How to Get Yourself to Do the Things You Want to Do – TPW026

Why is it so hard to get ourselves to do the things we most want to do? Few things in life are more exasperating than the way we sometimes sabotage our own goals. In this episode we look at some of the reasons why that happens, and offer some suggestions to address those issues, get past that resistance, and accomplish the things that matter most.

“Resistance” – Where It Comes From and How It Manifests

There are scientific explanations for why we have such a hard time getting ourselves to do things we really, really want to do. Author Steven Pressfield calls it “resistance”; writers and scientists blame it on the “lizard brain” (see the resources below for more info), which kicks into gear to protect us from “danger” whenever we want to do something new or different.

1.  Fatigue

• Thoughts about getting more and/or better sleep

2.  Feeling overwhelmed

• Break the project down into bite-sized pieces
• Don’t overthink it
• Set a timer
• Give yourself permission to be imperfect — “Done is better than perfect”

3.  Distraction

• Identify the distraction
• Do a brain dump
• Adjust your environment

4.  Fear

• Look the fear in the eye
• Find an advocate to encourage you

5.  Lack of motivation

• Remember the why

What about you?

Is there something you really want to accomplish but just can’t seem to get it done? Will you try one (or more) of the suggestions in this episode, or can you suggest something that works for you that the rest of us might try? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Resources for More Information

• The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, by Steven Pressfield
• Do the Work, by Steven Pressfield
• “Quieting the Lizard Brain” (blog post) by Seth Godin.
• “Where Addiction Meets Your Brain,” by Joseph Truncate, M.D., on PsychologyToday.com, talking about the science behind the “lizard brain” concept.
• “How to Beat Your Lizard Brain,” by Francisco Sáez on the facilethings.com blog.
• Focus at Will – soundtracks for work, scientifically designed to help you focus.

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