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The original was posted on /r/getmotivated by /u/spiderinweb on 2024-01-21 12:54:35+00:00.
I’m not sure who needs to hear this, but I’m writing this message as a reminder to myself who often needs to hear it. I thought I’d share it just in case someone else may benefit from hearing it:
learn to accept all these things take time and be happy for every little thing you get done...
Celebrate every small task you accomplish
In the past, I used to blame myself at the end of the day, regardless of how much work I had accomplished, because I always felt that it was not good enough. But now I have realized that any progress I make towards my goals, no matter how small, is a victory. Even if I only do 10 minutes of work, I consider it an accomplishment.
I have learned to ask myself this question: Would I rather feel satisfied with the 10 minutes of work completed or guilty the entire day for not doing anything? The answer is obvious.
I have come to appreciate every victory, no matter how big or small, and this has motivated me to keep moving forward. Being grateful for progress, even the tiniest bit of it is the key to achieving long-term success.
Start with the Modified-Pomodoro Technique
This was the biggest game-changer for me. I used to try to plow through all of my tasks in one sitting, and of course, it didn’t end well for me.
Once I started breaking my tasks into smaller, 45-50-minute sub-tasks, my discipline skyrocketed because it was so much easier to stay on task without getting overwhelmed.
I was surprised by how much work I could get done in 30-40 minutes. It was almost like a “cheat code” to completing projects because there was so much less pressure to start the next 45-50-minute task.
For this to work, I make sure to take a quick 15-20 min break in between each task because it is just enough time to get some water, go for a quick walk, and then get back into the game.
A word of caution, use this 15-20 min to use something that takes away your energy, not something that makes you consume. ex: don’t watch YouTube videos, funny clips, social media, etc instead do things like washing your bike, watering the plants, cleaning the room, and other things that absorb your energy.
Leave all or nothing and focus on gradual improvement
I wanted to work on my side project this month. My goal was to work on it for several hours each day. However, I found it difficult to actually get to it because I had raised the stakes very much. It seemed like too much of a chore. I noticed that I was putting it off.
Then, I changed my strategy to only work on it for 45 minutes. That made it easier to start. What I did was cut a huge project into bite-sized chunks that are easier to digest at a time, and less menacing. I pulled it off.
45 minutes seems like nothing. But I have been working on my project for four days in a row now. All small bits add up and a habit will get established. Each time it will require less willpower to pull through.
I have started to be more honest with myself about how much I can accomplish in a day. This has helped me to reduce my fear and anxiety because I now know that I don't have to complete everything in one day. I can spread out my tasks throughout the week, as long as they are completed before their deadlines.
However, this habit is still a work in progress for me. I am still not perfect at it and I probably never will be. But that's okay! The important thing is that I am making progress towards becoming the best possible version of myself. After all, that's what we're all striving for, isn't it?
If you enjoyed this, maybe I can tempt you with a self-improvement newsletter. I write a weekly email full of practical tips like this :)