Self-Discipline for Tedious, Boring, and Difficult Things

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.

“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.

If you’ve got an ongoing issue with procrastination, however, it might be worth asking if you can do more to work directly with uncertainty and not with your discipline, motivation, or personal sense of purpose.

One of the most exhausting things in the world is to try to work when you are disillusioned, scared, resentful, bored, or feeling invisible or taken advantage of.

Imagine that today, the day you’re living right now, is a day you will have to repeat forever until the day you die. Whatever you do today, you will have to keep doing. Where will you be in ten years’ time? Twenty?

important” means that a task is something that directly leads to the accomplishment of your priority goals, or otherwise would cause significant problems were it not completed.