How to motivate to do something boring but necessary?

Hi,

I really Hope to find an answer To my surprise I didn't find Motivation forum, please move this question to better place if any.

Many times in my life I consciously understand that I need to do something and need to do it for a long time to get noticeable result (for example, work one hour at home after work on my own project for a couple of years)

How can I motivate myself to do something that is boring, tedious but needs to be done every day for a long time to get a reward? Having financial freedom is motivating in itself. The problem is how to work on it every day and not get distracted along the way? How to have fun from this activity? For example, I have no problem playing games for an hour every day after work. Actually, I have problem limiting myself to only one hour of playing. Why working of real and worthy goal is so different?

Hi Phoenix,

In my mind when we procrastinate against doing something for ourselves or for others, it signals some other deeper beliefs we may have about the situation or the people in question.

In the case where we are supposed to do something for someone else, and we feel un motivated or procrastinate, it can be that we are rebelling in some way, actually resisting it as a statement. When we procrastinate doing something for ourselves that we know we should do, we may not really feel that we deserve the reward, or respect ourselves enough to complete the tasks at hand.

Regarding motivation, this usually means you do not strongly believe enough in the "rewards" that will you achieve by doing the task or making the effort. You do not really see it as worthwhile, or not making a difference.

One way to overcome this is to "picture" or "imagine" the end result, and allow any positive feelings to come up. Actually see yourself accomplishing the task, and allow yourself to feel the positive results. This can really anchor you to the mundane day to day chores and tasks you need to get to the end.

On another note, be very clear on what it is you are trying to achieve. Some of your goals may not be meaningful to you, or some matters may not be important to you. Cleaning the house for example. Some people pride themselves on having a neat, tidy house at all times. Others, do not care so much. So, your motivation will improve when you really understand what it is you want.

Take Care

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the reply, sorry for delay, for some reason I didn't receive notification in email.

Your points are valid, I have tried to picture benefits from accomplishing the task and it was somewhat helpful. The problem is that rewards are far away but work is imminent. After working for some time I become tired and bored and switch to activity with more tangible and timely rewards, like playing a game.

See, it is like diet - everybody can picture benefits and maintain it for a while, but benefits are so slow, that few people can maintain it to get tangible results.

I wonder, is it possible to somehow condition a brain to make it have fun from the process itself while doing anything?

This is so frustrating when conscious mind believes something to be beneficial in the long run while subconscious mind sabotages it.

Hi Phoenix,

Yes, staying motivated to complete any task can be challenging. Work is just that, work. It is often not enjoyable. But, the thing that keeps us going is that the end result means a lot to us. So we continue to move forward. So, try to be very clear if you can, WHY you want to do or achieve something.

Also, be a little fair to yourself. No one can go at things hard everyday. Sometimes we need to take a break or become distracted. No problems there. I would not feel guilty about it. Just reassess why you put it down or stopped and pick up where you left off when you can.

As for losing weight, you are right, it is difficult. But, it is difficult because it requires "change." Not just in adopting healthier eating patterns and exercise, but also a change in thinking. A change in "image". To see oneself as a thinner person. This excludes any medical or biological reasons for losing weight ofc.

I have read that when people have a hard time in achieving a goal, a goal that someone really wants to achieve (and this is key) the problem lies in their "self-image." They just do not "see" themselves as someone who should accomplish the task. Perhaps there are some hidden blocks inside how you really feel about yourself. What you think you deserve.

It has been called the "snap-back" affect. People try to accomplish goals, and/or change in some beneficial way. They grit their teeth, use will power, and do not succeed. They "snap-back" to where their self-image really is. Using willpower and positive thinking alone will not overcome this.

Now, I am not analyzing you and saying this is you. But when I have had a difficulty in the past I have tried to examine why. It is either a) the goal is not meaningful b) it is someone else's goal and not something I choose for myself, i.e. "you should go to law school" kind of thing or c) I do not believe I can accomplish it or should have it. My self-image needs adjusting. And finally d) the goal is just not realistic (I will be an app designer and make a billion!-just kidding)

Maybe for you the truth is somewhere in there.

As for making it "fun", that can be a challenge since it is relative to you, and you alone. But if you can, how about breaking it up into smaller pieces? Accomplish some small task today. That will create a sense/feeling of accomplishment, a boost in esteem. Then go to the next step. And so on and so on.

Success, even small ones, do breed additional success. And provides the motivation to continue.

"Work is just that, work. It is often not enjoyable. "

It reminded me of Family Guy episode, where Peter Griffin father (zealous catholic) was forcing him to work hard at the factory:

Father: Work's not supposed to be fun.
Peter: Why not?
Father: That's Satan talking!

I constantly recall it when thinking if it is possible to make work fun. They make games fun, people spend tens of hours doing intensive work in game's universe and enjoy this. Why we cannot feel fun doing something useful? Maybe through some mental conditioning?

Subdividing task helps a little, providing faster feedback and a sense of accomplishment, still..

With so much time and money spent in the field of psychology and we still don't have an answer.

For this, I recommend all of you to read the book "Eat that Frog" by Brain Tracy in that book you will find unique and practical ways to keep yourself motivated for boring stuff.