It’s a cold, dreary Monday morning in January. You pulled yourself out of bed despite your animal instinct to hibernate. With your reassuring cup of coffee in hand, your task list looks daunting. How do you motivate yourself to get started?
I have a few tips that have helped me stay productive when I feel like I “can’t even.”
Start with Organizing Your Week
I have a weekly paper calendar that has made a huge impact on my overall well-being. Getting my to-dos out of my head and onto paper gives me a feeling of accomplishment and organization. It’s more enjoyable than starting a task cold turkey. I like to have one item each day that I know I can actually finish. Other times are always filled in with quick-turnaround tasks, day-to-day responsibilities, or smaller things, but outlining the week with tangible work makes a big difference in initiating a productive mindset.
Know That at Some Point You Will Be Motivated
When organizing your week, recognize that while this Monday moment may be uninspiring, at some point there will be inspiration. Lay out your week to reflect that. Have faith!
Do the Easiest Thing on Your List
I find the least demanding thing on my task list to accomplish first. Checking one thing off can either get me rolling toward bigger things or onto the next small task I can muster. Either way, crossing off anything puts me in a better headspace.
Break Down a Big Task into Smaller Pieces
If you don’t have any small tasks, take some time to list out all the steps needed for a big project. For example, you might have “first draft of dashboard design due” on your calendar. AHHHHH! I’m too tired to start a draft. Ask yourself what little pieces make up the dashboard layout. Can you start by collecting color palettes? Maybe you can review the data that needs to be displayed. You could search for “cool dashboard design” to find inspiration.
Don’t Try to Finish a Project—Just Start It
If I’m intimidated by a blank layout, I make the decision to get anything onto the page. I’ll just copy and paste the content. Small step—check. Then I’ll start formatting the text to get the hierarchy going. My mindset isn’t “get this done”; it’s “I’ll figure it out later,” and I always do. Opening the file the next day is 1,000 times better than starting from zero.
Do a Household Task
If all else fails, fold laundry. There is always laundry. Sometimes it’s the type of work that is a blocker for me. Doing another activity that is productive will get my mind moving enough that when I sit back down at my desk, I can find something I can do.
Productivity doesn’t always come easily, especially on those cold, uninspiring days. But by organizing your week, starting small, breaking tasks into manageable pieces, and giving yourself permission to just begin, you can turn the hardest moments into opportunities for progress. Remember, it’s not about doing it all at once—it’s about taking the first step. With these tips, you’ll be ready to tackle even the most daunting to-do list, one small win at a time. You’ve got this!
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