How to make it easier to do the things you don’t feel like doing

You don’t want to start. Your heart goes faster.

You and your thoughts move quicker. You start to pace.

You’re in a mild panic.

Because you panic, you want to take on many things at once. You look at the beginning, and you look at the end, and you try to start in the middle too.

You also try and do that other thing with your free right foot.

I’ve told people to move fast before.

I’ve said to view yourself as a creative maniac, and rather than slow down, to ten times your productivity.

True.

But not until after you’ve created momentum.

And if things are hard, and you’re panicking, and things seem bleak, dark, dull and impossible…

Slow down.

You only have one thing to do right now.

That is to figure out a way to make things easy.

And fun.

The greats appear to do things that are hard all the time. But, in truth, they know how to make things easier, even if it starts out feeling tough.

Making things easy and fun, combined with the habit of acting, is why they are great.

Look at Conor McGregor when he’s entering the ring during what one would think is the most terrifying thing. He has fun, even if he has to force it a little — it becomes fun — and this benefits his fighting style.

When things are fun, you enjoy what you’re doing, and this is reflected in your results.

So how to make what you’re doing fun?

Writing an essay?

What’s a fun way to start?

When I’m panicking with my writing, and I have an article to do when I don’t feel like doing it, I take a step back for a moment.

I let my body relax.

And I see past the complex web of what’s in front of me. I understand how I can turn this into a fun adventure.

This starts with merely choosing to have fun. Nothing more than that.

I decide to have fun.

I write childishly and play with dreams, ideas and feelings on a page. Or maybe I write a list as long as I can make it. In crayon, on paper.

I allow my volcanic insides to erupt with feeling after I’ve unplugged the caldera through writing playfully.

I make it a game. I see how many ideas I can come up with to start, within ten minutes.

Then I choose my favourite idea, and I see how I can deliver that idea in an article in the smallest, shortest way.

I come up with a short, simple premise; then a five-line overview.

I’m focused on what is easy, and what is fun. Either or, or both.

Then I see how I can add depth to the idea by bringing in a story or an image for the reader that is interesting.

Then I expand the overview into something a little bigger.

Then I refine it, and I enjoy the refinement like a watch-maker enjoys tweaking the tiny pieces.

Whatever you face that is challenging for you, you can make it easier. Anyone can make something easier.

If you’re panicking about something:

• An event you’re nervous about,

• cleaning the house,

• doing a live call,

• going on stage…

How can it be made easier?

How can the way you think about it be made easier?

And how can that be made easier still? It can. It always can.

Maybe, the fact that there is little more you can do, but ACT comes clear to you. Your fear will fade.

The fool tries to make something harder.

Follow the easiest avenue. Sometimes you need to act even if you still don’t want to. Moving a step is not hard.

Then you just add the layers or allow the process to unfold itself.

And to the outsider, what you did looked hard.

But secretly, you enjoyed every step.

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If you have 10.45 seconds, I’d love to hear what you think, in the comments below.

What makes you come alive?