How to Make Yourself Do the Thing

I didn’t want to write a blog post today. I woke up at 1 p.m. (whoops) and I have a lot of other things I need to do today. I thought, maybe I can just skip it for today. In all honestly, it probably would have been fine. But I made a goal for myself to post every Tuesday and Friday, and I’d feel bad if I didn’t stick to it. So here we are.

Because I was unmotivated, I struggled to decide on a topic. Some of the bigger ones were just not for me today, I want to be at full brain capacity to tackle those. So I figured I’d write about my current situation, and one I have many times: How do I make myself do the thing. The thing meaning whatever task I need to do that I absolutely don’t want to do. It’s a struggle we all deal with, and I hope what I write can help you as much as it all helps me.

But first, a disclaimer. I deal with some anxiety that sometimes doesn’t let me rest until I do the thing. That can help, even though it’s annoying and often unhealthy. Keeping that in mind, the tips I’m writing are for when my anxiety is low and I struggle to be motivated, and I feel they are universal.

So, the first thing, set a goal. I mentioned this above, that I set a goal for my posting schedule. Setting a goal is extremely helpful. If you set a personal goal, you are more likely to hold yourself to it. It’s even better if you write it down, and better still if you tell people about it. I put my blog goal on my social media, which means I feel more accountable to it, because other people know of it. Without a goal, it can be so easy to put things off, sometimes indefinitely.

We all probably know about SMART goals, goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. Those goals can be great. I personally struggle with them, because it feels like a lot of pressure to think of all those points, and I often get stuck. So if thinking out a whole SMART goal is hard, don’t stress it, especially for little things. Often, you’ll find your goals are SMART goals anyway, but without all of the stress of thinking of each point.

But what if you made a goal but then you find yourself arguing that your goal was actually unrealistic anyway, or too difficult, or unnecessary, and you convince yourself you don’t really need to stick to it? That could be true in some cases. Not always, though. Ask yourself why you are trying to get out of it. Is there something more desirable or pressing that you want to prioritize? Depending on what it is, you can do that and then get back to your thing. But maybe there’s something about your thing that has unmotivated you.

My blog posts have dropped in views and readers lately. It’s hard to want to write for an audience of only a few people. It sometimes feels pointless. I’m doing it in part for a grade though, which helps. Still, when something is different and you’re not feeling as fulfilled about something, you can become unmotivated and lose sight of your original purpose. Maybe your thing is to just clean your room or do laundry, but you hate that it’s something you can never fully be done with. Whatever it may be, there’s a reason you don’t want to do it, and by asking yourself about it, you can better see the heart of the problem. Maybe a new goal can be added, like me asking friends again to read my posts. Or maybe you can see flaws in your thinking, and it will help you want to do the thing.

Maybe it will help you realize you need to ask for help. Friends, family, whoever, they are there for you. Maybe you just need to ask them to remind you and keep you accountable, even if the thing is just doing laundry. Maybe a friend can help you clean your room or cook a meal. Maybe they have similar goals and you can work on them together, in a chill way or in a friendly competition. Whatever the case may be, people are willing to help. It’s not weak or shameful to ask for it, it’s using your resources. Do you mind helping your friends out? Probably not, and they’ll feel the same way.

Maybe you’ve got a lot of things and you’re stuck trying to figure out what to prioritize. It helps if you make a list and drop the little things. I have lots of homework to do, as well as this blog post, and making lunch. What’s more important? I decided getting this post done was number one, so it wouldn’t be put off too late, and since others read it. Then lunch, so I can have energy for the rest. I’ll prioritize my homework by when it’s due. I also have things I want to get done, like cutting up stickers I have, getting ahead on assignments, and more. If I try to add those all into my day, I get overwhelmed. I have to step back and realize those things can get done later, and only focus on the important things.

Letting go of those little things can help. However, if a little thing to you is your room, laundry, or something else, and you’ve put it off for a long time in favor of something else, it might be good to not drop that. Getting something like that done can actually motivate you better for other things, because it’s a weight off your mind. It shows you can just do the thing, so you can succeed at other things as well.

If you’re still struggling with it all, schedule time to do it. Tell yourself, I have free time at 3 where I’m usually watching a show. I’m going to do the thing then. If needed, ask others for help on this, or at least tell them your plan so they can remind you. Avoiding social time or Netflix time for an hour or a few can give you more room to breathe at the end of the day, and will be more beneficial in the long run. I always try to finish my homework before 6 p.m. if possible, so that way I have the whole night to do what I want. This may not be possible for everyone, but sit down and run through your schedule and see if any adjustments can be made. It will help a lot.

If you’re doing all these things and still struggling, take a timed break or find supplemental help. If you’ve been trying to do homework or something for a while, and just can’t, step outside for 15 minutes and enjoy the fresh air. That helps me a lot. Even opening a window can do that. Give yourself 10 minutes to use your phone, but hold yourself to that! Step out and grab a snack or a drink of water. Sometimes those quick mental pauses can help you come back to your thing refreshed and ready to do it.

Supplemental help can be turning on music while studying or cleaning. It can be opening your blinds or a window or making your bed. It can be whatever little thing you can use to help you be more motivated and to be in a better mood to do your thing.

No matter your circumstances, no matter your thing, I hope you’ve found some ways to be motivated. It can be hard, but we make choices every day. Make one that helps you move forward, not stay stuck. You’ve got this.