4 Tips on Doing What You Don’t Want to Do

It was 5AM.

I really did not want to go for a run. Or hit the gym, for that matter.

Yet, I knew I should. And it was one of my current top goals.

So, against my will, I put on my running clothes and headed out the door into the darkness.

The Start is the Hardest Part

I ran 4 miles in the dark the other morning.

My body wasn’t in the mood. My brain was frantically making up excuses to prevent my workout from happening. (It’s too cold outside, there is not enough time before work, I’m too tired, …what else???)

However, instead of going back to bed, I forced myself up and on to my run.

“What you don’t want to do, is often what you most need to do.”

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Even though I didn’t want to go running, I knew that I needed to.

That’s the irony, we usually know what we need to do, even in the face of not wanting to.

So, how do you overcome that negative voice in your head? It can’t be reasoned with, and it’s capable of coming up with endless excuses.

The answer is… you do the important things anyway. Even, when you don’t want to.

Here are 4 Tips on Doing What You Don’t Want to Do:

1. The Start is the Hardest Part – The first step is always the hardest, whether literal or figurative. Force yourself to take that first action. It doesn’t have to be a big step. Even the smallest forward motion can get you moving in the right direction.
2. You Will Build Momentum – Once in motion, it is easier to stay in motion. You will increase your pace. Your mind  and body will get “in the zone.” Before you realize it, the once undesirable task will become second nature.
3. It’s Never as Hard as You Think – Often, you talk yourself out of doing something because it will be too hard. You tell yourself that you can’t possible do that. Not only are you stronger than you think, but the task or work is never as bad as you imagined in your mind.
4. You Will Feel Great Afterwards – Whether it’s a workout at the gym or finishing a project at work, you will feel great accomplishment after you finish. It simply feels good to complete something that you knew you needed to do.

Even If You Don’t Want to…Do It Anyway

What don’t you want to do today?

Go ahead, make up all those internal excuses. Tell yourself why you don’t want to do it, or can’t do it.

Then, do it anyway.

You’ll feel great later.

Question: How do you get yourself to do the tasks that you don’t want to do? You can leave a comment by clicking here.