118 — How to Do Something You Hate
There are some common struggles we experience when we have to do something we don’t want to do — be it a mundane chore, an exhausting exercise routine, or a dreaded work meeting. But doing something you hate is part of life, and learning to do those things well can help you grow mentally stronger.
These five strategies can help you tackle challenges head-on. Each one can help you build tolerance to discomfort and help you get through things you don’t want to do.
Key Takeaways:
- The Ten Minute Rule: Commit to just ten minutes of the dreaded task to overcome the initial resistance.
- Temptation Bundling: Pair something enjoyable with the unpleasant task to make it more bearable.
- Break Down Tasks: Divide overwhelming tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks.
- Reward Yourself: Celebrate small milestones with rewards to stay motivated.
- Mental Endurance: Remind yourself that you can tolerate discomfort to build mental resilience.
Notable Quotes:
- “Getting started is usually the hardest part. The ten-minute rule will help you get started.” – Amy Morin
- “Pair something that you love with something that you hate. It will make the thing that you hate a little bit easier.” – Amy Morin
- “Telling yourself that you can’t stand it will only make it worse. Remind yourself, no, actually, I can stand this.” – Amy Morin
- “Practice tolerating discomfort so you can give yourself a tough challenge in a controlled condition.” – Amy Morin
- “Doing things we hate is part of life, and figuring out how to do them anyway is part of growing mentally stronger.” – Amy Morin
Timestamp | Summary |
0:00 | Strategies to Motivate Yourself to Do Things You Hate |
4:55 | Pairing Unpleasant Tasks With Enjoyable Activities |
6:16 | Breaking Down Tasks to Make Them More Manageable |
7:54 | The Power of Rewards in Making Unpleasant Tasks Bearable |
9:20 | Strategies to Tolerate and Overcome Tasks You Dislike |
13:13 | Building Mental Strength Through Consistent Effort and Community Support |
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