r/GetMotivated • u/deluxedoorman • 4d ago
DISCUSSION [Discussion] My brain: “We’ll start tomorrow” Me: “Buddy, it is tomorrow”
Procrastination is basically me arguing with myself . The trick that’s actually been working lately? I tell myself I only have to do 5 minutes of the task. Somehow, once I start, my brain forgets to quit.
Anyone else have tiny, dumb tricks that trick your brain into action? Share them I need more ammo against future me 😂 😂
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u/Carbonated92 4d ago
Your brain is the enemy, always looking for the safe option, whenever you need to do something (go gym, put washing away, dishes) and you feel your brain wants you to do the opposite (scroll phone, watch netflix) soon as those opposite thoughts come in, do the action you were supposed to do! If you let your brain win, GG it will become a habit and you won't get anything done.
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u/JJJW8 4d ago
This 5 minute trick works amazingly well for me, too.
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u/outoftownMD 4d ago
Awareness. I realized people are walking masterpieces of creativity if they applied it. But the mind doesn’t say “you’ll never realize that masterpiece”, it says and they hear “ I’ll work on it later” or “I’ll work on it tomorrow”.
It says just enough to delay or divert action now.
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u/i_upvote_for_food 4d ago
When i dont want to do something i start doing, full embracing the fact that i hate doing it, sitting in my desk being grumpy about the fact that i have to do it. i am not supressing that feeling and make a smiley face, i am embracing and fully showing that i am annoyed...but i still accomplish the task :)... weird, i know, but it works.
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u/Kompanion 3d ago
You turn the tables.
It's a slightly harder process, but I kind of realized that I have to turn my brain's annoying teenager antics against it, and it feels like something that may be more sustainable for my long term life.
Every time my brain came up with something which seems like procrastination or a lazy impulse, I usually develop a habit of pedantically questioning it, if I ask enough questions I'll realize how stupid it sounds.
Exhibit A: my subconscious comes up with "oooh I'm tired, we'll do the work tomorrow."
Me: "Why?"
Brain: Because I'm tired.
Me: "Are you really tired?"
Brain: "Yeah, anyways wouldn't it be a good idea to scroll instagram?
Me: "I thought you were tired, why instagram? Do you need to eat? Drink water? Go for a walk?
Brain: Defeated acknowledgement
The way I figure, we question the positive side of ourselves so much, why not our negative side?
I think it is possible to increase the resistance to bad choices if you can actually recognise them as they come up and be conscious of them.
There's usually meaning behind those thoughts too, like for example if you delve deep enough into why you want to scroll instagram, perhaps it could be because you find your work intimidating and difficult, and you can reassure yourself that if you break it into smaller steps it'll work.
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u/uskgl455 3d ago
Brains are lazy. They want to be as efficient as possible. This means avoiding the extra concentration required for the task, and simultaneously making that seem reasonable and comfortable. It's the brain approving its own holiday request every day.
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u/hippietravel 3d ago
I like to give myself one very small task, that might only take a couple minutes. For example, if I wanted to start working out and have been avoiding it, it’s because my mind is having thoughts like “oh an hour is so long”, “I’ll start tomorrow”, “I don’t want to be sore”, etc. So what I’ll do is say, today I will do 30 pushups, that’s it. And if there is any resistance there, I will say that I will do it right now. Or maybe i will say that I get a reward for doing it. Then once that first step is complete, I’ve already started!
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u/WhyYesIndeedIDo 4d ago
I love tricking my brain! Lately I’ve been talking more out loud to myself, because apparently your brain processes thoughts differently when you speak them vs just thinking them. So I’ll be like “alright, time to fold laundry!” and then it feels weird to not go do it after saying it.