How to Get Sh*t Done (Even When You Don’t Feel Like It)

Tackling the hardest part of becoming successful

When I first started freelancing, I was scared to death of the possibility of not earning enough money to make ends meet.

That fear quickly disappeared after a few months because I was able to prove to myself that making good money wasn’t hard.

This realization revealed the true difficulty I faced: finding the motivation to do the work I’d been assigned.

This is where most people struggle when it comes to success…

The hardest part is rarely ever the thing you fear most.

For example, you can fear the possibility of not achieving the outcome you want, but that’s not what makes success hard.

What makes it hard is the commitment to showing up consistently and getting the work done!

Many fail to realize their dreams due to this simple rule.

I was one of those people for a long time.

Last year, something clicked, and I decided to make a change…

I studied a library of productivity material and discovered several techniques you can implement to get sh*t done even when you can’t be bothered.

Since I want the best for you, I’m gonna share em…

F*%k motivation

Motivation is an internal state that propels individuals to engage in goal-directed behavior.

It’s an inconsistent, unpredictable, and unreliable feeling that’s not wholly in our control.

… Yet, many people haven’t achieved certain objectives to this day because they’re still waiting to get motivated.

Stop depending on it.

Waiting on motivation violates one of the most important Stoic philosophies: “Focus on what you can control and ignore everything else.”

Even if you’re not into Stoicism, you should get behind this because focusing on what you can control allows you to act with intent and purpose.

If you wanna get sh*t done, you must focus on building systems that make you take action – even when you don’t feel like it.

For example, I have a writing system that helps me create a story for Medium every weekday.

All I do is pick an idea from my Notion and start writing from 8.30 a.m. until 12 p.m. because I’ve already planned from the night before.

Since implementing this system, I haven’t missed a writing day, but this doesn’t mean I’m always motivated…

Some days, I can’t be bothered and feel like crap.

I still write.

F*%k motivation. Build systems.

Start small

James Clear, author of New York Times Bestseller Atomic Habits, shared a concept known as “the 2-minute rule.”

The idea is simple: beat procrastination by committing 2-minutes to forming a new habit.

For example, instead of studying for class, just open your notebook, or instead of doing 30 minutes of yoga, take out your yoga mat.

The 2-minute rule aims to shrink the size of the task at hand to make it as easy as possible to start.

In the words of James Clear, “Anyone can meditate for one minute, read one page, or put one item of clothing away. […] this is a powerful strategy because once you’ve started doing the right thing, it is much easier to continue doing it.”

Starting small makes it easier to get started — you remove the psychological barrier blocking you from taking action.

If something is easy to do, it will make you feel silly if you don’t act – you’ll be like, “It’s only one page.”

Once you’ve established the habit, then you can think about optimizing it.

But the most important aspect of the 2-minute rule is to master the art of showing up.

Start small. Show up regularly. Optimize.

Remove all other options

Robert Brault is a freelance writer who has contributed to various US magazines and newspapers for over 40 years.

One of his most famous quotes was, “We are kept from our goal not by obstacles but by a clear path to a lesser goal.”

This sentiment aligns with the findings from a study conducted by University College London that revealed humans are hard-wired to follow the path of least resistance.

In the study, 52 people were asked to take part in a series of tests in which they had to determine whether a cloud of dots on a screen was moving to the left or the right.

The participants decided by moving a handle in their left or right hand, but without them knowing, the researchers would gradually add weight to one of the handles to make it harder to move…

When they did this, the participant's judgment about what they saw would become biased, and they started to avoid the effortful response.

The most intriguing part of this study was that the participants didn’t become aware of the increasing load on the handle – their motor system would adapt automatically and trigger a change in their perception.

This is the same thing that happens to you when you have options to do something else…

Your brain triggers a change in your perception of what’s important.

If there’s a clear opportunity to get a psychological reward faster than doing what you’re supposed to do, your brain will tell you to take that path.

The only way to combat this is to make what you must do the clearest and easiest option.

You do that by removing everything that can possibly interfere with your focus from your surroundings.

Use temptation bundling

Temptation bundling is another productivity technique made popular by James Clear.

It involves combining something you need to do with something you want to do.

For example, let’s say you need to get in shape, but you want to watch your favorite series on Netflix…

Temptation bundling would tell you to do both simultaneously – run on the treadmill while you watch your series.

Repeating this procedure consistently trains your brain to crave tough tasks…

Namely, the reward (e.g., watching your favorite Netflix series) becomes associated with the cue (e.g., getting on the treadmill), which serves as a trigger for you to begin engaging in the activity.

With that said, building your temptation bundle is simple…

Create two lists: one detailing the pleasure you enjoy and another with the activities you should be doing but regularly procrastinate on.

Try to write down as many wants and needs as you can.

When you’re done, look through your list to see if you can link some of your wants to your needs and then start taking action.

Change your environment (or things in it)

Sometimes, all it takes is a little scenery adjustment to get your head in the game.

Numerous studies have consistently shown that the characteristics of your physical work environment can have a significant impact on your productivity.

By switching it up occasionally, you can create the spark needed to get sh*t done.

Here’s some effective changes you can make:

• Go somewhere with natural lighting. Researchers discovered a link between light exposure and productivity — employees who sat near windows were much more productive. Try to work somewhere you can be exposed to natural light.
• Work somewhere with lots of greenery. Psychologists found that adding plants to your work environment can increase productivity by up to 15%.
• Wear noise-cancelling headphones. A study conducted by Orfield Laboratories Inc. discovered that using headphones that reduce noise can block 3/4 of office noise, thus enabling you to focus more intensely.
• Clean your workspace. Mess is a distraction. Clear anything from your workspace that can hinder your focus.
• Use a standing desk. A study revealed that employees who use standing desks are more productive than their colleagues using seated desks. An added benefit is it can prevent shoulder and back pain.

These small changes can go a long way to enhancing your productivity and helping you get sh*t done.

Add accountability

The research says there’s a 65% chance of completing a goal if you tell someone else you’re committing to it.

This success rate increases to 95% when you introduce specific check-ins with your partner.

TLDR: Get an accountability buddy.

I’ve got an accountability buddy.

Every time I write a Medium article, I share it with them as proof I’ve hit the quota — they do the same two.

… But there’s two different flavors of an accountability partner.

The first works more like a mentor, where you benefit from the other person's wisdom — that’s the sort of relationship I have with my personal trainer.

The other type of accountability partner is one who’s focused on achieving a common goal, like the person with whom I share my Medium stories.

Both arrangements are extremely effective.

Take a break

Sometimes, you’ve just gotta listen to your body.

A lack of motivation is a sign of impending burnout.

Don’t beat yourself up; just take a break.

When you’re well rested, come back stronger.

Final thoughts

The hardest part of success is finding the motivation to do the work you’re supposed to do.

Many stumble at this block and fail to ever realize their dreams.

I shared a few of the most effective techniques I’ve learned (and implemented) from reading productivity books to help break this cycle.

They are:

· F*%k motivation · Start small · Remove all other options · Use temptation bundling · Change your environment (or things in it) · Add accountability · Take a break

If you embrace them, taking action will be extremely easy for you – even on days when you feel like you can’t be asked.

Thanks for reading!

Grab your FREE copy of my short e-book — Don’t Just Set Goals, Build Systems.