazing about being alive right now?” Seriously, ask this question several times, and your brain will answer it. But I digress…)
Step 2: I ask, “Am I willing to work on this next thing for 25 minutes?” If I am, then I set my cube timer for 25 minutes.
But sometimes, I lack the motivation to work for that long. Maybe I’m tired, hungry, or just angry because Jerry in DevOps is a giant jerk-face who makes me feel dumb for asking questions. In this case, I ask, “Am I willing to work for 5 minutes?” And I can usually find the intestinal fortitude to work for 5 minutes.
(Side note: Having gone through this cycle numerous times, I realized a fundamental truth: Boring tasks feel the most awful before I start them. Once I get started, they’re not so bad. Put another way, the only way to feel better is to start working.)
Step 3: I take a short break.
Take action
Next time you procrastinate, follow Stewie’s three-step process:
1. Ask, “What’s the next step?” (Keep asking this question until your mind focuses on the present moment.)
2. Ask, “Am I willing to work for 25 minutes? Or 5?”
3. Take a break.
This process is how I routinely overcome procrastination. It works for me, and it can work for you!
But beware of the temptation to say, “This is a good idea… I’ll try it tomorrow!” Today’s excuses follow us into tomorrow. If we can’t find the gumption to work for 5 minutes right now, we won’t do it tomorrow. Tomorrow, the Resistance will be just as strong.
So get started now.
Read more on How to Stop Procrastinating.
Thanks to Brynn Stewart for reading a draft of this!