Self-Discipline for Tedious, Boring, and Difficult Things

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.

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

“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

parking on the downhill slope”: sketching out in writing what your next step is likely to be

Pomodoro Technique, which is a simple time management method that involves twenty-five-minute focused work intervals (pomodoros) followed by five-minute breaks, with a longer break after four cycles

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

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.

Being overworked also has negative psychological repercussions, some of which won’t be evident for a while. You may start to resent your tasks and doubt your motivation to do them. It’s a vicious cycle—the more tired you are and the less enjoyable the process, the slower you go and the more mistakes you make. You make the task harder for yourself. The next time you approach the task, you’ve already taught yourself that it’s hard and unenjoyable and that you’re going to be slow and make mistakes. So, what do you do? Push yourself to be “disciplined” and slog even more.

Go a little further down this path and eventually you end up burned out.