How to do something when you don’t feel like it — but you need to

Awful I do not like the expression "force yourself." In my opinion, you cannot force yourself - you can only agree with yourself. Well, or to deceive - but this is not the best way.
So, how to agree with yourself to do something that you clearly do not want to do? And just as clearly necessary.
Some time ago, I read on the psychologist’s blog Heidi Halvorson about three simple reasons that prevent us from doing something, and the same (well, almost) simple solutions to these problems. And since time has shown that solutions (at least to me) are suitable - I hasten to share them.

So, why is the deadline approaching, but there is still no solution?

Reason # 1: You put off the deal because you are afraid not to deal with it

Solution: Instead of “fixing on achievements” use “fixing on preventing losses”.

Explanation: each task can be viewed from two points of view. It is usually customary to look like this - "I will do it, and I will become better / cooler / richer / healthier." This is “fixing on achievement” when you are looking forward to how you will feel better when you achieve something. The problem is that if you are afraid not to cope with the task, its implementation does not make sense - you will not achieve anything. If you want, for example, to go in for sports, and subconsciously imagine the great sporting achievements that are ahead of you - you are at the same time afraid to not achieve them.
Psychological studies show that one of the common reasons for putting off tasks is precisely the fear of not fulfilling it.

But you can look at the task from the other side: what will happen if it is not done? Surely you will lose something. If you don’t do the work, you will lose your salary, or maybe a bonus. It is not necessary to receive a gold medal at the Olympics - but if you do not play sports at all, you will undermine your health. Set yourself up for “loss prevention,” and that will be a good motivator.

Of course, this is not so easy and simple, but it’s better to motivate yourself than to worry about what may go wrong and, as a result, do nothing.

Reason # 2: You are postponing the task because you have “no mood”.

Solution: ignore your feelings and moods, they only bother you.

“I just can't get up early,” “I can't go to the gym” - such excuses are too often used. But in fact, no one chained you to a bed. Before entering the fitness club, the bouncers do not block you. Physically, nothing is stopping you - you simply “have no suitable mood”. Ok, and who said that in order to do something, a suitable mood is necessary?

Think it over. For some reason, it is believed that in order to succeed you must have an inspiration or mood. We must be determined to do what needs to be done. Is this not nonsense? In general, of course, one needs more or less to desire something - to become healthier, richer, stronger. But for this you do not need to constantly feel the right mood.

All successful people in creative professions - artists, writers (and many programmers also like to consider themselves creative people) - they all achieved success by simply working several hours a day. Regardless of mood. As Chuck Close (an artist and photographer who continued to work even after partial paralysis of the body) said: “Inspiration is for beginners. Everyone else just comes and works. ”

So, if you have no mood - this is not a reason. Nothing stops you.

Reason 3: The task is too complicated, boring or unpleasant.

Solution: plan its execution in advance.

As soon as the time comes to do something very difficult, unpleasant, doubts come. “Or maybe I'll do it next time. Or maybe this is not so necessary. And now there is something else to do. ”

The problem is that if you start to think about whether or not to do something when the time has come to do it, you set yourself a double task. And decide on it, and then do it again. And decision making is a difficult task in itself. You have to turn on the willpower every time - and, as you know, it is not iron.

It is much easier to do planning based on a simple if-once algorithm. “When Saturday comes, I’ll clean up the apartment.” "When I got up in the morning, I immediately do exercises." “If the boss forgets about my request to raise my salary, I will remind him at the meeting.”

By making decisions in advance, you are already doing some of the work. It remains, when the right moment comes, just fulfill your decision. You have already made up your mind - well, there is no room for doubt.

From myself, I want to add another trick that I use. Usually, a person is not too lazy to just do something - usually he does not want to change his state, or switch to another task. I know that when I started to do something, just to continue is much easier. Therefore, every time I come across an unpleasant or task, I agree with myself - if I suddenly really do not want to continue it, I will end right there. “Now I’ll start cleaning up the apartment from this room - if I suddenly drop something.”
Almost always, as a result, the task is brought to the end - "I have already begun, why throw halfway."

And finally, I’ll note that if you wake up in the morning and you smile with anticipation of what you’ll do all day, if your time flies unnoticed, if you are surprised that only a month has passed and you have already managed to do so much, congratulations, you’re happy human!

Good luck in all your endeavors, and may the force of will be with you.