Divide the Tasks You Hate Into Compartments
I hate crushing cans. I would rather exercise, mow the lawn, scrub the toilet, pretty much anything other than crush cans. On the list of things I have to do, it would definitely rank on the bottom. It’s a task I would put off forever if I could, so I made it so I CAN’t avoid it. I added a constraint: we toss them into this bin, and when it won’t hold anymore, I’m forced to tackle the job. (As you can see, we are big fans of caffeine free Coke Zero!) I dread the day when the bin won’t hold any more cans, but then I grit my teeth and just do it.
Create a Rhythm
I won’t lie to you, I hate this task no matter what, and always will. But I’ve found it helps me get through it if I break it down. Sometimes this is called chunking. I line up six cans to crush at a time, before sweeping them off the counter into the bin that we keep the crushed cans in. With this system, I develop a rhythm that gets me through it. Listening to music while I do this task helps a bit too.
Reward Yourself When You’re Done
After I get the task done, I treat myself to a piece of candy for a reward. Luckily, my husband takes them to be recycled, so I don’t have to do that part! I’m reminded of the quote from Henry Ford: “Whether you think you CAN or you Can’t, you’re right.”
Is there a task you hate that you can compartmentalize? I’m never going to enjoy crushing cans, but these techniques help me to get it done.
I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.
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