You don’t want to do it. You might not want to do anything. You’re in a funk.
Action is the cure for what ails you.
The good news is it doesn’t need to have anything to do with the task you’re avoiding. Any meaningful action you take can reset your brain and get you back on track.
Grab a sheet of paper and write down one thing you would feel good about getting done today. It doesn’t matter what it is, or how big it is, only that it’s something you would like to get done.
It could be sending an email to someone who’s asked you a question, jotting down bullet points for an article or letter or brief you need to write, or reviewing a file and thinking about what’s next.
Once you choose something, do it. A small win is a win. Enjoy it. It might be all you need to snap out of it and get back to work.
If you’re still resisting, set a timer for 25 minutes (Pomodoro), or if you’re not up to that, set a timer for 5 minutes, and work on the task. When you’re done, you should feel a bit better. Energized, maybe. Feeling a hit of dopamine from completing a task on your list.
You can also reward yourself by doing something fun. Watch a short video or play your favorite game for a few minutes. More dopamine.
By now, you may feel ready to tackle the thing you’ve been avoiding. If not, do something else meaningful, continue doing that, building momentum, until you are ready.
If that doesn’t happen, if you’re still not up to it, take the rest of the day off and start over tomorrow. New day, new you.
