Taking a simple action

[raji]

I was recently going through some issues and for a few weeks was doing very badly at work. Was not able to focus and get anything done and at the end of the day feeling very guilty about wasting a whole day. In addition to what was happening outside of work, the guilt about wasting away my days was bringing me down. One day I got to work, dreading the day and suddenly decided irrespective of what else was happening I would focus and do some productive work just for 30 min. Started working on some documentation work that was pending for a few days and before I realised it was past an hour. The rest of the day, though as not productive as that first hour, was much better than the previous days. I started doing this every day at work, just focusing on work of 30m - 60m. And my days are getting better and productive. I guess its the law of inertia, I can't stop working once I have started . I am much more productive these days and all the issues that I was worried/stressed about don't seem too harsh. Though it is not my optimal situation, I can handle it and make the best of the situation. I will always remember and be thankful for that one simple decision I made to focus on work for 30 min. Taking some action, any action when you are down, definitely works.

[andyf1702]

As someone who works at home 3 days a week, I found it hard to motivate myself to do the 'boring' aspects of my job.

The way I overcame this was to work for 40mins and then take a 5 min break, and do another 40mins followed by 5 min break. I then repeat this for the rest of the day (I still my lunch hour).

My forcing myself to work for 40mins (I time myself with a clock) and then taking a break I have now got much more done.

Andy

[Cyrock]

Great!

It is true that if we plan on being super effective the whole day we get demotivated before we begin and start procrastinating. The biggest problem may not be to work, but to concentrate on it. Once you are at it is not so bad.

I also plan on slowly becoming more productive.

Change comes in small steps.

[jtracy]

I think that nothing is as important, or as difficult sometimes, as taking that first step towards our goal (except perhaps figuring out what that first step will be). Once we get started and can see ourselves producing some results, no matter how small, it inspires and motivates us to keep going and get more and more accomplished. It is much easier to say to yourself that you will do this task for the next 30 minutes than to say that you will do it for the next year, or the rest of your life. The latter is too overwhelming. If you can just do it for the next 30 minutes, at the end of that you can always say "Okay, I'll just do it for the next 30 minutes" and work from there. Before you know where you are, you've got the task done, or the habit established.

[dannielo]

Originally Posted by raji

I was recently going through some issues and for a few weeks was doing very badly at work. Was not able to focus and get anything done and at the end of the day feeling very guilty about wasting a whole day. In addition to what was happening outside of work, the guilt about wasting away my days was bringing me down. One day I got to work, dreading the day and suddenly decided irrespective of what else was happening I would focus and do some productive work just for 30 min. Started working on some documentation work that was pending for a few days and before I realised it was past an hour. The rest of the day, though as not productive as that first hour, was much better than the previous days. I started doing this every day at work, just focusing on work of 30m - 60m. And my days are getting better and productive. I guess its the law of inertia, I can't stop working once I have started . I am much more productive these days and all the issues that I was worried/stressed about don't seem too harsh. Though it is not my optimal situation, I can handle it and make the best of the situation. I will always remember and be thankful for that one simple decision I made to focus on work for 30 min. Taking some action, any action when you are down, definitely works.

It's true, the most important thing is how you start the day, the first action/project you take. It's like an investment you made, you can't let it turn bad, so you'll come back to it for the rest of the day.

The same applies if you start the day with some "email checking" or "a 1-hour cofee break" or "a little web-surfing". That's what you'll do for the rest of the day.

[powersurge]

Originally Posted by raji

One day I got to work, dreading the day and suddenly decided irrespective of what else was happening I would focus and do some productive work just for 30 min. Started working on some documentation work that was pending for a few days and before I realised it was past an hour...

Good on ya!

I like to call it "getting in the zone" -- sometimes it's just impossible to stop once the 30 minutes have passed! Steve wrote about this effect in Timeboxing