Self-Discipline for Tedious, Boring, and Difficult Things

“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” —Carl Sandburg

the more immersed you are and the fewer distractions you indulge in, the quicker the work goes and the less tired you feel.

None of us can control the fact that there are some annoying tasks and obligations we’re required to do in life, but we can control how we do those things and the way we think about them.

Being engaged in deep work can feel great—and procrastinators are sometimes surprised by just how much they can do once they’ve gotten started. But resist the temptation to do just five more minutes, even if you’re feeling really engaged.

he entire system falls apart if you’re muddling through your work with half a brain or thinking about all the things you’re going to do while you’re supposed to be relaxing.

“Time is the coin of your life.

” random thoughts and ideas here and you’ve instantly identified something to pick up on next time.

Create “pickup tasks” for the next work block: At the end of each day or work unit, or before a significant pause or break, take a moment to generate a short list of small, easy tasks known as "pickup tasks" for the next day. You can also consciously choose something that you’re quite excited about or personally find very enjoyable. Consider this a little “pre-reward” for getting over that initial hump required to restart any task.

Being a procrastinator and resenting your work comes from the same psychological root as believing there’s value in doing prolonged marathon sessions.

the time you can feel yourself forcing through tiredness, boredom, and lack of concentration, you are already losing quality.