This is an interesting challenge. I see it from two perspectives:
- How do I get myself to do things I don’t want to do (creating helpful habits)?
- How do I stop myself from doing things I don’t want to do (breaking harmful habits)?
For example, I’ve long wanted to manage my time more intentionally. In the past, I relied on sheer drive and my ability to get a lot done. Now, I want a more methodical, intentional approach.
Yes, there are hundreds of planners and systems out there, but the real challenge remains: how do I get myself to do the things I don’t want to do? I’ve made progress, but I’m not there yet.
While external tools help, my challenge exists in my mind. This year, I’m shifting from trying to training my brain.
The purpose of training is to bring us to a desired state. Athletes don’t just try to win; they train in specific skills needed to achieve that state. For golf, that’s driving, pitching, putting, and mental resilience.
Therefore, if I want to be self-managed, I want to develop mental skill drills. Since this isn’t a new goal for me, I know my biggest challenges to getting myself to do the things I don’t want to do.
- Starting and stopping on command. Once I start a task, I struggle to stop. This makes it nearly impossible to follow a plan.
- Avoiding distractions. Can you say SQUIRREL? I open my calendar to check on an appointment and end up lost in emails 15 minutes later.
- Prioritizing a list of tasks. Everything seems equally important, so I often delay starting because I’m trying to sort them.
Here’s one of the simple drills in my brain training plan.
- When I sit at my desk, I choose one task, write it down with the current (start) time, and set an end time.
- Then I GO! When I finish, I record the actual time.
This practice is building my ability to prioritize. I can usually choose one task, and since I’m no longer delaying, more tasks are completed in less time. As I glance at the set end time, it lights a fire in me to get done on time! It feels like accountability because I have to write the actual end time. And with this timer hovering nearby, I’m catching myself wandering, then promising myself I can do “that one” for the next task.
Today is Saturday and I tried another drill. While enjoying a jigsaw puzzle and an audiobook, I set a 20-minute timer. This let me enjoy the activity while practicing stopping at a specific time—creating a helpful habit.
What about you? What helpful habit do you want to build, or harmful habit do you want to break? What small, simple drills could help you train your way to success?
- It’s 11:58 and I wanted to complete this message by 11:45. While I didn’t hit the mark perfectly, I practiced! I’m in training, and it’s kind of fun!
PSS. I want to rename this: Training to Do What You Don’t Want to Do!
