Making Unpleasant Tasks Easier

There are some tasks in life that are more pleasant or easier than others. For example, watching your favourite television show or talking to your closest buddy probably beats doing the dishes as far as palatability goes.

However, here are some ideas to make those tasks just as a little more pleasant.

1. Rewards. Whether it be placing a 'tick' against a box, giving yourself a special reward sticker, or a small chocolate, these can not only make finishing a task more enjoyable, they signal accomplishment, which can spur on further efforts.

2. Work for a period of time, then have a break, work, then break....whether it's 30 minutes of work with a ten minute break or one hour with a twenty minute break - find what combination works best for you. If you work without ceasing can you give you muscle and joint discomfort. Putting in a great effort is also easier if you know you have a 'break' coming up.

3. If you're a person who enjoys and/or is motivated by music, try working with your favourite radio station in the background.

4. I find rather than cleaning up and putting away countless/innumerable articles of clothing, dishes, etc, I count to 10 things then start again from number one. For example 1. "I put the hanger away" 2. " I put the remote control back in place" 3. "I put the dirty socks in the wash." If your place gets nearly as messy as mine does, there will be many times you'll reach 'ten' and get that buzz of accomplishment that keeps you chugging along.

5. **Enlist help. Whether it's a parent, child or spouse, if the other party is willing ask if you can have a hand. The worst outcome is that you'll get 'no' as an answer and be no worse off, and at the best, work halved means the job gets done a lot quicker.

6. Keep looking around and praising yourself for what you've done.

7. Picture what it will look like when the job is done, and how you will feel. Hook yourself to those mental images to help keep you going.

8. Break it down. If you think of what needs to be achieved as one huge task, even the most motivated person would be put off. Say 'the dishes', then 'mop floor'....you can even put 'mop the kitchen'...most things can be broken down into more do-able jobs.

9. Be realistic about what you want to achieve. If your task sheet is too long you are setting yourself up to not achieve. This then can lead to disappointment, self-beration and lack of confidence.

10. Keep your mind hooked to what you're going to do to enjoy yourself when you have finished. Enjoy the reward.

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%selfavenue