3 Tips to Focus When You Hate the Work

I’m a procrastinator. Not for everything, but when I don’t love the task at hand, I just won’t do it. I used to think it was just me but it’s most people – and common sense tells us why. We spend our time doing things we like to do. Simple as that!

It’s important to reflect on why you hate the work. There are a lot of reasons to not enjoy something, but leaving it as “I just don’t like it” won’t help you much in the future.

• We like things that we are good at. We don’t like things that are challenging.
• We like to do tasks that feel rewarding. We don’t enjoy menial tasks.
• We like to feel productive. We don’t like to feel like time is wasted.
• We like to see progress. It’s not fun to work without results.

And sometimes we have to do work we don’t enjoy. It’s one of life’s great disappointments. Here are 3 tips I use to stay focused when I hate what I’m working on.

1. Write it in your calendar and use a timer.

On Thursday from 4:30-5 pm, I will [read a chapter] [create an outline] [review science notes] [go for a run].

If you don’t schedule the task, it will become the nagging voice in the back of your head – that’s for tomorrow, next week, another day. First, write it directly on your calendar. Set a timer for the terrible task, but make it quick. Spend 20 minutes, 30 minutes tops. Promise yourself that nothing else gets done during that tiny blip of time. No cell phone, no notifications, nothing. There are no excuses when you write it into your schedule. Decline everything else because you are busy… completing the task you hate!

2. Sandwich it between the good stuff (or the easy stuff).

First I’m going to [brainstorm ideas]. Then I’ll [study for my History test]. After, I’m going to [work on an art project].

Starting and ending with tasks you enjoy creates a “carrot” to help you stay motivated. Or, if you sandwich the awful task between two easy tasks, you can create momentum. Thinking back to the four statements above, give yourself a win so you can dig into the work that doesn’t really do it for you. When you complete a task and cross it off your list, your brain registers, “We are doing work. This is progress.” If you don’t see progress or you feel like you’re spinning your wheels without results, you’ll give up. Create wins on either side of the dreaded work.

3. Break it down.

“Do science experiment” is not a task. That’s a series of several small tasks.

A lot of times, I find that I hate work because it feels insurmountable or impossible to complete. That’s my signal that I have to break it down. Again, we’re looking to create wins and build momentum. So instead of saving a giant project until the last minute, break it into several small tasks and schedule those into your calendar.

Here are some questions to help you break down a big chunk of work.

• What does planning look like?
• What materials do I need to create or gather to get this project done?
• What will this look like when it’s done?
• What does this project look like if I do the bare minimum?
• How long will it take me to polish the project so it feels complete?
• What is the hardest part of this task?
• What parts of this project can I complete in 10 minutes or less?

When you’re doing work you don’t enjoy, try to keep it light. Sure, you hate it. But when it’s done you can cross it off your to-do list or set the whole list on fire! (Just kidding. Don’t do that.) Some people say “Eat the frog.” Which is weird code for “Just do it.” But just do it while you use a timer, reward yourself, and take small steps to the finish line.

Author: Shannon Lauffer