I have been thinking about motivation. There are some things I have no trouble doing when they need doing. There are other things, usually jobs I don’t enjoy much, that I struggle to find the motivation to do them. Examples include housework and gardening. There is no shortage of time to do these things.
I thought I would put the question to readers “What tools or strategies do you find helpful in achieving goals?” I have read lots of literature over the years and I know there are multiple books out there but I would really like to hear what has worked for YOU! Please share your experience with me.
Somethings I have tried include:
- A ‘to do’ list
- Breaking tasks down to smaller chunks
- Breaking time down to smaller chunks
- Do things as they need doing rather than let them build up
I hope you will get back to me with what has worked for you.
Welcome to allaboutwordswa! 
It all depends on what you want to do. If I am convinced or passionate about something I will do it and I will always be motivated to do it. When I am obliged to do something that I don’t enjoy doing, but that I must do, then I don’t think about it I just do it to get over with it. I hope I gave u a clear answer on this
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. A good stoic response :)! I guess I could try being grateful that I have a house and a garden! Trouble is that housework and gardening feel optional to me. Then I feel guilty for not doing them.
Stoic philosophers, specially Seneca, have been my therapists for years now!
Believe me, actions leads to less stress
I must have another look at the Stoics. I got a lot out of reading them earlier this year. Thanks for the reminder!
No I idea… It’s the starting that is the problem. Once I have actually made the effort or had my arm twisted, the actual task doesn’t seems as tough of t as e as long as I had anticipated! Despite having had that experience many times it still doesn’t make that initial move any easier to make 🤔
I love that you said, ‘No idea” ! You hit the nail on the head with the STARTING comment. I am usually okay once I commence a job! Thanks David 🙂
I’m not big on setting goals or making far-reaching resolutions. I prefer to go with the flow without any specific aspirations for the future.
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~ Lao Tzu
Eat when hungry
Sleep when tired
Clean when absolutely necessary. 😀
Thanks Nancy. I could easily go along with that!
When something NEEDS doing, I put out a visual reminder to encourage me . . . but if I still don’t feel like doing it, I usually don’t. 😀
I sense a bit of a rebel there!! We have a wooden cat that we put on the bench to remind us to do certain things. Trouble is we sometimes can’t remember what the cat is on the bench for 🙂
Oh, what a timely post! I’ve spent the day on extra housework, sorting the ever increasing pile of paperwork. We have visitors coming next week! That is often my prompt. I wish I could follow my grandfathers advice ” Don’t put off until tomorrow, something you can do today”. I do use a weekly to do list, which works for getting ahead with birthday cards and random tasks. But I could always do better.
Hi Ruth, I am very motivated when we have visitors as well! Trouble is that we haven’t had many visitors this year. I am good with deadlines too. You sound pretty organised to me! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I am reassured that it is a fairly common issue with most people. 🙂
Mmmm… not sure if I have ever classed tasks as pleasant or unpleasant. On the contrary… I have always prioritised or ranked them in levels of importance… and scheduled them in that way, prioritising those that need immediate attention.
I’ve been blessed that I could get up each day and while doing my morning ablutions, I could run over the previous day’s tasks, mentally note those needing completion and then slot them in with the new day’s routines…
As I say… I was blessed by somehow ‘discovering’ this system while still at school… blame it on the engineer’s portion of the brain I was dealt with? 😉
That must make you very productive! I find that trying to get the ‘right’ pace in retirement is challenging. I am at my best when I am busy doing things I enjoy or at least see some purpose in 🙂
Worth a read again… I wonder, would it work if we told ourselves the tasks were not at all unpleasant and that the prompt completion will lead to (almost) immediate gratification? Just wondering…
🤔🥴😁
That is a different approach Vossie – I like it!
This is awesome!
Thanks 🙂
Amazing write up……….