Procrastination, multi-tasking, accumulating; piling up tasks can be disheartening and actually create discomfort, mental and physical.
Why is it so hard to do things right now?
Many small tasks that come up over the day are errands, like taking out the trash, grabbing a new roll of toilet paper, storing a pair of shoes away or hanging a t-shirt back into the closet. Nothing big, and nothing spectacular. I can do that later. It only takes a minute.
A famous saying that stuck with me from my corporate times is: “If you want to make a small issue a big problem, just wait long enough.” Over and over again this has proven right. What could have been done in a few minutes suddenly takes hours, and creates a lot of friction and dissatisfaction.
What is holding us up to just do it?
A big factor is the search for instant gratification that is deep wired into our brains. We prefer things that give us immediate reward (like watching another cat video, grabbing a coffee, sitting in our favorite chair). Another issue is related to decision fatigue; having too many tasks on hand, even when each of them is minor, can create a major ‘cognitive backlog’ that leads into inaction.
Which strategies work?
First, give yourself a break for any past failure. Heraclitus said: “No man ever steps into the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” Whatever happened in the past is gone; you can’t change it, and you should not allow it to impact you in the present. Reflect, learn, and move on.
The 2-Minute-Rule: if a task takes 2 minutes or less, do it immediately. First, small jobs will not pile up, you create mental space for more important things as you don’t have to remember, and you avoid later remorse.
Mentally break tasks up so they become less intimidating. Rather than saying “I need to clean the kitchen”, put one cup into the dishwasher, take one plate back into the cabinet, a step at a time. Each single one gives you satisfaction of having something done.
Picture an appealing target when starting a task. Imagine how much more you will enjoy your book when the clothes are arranged. Enjoy a good start into a new day when you grab your coffee in a clean kitchen.