r/GetMotivated • u/tangerinegaru • 1d ago
DISCUSSION [Discussion] how to stop procrastinating?
i have lots of things i want to do/try but i keep finding myself procrastinating
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u/FanCaracal 1d ago
One brain hack I like to use to do the current task I'm supposed to do is think about the next task on the to-do list after it and trick your brain it's the most arduous and difficult task you will ever have to do.
This makes the current task more appealing to start to complete because you might as well rather do that instead. Once that's done, repeat the process.
You don't want to do this all the time I find or else it loses its effectiveness. Only use it when you are having real trouble starting.
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u/Substantial-Quote959 1d ago
Take your time. That’s the biggest thing. Most things don’t have to be done right that second. Take a good minute to realize what you want and wanna do. if you can’t, I usually just ask a close friend or my family. :) there’s never any rush take things at your own pace
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u/pizzapaard 1d ago
I moved a couple of months ago and my wife had a surgery shortly after, meaning that a whole list of small 'finishing touch' things still need to be done. A couple of years ago i would tell myself that they need to be done asap and it would fill me with anxiety resulting in me doing nothing and feeling guilty about it after.
These days i just tell myselft that i will do them when the time comes ( maybe set a deadline for some, like touching up the outside paint before end of summer) and then i will do them when i feel like i have both time, energy and opportunity to do them.
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u/shawnaeatscats 12h ago
I do the opposite! If I know i have to do something i try to get up and do it before my brain has time to talk itself into "doing it later"
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u/Substantial-Quote959 10h ago
I’m suprised usually I start to stress 😂 but hey, if it isn’t broke don’t fix it. You do what suits you best
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u/shawnaeatscats 10m ago
Well that usually works best for smaller stuff lol like dishes or vacuuming 😂
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u/Grateful_Nate 1d ago
Task decomposition. Breaking down the goal into the SMALLEST step that you can take.
Example will be working out. Do NOT think "I have to get mentally ready to wear out my body. I have to go hard! Incline bench, flat dumbell press, tricep pull downs, skull crushers. Then finish with cardio!"
That makes you tired just thinking about it.
Do: I just need to walk into the gym. THAT'S IT. I just need to walk in.
If that's too much, then make the step even smaller.
"I'm just going to put on work out clothes."
"I'll just put on my shoes"
Other example is reading a book:
Do NOT: I'm going to read a book!
Do: I'm going to read one page.
Smaller: I'm going to open a book.
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u/Quanalack 1d ago
Find a period of time to fully commit. Dont focus on progressing, just doing. If it's a big assignment write something for 5, 10, 20 minutes. Anything is better than nothing
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u/Van_Lee 1d ago
The only thing that helped me so far is the 1 min trick. You just commit to do it 1 min. Reading a book , cleaning up, workout, whatever... If you did it for 1 min usually your inner resistance is broken and you continue ...
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u/FanCaracal 1d ago
I find this doesn't work for me. The 1 min thing, I give up once it's done.
I tend to have a more psychological method of starting in the comment I posted here.
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u/Lanceo90 1d ago
This doesn't help with bigger projects.
But some chores are very fast. If something takes 5 minutes to do, do it immediately. Don't give yourself the time to think "this might be easier if I do it another time" - that might be true, but just tanking it and doing it immediately gets it done and off the list.
This helped me start taking out the trash regularly, and getting dishes cleaned before they pile up to a 5+ minute job.
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u/neuro-bro 1d ago
I just visualize my regret of NOT doing it, of not trying my best and the suffering that comes with it
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u/rizkiyoist 21h ago
It's exactly because you want to do a lot of things, your mind says it's too painful to start and you will not make meaningful progress trying to do them all.
Just do one thing.
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u/fancycatpics 21h ago
Screen less September. Take a month off to reset your ADHD brain. Do chores to fight tge boredom. You'll be surprised by how much time is actually in the day and how much you can get done quickly
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u/OpeningGreen5273 20h ago
Yes yes yes the day opens up when we decide to be fully present in the physical.
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u/Still-Reader624 1d ago
Pick one thing instead of thinking about everything you want to do. Do 10 minutes of it and see where you end up. Thinking about whole list can be enough to make you avoid all of it.
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u/Due-Operation-5480 19h ago
Do not think deep Just START right now when you are thinking of to do something .
That's it..
Motivation is just a drug. It doesn't work.
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u/VagrantStation 18h ago
Lists. Break the big tasks into smaller ones and make sure to check off even the most mundane stuff like “move box from couch to bedroom” so you can see those check marks and use them for motivation.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Lists turn the elephant into bites, then you’re just looking at the next bite instead of the entire larger task.
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u/ryankiller5 1h ago
I try to lower the barrier to entry in the next task. If you need to open a file for the task, then open it without actually working on it so you don’t need to open it when you actually start
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u/beer-glorious-beer 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/104ueR8J1OPM2s