Have you always been lazy? Do you struggle to get things done? Do you procrastinate on important tasks day after day, and end up having to do it right before the deadline? Do you have days where you get absolutely nothing done?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, this article is for you.
The Art of The Doer – and getting the most out of yourselves – is more of a game of discipline than of motivation.
Motivation is comprised purely of emotion, and just like emotion, motivation is fleeting.
You can be highly motivated to do something for a minute, and lose interest the next.
A lot of gyms and health clubs stay in business based on the same principle. They sell 10,000 memberships even if they can only accommodate 250 people at a time. They know that the vast majority of subscribers are going to show up only for a few weeks (and many even less) before the motivation dies down. They understand the temporary nature of motivation – and they profit from it.
If you want to be productive, you don’t need motivation. You need discipline. Discipline is repeatable. It stays with you even when the feeling of motivation is gone.
While discipline is hard to cultivate, the good news is that it can be cultivated.
You can train yourself to do something even if you don’t feel like doing it.
The simplest way to create discipline is to do what needs to be done at the earliest.
You’ll workout later? Do it now.
You’ll start the assignment next week? Do it now.
You’ll start reading books from tomorrow? Do it now.
You’ll start sleeping early from tomorrow? Do it today.
A good plan executed today is better than the perfect plan tomorrow.
If you’re having trouble starting, follow the 6-second rule: count to 6 – then do it.
One of the greatest ‘trick’ we have discovered to getting anything done that you don’t feel like doing is – count to 6 – then do it. Completely changes a man.
— LifeMathMoney (@LifeMathMoney) June 6, 2018
Remember that half the game is just starting the task. Getting yourself to the gym is much harder than the actual workout (yes, even if it’s leg day).
Bring yourself to start the task – and more often than not, you will get it done.
It gets easier. Discipline becomes effortless once you get used to expecting it from yourself.
It truly is the snowball effect. The more things you get done, the more your discipline develops – and the more productive you are. Discipline is compounding on steroids.
You’ll feel, “Okay, I woke up early today and completed my workout, maybe I should also meditate a bit”
But you have to get started and get the ball rolling – nobody else can do that for you.
Other than the 6-second rule, here are some tips you can use to get things done:
- The 2-minute rule: If it takes less than 2 minutes – do it right away. This includes taking your supplements, de-cluttering your desk, taking out the trash, etc.
- Make a to-do list: Right before bedtime, take an inventory and list all the things you want to get done the next day. Doing it the night before is important because then you don’t have to waste time in the morning when you have more energy. You can list in order of priority and simply cross an item as it is done.
- Develop a morning routine: In continuance to the to-do list, you can start following a morning routine. This could be something like: wake up, have coffee, morning workout, cold shower, meditate, and finally breakfast and get ready for work. The human mind and body love routines, and even if you think they are boring, routines are highly productive and easy to do. Within a week, you’ll find it effortless. Militaries around the world use routines to get things done, keep people fit, and stay on their A-game – all the time – every time.
- Avoid distractions: If you want to get in the zone and really focus – avoid distractions. Keep your phone on silent, don’t check your email and social media, and focus on the task at hand.
Your productivity is in your hands – use your time for yourself, or you will end up using it against yourself.
Don’t start next week – don’t start tomorrow – start now.
The clock is ticking – are you?
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