Get Shit Done Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

Summary

The article discusses strategies for overcoming a lack of motivation to complete tasks, emphasizing the 20-second rule to foster better habits.

Abstract

The author of the article acknowledges the challenge of maintaining motivation, particularly when inspiration is scarce. Despite being on day 22 of a 30-day blog post challenge and feeling less than enthusiastic, the author emphasizes the importance of pushing through to produce valuable results. Drawing from Shawn Achor's "The Happiness Advantage," the article introduces the 20-second rule, which suggests that lowering the activation energy for desired actions can help in adopting positive habits. Practical examples include laying out workout clothes to encourage gym visits and placing healthy foods in clear sight to promote better eating habits. The author also shares personal strategies for combating laziness, such as keeping a list of writing topics at hand.

Opinions

The author believes that the ability to overcome obstacles and still deliver valuable results is one of the most important skills in life.
Inspiration can be elusive, and even skilled writers do not always feel like writing.
The 20-second rule is advocated as a method to make positive habits easier to start.
The author values the 30-day blog post challenge as a learning experience despite moments of low motivation.
Readers are encouraged to actively manage their environment to support their goals, such as preparing workout gear in advance or strategically placing food items.
The author suggests that having a predetermined list of topics can help combat writer's block or procrastination when it comes to writing.

Get Things Done Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

I don’t have a huge problem with procrastination. But there are days when finding the motivation to actually do the work I’d been given is difficult. Sometimes inspiration is hard to come by. I’m on day 22 of this 30-day blog post challenge, and as of today, I’m feeling a little less than enthusiastic right now. Don’t get me wrong, I’m loving this challenge it’s taught me so much, but even the best writers don’t “feel like writing” all the time. I believe one of the best skills to learn in life is the ability to push past every obstacle and challenge and still deliver valuable results.

I was reading Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. In his book, he describes the 20-second rule he uses for developing better habits and doing things even when we don’t feel motivated.

“Lower the activation energy for habits you want to adopt, and raise it for habits you want to avoid. The more we can lower or even eliminate the activation energy for our desired actions, the more we enhance our ability to jump-start positive change.”

In essence, Achor is saying to take 20 seconds out of your day and figure out how to decrease the energy it takes to begin the desired action.

Thinking about skipping the gym? Maybe layout your workout gear the night before. If you’re trying to eat healthier have those vegetables and fruits in clear sight and the rest of the food hidden away. For me as far as writing, I have topics already listed that I can refer to when I’m tempted to be lazy.

What are you doing to raise or lower your activation energy?

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