6 Tips for Doing Stuff You Don’t Like (But Need to Do)

This week, I’ve been doing a lot of things that aren’t particularly pleasant but that must be done. Some of these are work-related, and some are personal. Some are things I’ve been putting off for YEARS. I didn’t plan on packing them all into one week….it just happened. But I decided when I woke on Monday morning that I didn’t want to be in a state of dread and feel like I was slogging through the week. That doesn’t feel good.

We all sometimes need to do things that we would rather avoid. But avoiding has its price, too. One of the fun tasks I have this week is going to the California Department of Motor Vehicles for a driver’s license and vehicle registration. (I know, you’re jealous!) I have put it off for a bit, but it needs to be done. If I get pulled over for some infraction of the law (I never speed, I’m sure that wouldn’t be it), I could end up with a handful of tickets and some hefty fees to pay. As it is now, anytime I’m driving around and see a police car, I tense up. This is stealing my peace. In addition, it is a part of the large “things to do” list that is always in the back of my mind.

There are ways to “better” unpleasant but necessary tasks. Here are my tips for getting those things done:

1. Set your intention. When I first woke on Monday morning, I had that “UGH!” feeling. While it’s true I’ve never been a morning person, I quickly realized this wasn’t how I wanted to feel throughout the day or the week. I decided to refocus my intention for the day. How would I like to feel? Now, I knew it wasn’t realistic for me to go all the way to “blissful” this week, but I decided to settle for satisfaction: satisfaction at taking action and getting things done. That felt much better, and I noticed a difference in my day. While I still wake up pretty much every morning with a “I don’t want to get up” feeling, as soon as I’m conscious, I’m setting my intention for how I DO want to feel.
2. Check it off. I get a lot of satisfaction of checking things off my list. If you’re also motivated by lists and checking them off, experiment with what gives you the most satisfaction: a checkmark, crossing through the item, or marking it with “DONE!” (The last one is my favorite. It makes me feel like I achieved something.) Be aware not to overwhelm yourself: don’t put too many things in any one day.
3. Reward yourself! When I was a kid, I had to have a painful ingrown toenail procedure. My mom rewarded me afterwards by buying me my first bra. I was so excited! Of course, I didn’t really NEED a bra in those days, but I felt special and very grown-up wearing it. Find different ways to reward yourself for accomplishing unpleasant, dreadful or painful tasks. Create a reward sheet with small items (like a Starbucks coffee drink, a phone call with a treasured friend or a short walk in nature) and big ones and use them as needed to motivate yourself to get through big or small tasks.
4. Make a plan. Some things you need to do may be complex or have many smaller tasks within them. Rather than put the huge summary item on your to-do list, break it into the smaller pieces. These are more digestible to your brain – it won’t seem as overwhelming – and it’s much easier to chip away at something. Think of how much pollen a bee must collect to create even a drop of honey. Does the bee sit around thinking, “Oh my, how will I ever do it all? I’ll never have enough!” No. He gets to work on the flower in front of him.
5. Create accountability. If the task you are facing doesn’t already have accountability built in (like your boss is waiting for you), create your own by telling someone what you are planning on achieving and by when. You can even ask them to check in with you to make sure you’re doing it. Some writers and dieters I know use social media for this purpose and get encouragement from their friends’ comments.
6. Remind yourself Why. It is helpful for me to remember why I am doing this task. It could be for my health, for my profitability, to obey the law (driver’s license & registration), or for my peace of mind. Keeping focused on the outcome motivates your sense of purpose.

There’s still a few days left in this week, and still more tasks I’d rather avoid…what did I forget? Do you have some other ways that help you get things done? I’d love to learn from you — please leave me a comment.