Comments on: How to Find Motivation for the Things You Hate Doing http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:44:23 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ben http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/comment-page-1/#comment-74770 Ben Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:30:15 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/#comment-74770 <strong>Ben...</strong> ... Ben…

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]]> By: vondra01 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/comment-page-1/#comment-73682 vondra01 Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:30:50 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/#comment-73682 Short and useful :-) Short and useful :-)

]]> By: PJ http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/comment-page-1/#comment-72837 PJ Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:13:05 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/#comment-72837 If procrastination were a paid for service--I would be a billionaire. I have walked into my office for years, swearing I would get the millions of pieces of paper (insurance, bills, medical info, mortgage, etc.) taken care of and filed neatly. I don't even walk in anymore--I walk by it. I do my computer work in the dining room just so I don't face the pile upstairs. If that isn't dysfunctional I don't know what it. I guess I need to say to myself--"Okay self, one day you are going to die and you'd better have some semblance of order or your husband isn't going to survive you." He's so busy he hasn't the faintest idea where things are. So---I think the only way this is going to get done is by me saying, " I am doing this for God and my husband---God says to carry our cross--and no joking aside, this is a cross for me. I hate tedious mundane paperwork. But, no one else is going to do it----so it's got to be me. I will write again when I tackle my fear of paperwork---may I will write again this time next year----I hope! If procrastination were a paid for service–I would be a billionaire. I have walked into my office for years, swearing I would get the millions of pieces of paper (insurance, bills, medical info, mortgage, etc.) taken care of and filed neatly. I don’t even walk in anymore–I walk by it. I do my computer work in the dining room just so I don’t face the pile upstairs. If that isn’t dysfunctional I don’t know what it.
I guess I need to say to myself–”Okay self, one day you are going to die and you’d better have some semblance of order or your husband isn’t going to survive you.” He’s so busy he hasn’t the faintest idea where things are.
So—I think the only way this is going to get done is by me saying, ” I am doing this for God and my husband—God says to carry our cross–and no joking aside, this is a cross for me. I hate tedious mundane paperwork. But, no one else is going to do it—-so it’s got to be me.
I will write again when I tackle my fear of paperwork—may I will write again this time next year—-I hope!

]]> By: Norma http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/comment-page-1/#comment-70382 Norma Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:35:20 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/#comment-70382 I've found a couple of things that help, especially with housework (cleaning) that I really don't want to do and put off as long as I can: 1. I tell myself that the vacuuming and dusting, mopping, etc. is burning up calories, and so I'm "working out" as I move. It's like I'm killing 2 birds with one stone. 2. I call friends and talk (or listen) as I'm doing mundane tasks (ironing, dusting, etc.) It becomes automatic and I don't even think about the chores, and pretty soon they're done and I've been in touch with someone I haven't talked to in a while. Again, I kill 2 birds with one stone. 3. I make a game out of it some way. Use a timer and try to beat it; find some "secret" shortcut to get it done quicker; start a puzzle or some other game and let myself make another move or put in 15 pieces in the puzzle, etc, once I've done a specific task, etc. In other words, I try to make it fun. 4. Lastly, when I'm really unmotivated, something that ALWAYS works is that I remember that I am blessed to have a roof over my head, floors to mop, clothes to press, furniture to dust, and I'm richer than 2/3 of the world's population. I remember people south of the border who live in a 12X12 room for a house if they're lucky, have dirt floors, little possessions, and risk their lives to cross our borders just to have a chance at what I have. I thank God that He has blessed me and in humility, realize what I'm fortunate enough to have, and press on to complete the dreaded task with a new attitude of appreciation and gratefulness. Works every time! :) I’ve found a couple of things that help, especially with housework (cleaning) that I really don’t want to do and put off as long as I can:
1. I tell myself that the vacuuming and dusting, mopping, etc. is burning up calories, and so I’m “working out” as I move. It’s like I’m killing 2 birds with one stone.
2. I call friends and talk (or listen) as I’m doing mundane tasks (ironing, dusting, etc.) It becomes automatic and I don’t even think about the chores, and pretty soon they’re done and I’ve been in touch with someone I haven’t talked to in a while. Again, I kill 2 birds with one stone.
3. I make a game out of it some way. Use a timer and try to beat it; find some “secret” shortcut to get it done quicker; start a puzzle or some other game and let myself make another move or put in 15 pieces in the puzzle, etc, once I’ve done a specific task, etc. In other words, I try to make it fun.
4. Lastly, when I’m really unmotivated, something that ALWAYS works is that I remember that I am blessed to have a roof over my head, floors to mop, clothes to press, furniture to dust, and I’m richer than 2/3 of the world’s population. I remember people south of the border who live in a 12X12 room for a house if they’re lucky, have dirt floors, little possessions, and risk their lives to cross our borders just to have a chance at what I have. I thank God that He has blessed me and in humility, realize what I’m fortunate enough to have, and press on to complete the dreaded task with a new attitude of appreciation and gratefulness. Works every time! :)

]]> By: Cedric http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/comment-page-1/#comment-69405 Cedric Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:05:40 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/#comment-69405 I have a lot of motivation problems, but I find that once the things are done Im a lot more relaxed. so I just imagine Im relaxed to start with and it goes easier. some of the comments on here, someone just decided to start a flame war. come on ppl; this is a small post about doing a task or chore with more motivation not an excuse to put others down just because you go about things differently. sheesh! I have a lot of motivation problems, but I find that once the things are done Im a lot more relaxed. so I just imagine Im relaxed to start with and it goes easier.

some of the comments on here, someone just decided to start a flame war. come on ppl; this is a small post about doing a task or chore with more motivation not an excuse to put others down just because you go about things differently. sheesh!

]]> By: Tropiezos en la red » Blog Archive » Enlaces interesantes #24 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/comment-page-1/#comment-63800 Tropiezos en la red » Blog Archive » Enlaces interesantes #24 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:31:57 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/#comment-63800 [...] encontrar la motivación en las cosas que odias hacer (inglés) [...]

]]> By: Mike Lewis http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/comment-page-1/#comment-63638 Mike Lewis Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:42:16 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/#comment-63638 The "Mary Poppins" movie had a song called "A Spoonful of Sugar" which said In ev'ry job that must be done There is an element of fun You find the fun and snap! The job's a game I love working out ways to keep things simple so I make tasks more of a game by simplifying them as much as I can. I also distract myself from the tedium of doing them, e.g. by listening to podcasts while I wash the dishes or watching TV while I do the ironing. I also multitask to give myself more of a sense of achievement for the same amount of time. For example, every weekend I start running virus, spyware and rootkit detectors on my computer before I do my weekly backups. While they're running, I put a load of clothes in the washing machine and, while that's running, I wash the dishes. For me, getting started is half the battle. I figure I can do just about anything for ten minutes, after which I'll give myself a break. The ten minutes become twenty then forty then anything up to an hour and a half before I stop. It can also help to visualise an on/off switch for myself and imagine switching it to "on" to get going. Lowering my expectations by aiming for good enough instead of perfect helps too. For the difficult I-really-don't-want-to-do-this task, I do it today as a present for myself tomorrow. The “Mary Poppins” movie had a song called “A Spoonful of Sugar” which said

In ev’ry job that must be done
There is an element of fun
You find the fun and snap!
The job’s a game

I love working out ways to keep things simple so I make tasks more of a game by simplifying them as much as I can. I also distract myself from the tedium of doing them, e.g. by listening to podcasts while I wash the dishes or watching TV while I do the ironing.

I also multitask to give myself more of a sense of achievement for the same amount of time. For example, every weekend I start running virus, spyware and rootkit detectors on my computer before I do my weekly backups. While they’re running, I put a load of clothes in the washing machine and, while that’s running, I wash the dishes.

For me, getting started is half the battle. I figure I can do just about anything for ten minutes, after which I’ll give myself a break. The ten minutes become twenty then forty then anything up to an hour and a half before I stop. It can also help to visualise an on/off switch for myself and imagine switching it to “on” to get going. Lowering my expectations by aiming for good enough instead of perfect helps too.

For the difficult I-really-don’t-want-to-do-this task, I do it today as a present for myself tomorrow.

]]> By: Bryan Ogilvie http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/comment-page-1/#comment-63552 Bryan Ogilvie Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:54:19 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/#comment-63552 Definitely Professor, Getting big, disliked tasks out of the way, early in the day frees you up mentally. I feel great once I get the weak, unattractive things handled - it's like a load off my back, really. Have you guys ever heard of www.ThinkRightNow.com? They have a time-management program that talks about that. Cool name though - my friends at school used to call me the professor too! Peace, +Bryan Ogilvie Definitely Professor,

Getting big, disliked tasks out of the way, early in the day frees you up mentally. I feel great once I get the weak, unattractive things handled – it’s like a load off my back, really.

Have you guys ever heard of http://www.ThinkRightNow.com? They have a time-management program that talks about that.

Cool name though – my friends at school used to call me the professor too!

Peace,

+Bryan Ogilvie

]]> By: KJ http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/comment-page-1/#comment-63445 KJ Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:48:11 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/#comment-63445 Cool post! Cool post!

]]> By: Cris http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/comment-page-1/#comment-63406 Cris Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:06:13 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-find-motivation-for-the-things-you-hate-doing/#comment-63406 I have found often getting a bit of a buzz on before I start a normally boring project makes it much more interesting. Mopping the floor boring? but look at the pretty swirls I'm making- I'm an artiste! I don't want to make dinner? puff..puff..poof! I'm a famous chef making a special dish. The dog pooped on the rug again? It's a bomb! And I have to carefully transport it to the bomb disposal unit (toliet) Everybody stand back! Whereas performing a regular boring task can be boring, focusing on details and imagining or pretending different scenarios can really liven things up... I have found often getting a bit of a buzz on before I start a normally boring project makes it much more interesting.

Mopping the floor boring? but look at the pretty swirls I’m making- I’m an artiste!
I don’t want to make dinner? puff..puff..poof! I’m a famous chef making a special dish.
The dog pooped on the rug again? It’s a bomb! And I have to carefully transport it to the bomb disposal unit (toliet) Everybody stand back!

Whereas performing a regular boring task can be boring, focusing on details and imagining or pretending different scenarios can really liven things up…

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