How To Work On Something You Hate
![[Ewww, do I have to?]](http://7pproductions.com/img/a-h/ewww_200x200.jpg)
Even dream jobs can have things you don’t like. You might be a famous movie actor, and you’re working on a movie with a co-star that you hate. You might be a rock star that must perform a song that you’re sick of playing over and over again at your concerts. Or you might be an entrepreneur that unknowingly agreed to work on the project from hell that is too costly to quit.
If you have a task that you hate, clearly the best thing to do is to not do it by delegating it away, letting it drop, or maybe just deferring it for later. Sometimes you don’t have that option and it’s better to just get it over with. How do you go about it? I’ve come up with a list of ways to approach it.
Have a Reward Before You Start: Treating yourself can get you in the right mood before you begin that dreaded task. For me, the hardest part is starting the task, and once I start, it’s not so bad trying to finish it.
Have a Reward Waiting for You When You’re Done: The dangling carrot trick - I’ve seen it work effectively for motivating some people. It can really be helpful to get the undesirable task done early as well. Now you don’t have to follow through with it, though. For me, I often promise to buy myself a top-line iPhone… I think I owe myself about 11 iPhones now.
Make a Game of It: Putting some artificial fun into something can make it not so bad. I’m not talking about actually playing a game while doing the task; that can lead to procrastination (I banned myself from ever buying a game console again). I’m talking about making the task itself a game. For example, sometimes when I wash dishes, I try to make interesting modern art with the washed dishes on the dish rack.
Work on It in Spurts: It can take a lot of energy sometimes to do that dreaded task. Making short milestones and taking breaks in between is pretty effective for me. However, it’s also the most dangerous, because I can get so sidetracked in my breaks that I may never come back to the dreaded task.
Lie to Yourself That You Actually Enjoy It: As silly as it sounds, it can actually work [think Tom Sawyer and painting the fence]. I actually think that sometimes the task is only horrible because we think it’s supposed to be horrible, and it’s really not that bad after all.
Are any of these tricks that you use as well? How do you go about working on something you hate?
Al at 7P
Mitcehll Allen
Ron Hitson
Chris | Martial Development
Hi Al - this is really interesting to me, because I have been doing things I loved and were like a dream come true - yet had bits that were difficult/tiresome/unpleasant. I think I have used the “lie to yourself” solution and also focusing on how much better it is than doing job X in the past. Also thinking how I can attract better situations in the future.
Interesting!
Hi Robin,
That’s a great situation that you have. Not everyone can say they have been doing things that they love. I think the stat is something horrible like only 20% of people enjoy what they do.
I think even dream jobs have their low point. I like your approach of just thinking what the alternative could be. It could always be worse.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Al,
I like these 5 pieces of advice on how to tackle things we hate to do.
None of us enjoys every activity that we find ourselves doing- no matter how positive we are about life in general.
Some things are- quite simply- a pain to do, but needs must. If we don’t do them, chances are they’ll remain undone.
I especially like the last point- to trick ourselves that we actually enjoy the task in hand. This has worked for me many times.
After telling myself over and over that I would enjoy the dreaded job, eventually I started to believe it! Like studying for exams in my student days
Hi Scott,
That is a good point about homework. I remember in my first year of college I simply hated it because I was taking required courses, so I had no choice but to do the homework. However when I got into my elective courses, I eventually enjoyed the homework because I chose the courses.
Looking back, the required courses I took were actually interesting, but as you pointed out, I think it was just psychological.
I’m a list person, so I break the task down into smaller pieces. I do the first item on the task, then take a break..a timed break so that I make sure I go back to the list. Maybe read a chapter in a book, or go for a short walk, anything that takes my mind away from the real job at hand. The job gets done, and I have the satisfaction of seeing the items get crossed off the list.
Okay, I am so bad with the list thing, if I really can’t motivate myself to work on a task, I actually add to my list sub-tasks I have already done, just so I can immediately cross them off.
Modern art out of washed dishes…too funny!
Urban Panther’s last blog post: Dressing to land a man - Part I Undergarments
This is very timely for me. I’ve been struggling with a project at work. I don’t really have any tricks other than to JUST DO IT.
Vered’s last blog post: Internet Safety: Did I Go Too Far?
These are a good list of tricks. You know, sometimes just by reading about how others go about getting things done, is motivating enough in its own right. It reminds me that people do in fact get to business and get things done.
I guess I can too.
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post: Realizing You’re a Magician Can Create Magic in Your Life
@ Urban Panther - the way you first described how you methodically went through your list was very intimidating… I was about to report you as “Spam”, since you were obviously a machine and not human. You had me going!
@ Vered - plowing through the bad task seems the most efficient. Kinda like removing band-aid - the less one thinks about it, the less painful it is. Just as long as it’s just for one project and not the entire job
.
@ Bamboo - thanks for the feedback. You know, I’ve been reading a lot of articles about how to stop doing what you hate and start doing what you love. Sometimes, even doing what you love comes with a little bit of not-so-lovable things.
Good list of tips to try. I usually don’t do much more than to just try to power through them. Well, sometimes I do use the dangling carrot trick…
dcr’s last blog post: Success Saturday: Triskaidekapalooza
Hi dcr,
I think that’s a sound approach to doing things. Rather than spending extra efforts trying to trick and cajole oneself in doing something, it’s just easier to plow through it. The tricks like the dangling carrot can be helpful we need that extra push.
I agree that it’s important to have a strategy for doing things that need to be done and you don’t enjoy doing. What I do is I commit myself to working on the task for a set amount of time and I get an egg timer and set it to the amount of time I’ve decided upon. I also have a reward waiting for when the timer goes off, like a cup of coffee and cookies, ice cream, and so on (yes, my rewards usually involve food
).
Al, I love the blog. Spent the morning looking around. “Which hero are you” was great.
Have a great week,
Trey
Trey Morgan’s last blog post: CLOSED
@ Mare - Timing the amount of effort on that unejoyable task. I like that. If it only has to be done for a set length of time, it’s easier to bear. Having a reward at the end helps too. Can I work for you? You’d make a great boss!
@ Trey - thanks for checking out the blog and thanks for the feedback. I also found your blog through the Manival a couple weeks back. I guess we’re mutual fans!
As for, whenever possible I sing and dance while doing the task I hate. I Feel Good, Hot Stuff, It’s Not Unusual are among my favorites! I do them in one take and as fast as I can ! Even better if I can have music blasting away
Urbane Lion’s last blog post: How to really land yourself a good man!
Hi Al,
I have a few jobs I don’t care for. One is filing. I make a game of it and then reward myself when it’s done. THAT makes it a lot easier to face.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post: Interview With Lorelle VanFossen - Part 1 - Stay Motivated
Kick ace post!
My favorite is:
“Lie to Yourself That You Actually Enjoy It”
OMG how helpful it is! No joke - I always lie like that. One of those moments when lying is not a sin.
Thanks for sharing - first time here and i love the design and the writing style.
Subscribed
Alik | PracticeThis.com’s last blog post: Blog Post Templates – New And Improved Plugin For Windows Live Writer [FREE]
@ Urbane Lion - those are great songs for working. Now I have Tom Jones singing “It’s Not Unusual” in my head! At least I’ll be productive today. Thanks for that tip!
@ Barbara - agreed, filing is a painful task for me as well. Some tasks might be dreaded, but we can’t avoid them. And the more I postpone it, the worse the filing job gets too.
@ Alik - hey, welcome to the blog! I’m glad you came to visit and subscribed. I really enjoy your blog as well.
Hi Al
another great post about self improvement
like you guys i have few things i hate more then anything but cant help my self but finish it.
the only thing that works for me in such situation is to start from the middle (e.i points that i likes) this help me lie my self that i love what i am doing.
Hi Al - These are great tips. The last one has worked for me. I’ve actually grown to love doing things I hated, just by convincing myself that I loved doing them.
Great recommendations!
I can suggest something too:
1. You can try to pay somebody to make that work for you (works even in the family).
2. You can setup time budget to work and to some reward (for example 2 hours to clean in the room and play TV game - more faster you’ll clean, more time will left for a game).
3. You can re-read some motivational book or re-watch film before getting to work (just a few minutes would be enough if you know that book or film).
4. You can imagine what troubles would you expect if you do not get to the work.
ProductivityScience’s last blog post: Simple paperless todolisting with smartphone and MS Outlook
making a game of it works well for me but nothing works better than this. Get a jump on it. if it’s deadline driven start at the earliest opportunity. Like you said finishing is not the problem. So call a buddy to hold you accountable if you must but starting early works every time.
Tom Volkar / Delightful Work’s last blog post: Wildness
Back in my former life when I was a rich (well… not that rich) business owner I once had an epiphany. I asked myself the question: How much is my free time worth to me? Once I actually put a monetary value to my leisure time I actually started to make much more money and like my job even better. So for me, on top of singing out loud, delegation was the way to go for me!
I employ just about every one of the tips listed on this site. But really, I try and break the task/project down into as many small pieces as possible! Then I just time-block and dedicate to finishing a piece in each of the time slots alloted. Some good music in the background usually gets me pumped and keeps me on track
Ricardo Bueno’s last blog post: Quote of the Day: words that have "meaning"
@ Sunil - starting with the middle (the part you like) is a good strategy. It helps to get started, and I’m not sure about other people, but for me starting can be the hardest part. I’m guessing once you get started and involved in the task, you probably don’t need to do any more tricks and it can actually be enjoyable. Thanks for the feedback!
@ Cath - yeah, I think the last advice (convince yourself that you enjoy the task) probably should be on top of the list. If I convince myself that I enjoy the task, then the quality of the work will be better. And like you said, you never know - it might be something we actually enjoy! Thanks for sharing.
@ ProductivityScience - these are indeed useful additions! #2 is a great strategy - it rewards completion as well as efficiency. Positively motivating yourself (#3) belongs on the list - in fact, I have the theme music for “Rocky” on my iPod
. Motivating yourself with fear (#4) is something I don’t enjoy, but nonetheless it’s effective… I have to admit some of my best work is when facing a deadline. I’d say delegating (#1) is ideal, but the list was assuming it wasn’t an option.
@ Tom - so true. Sometimes no need to overthink it… just jump right into it and get it done. This list should be only used as “Plan B!”
@ Urbane Lion - words of wisdom, indeed! I actually have a post on delegating, because I really do believe it’s a great way to work smarter rather than harder. Hope you share more of your story in an article on your blog!
Hi Ricardo - very nice. Break things up into smaller tasks and budget time (keeping Parkinson’s Law in mind!). Then, positively motivate yourself through the tasks. A very reliable and methodical approach, indeed!
Wow, this post seems to be very popular. It seems to be a problem that everyone experience before, to do something worth value, we sometimes need to do something we dont like.
There is one saying, if you want to spend your time doing what you like in the future, start doing things that you don’t like today.
I guess keep on stretching our comfort zone is one of that!
Robert
Hi Robert - that’s a great saying. Small sacrifices today for great rewards in the future.
I would categorize that as a modified dangling carrot approach (#2), but rather than rewarding yourself, the reward is from the fruits of your labor. Thanks for the insight!
Al,
What tremendous insight you have! Your list is excellent.
Having tried ALL of the things on your list, plus some, I have found the only “trick” that works for me. Believe it or not, it is the OPPOSITE of #4!
When doing a job I DON’T wish to do, I find that if I can get myself started, I’m much better off just getting the task done, rather than having it sit on me like an elephant.
The way I use this “trick” is simple - for me. I usually DO NOT start at the beginning, if that’s possible! Once I’ve taken a good look at the task, I pick a good jumping-off point for myself - and it is not necessarily the “easiest” or “most fun” part. It is the part that I find most managable. And once I start, that is usually enough motivation for myself to just get the darn task out of the way!
For example, if I have to pay the bills - which I don’t enjoy doing - I will fill out all of the return envelopes, and put stamps on them. That done, I can’t deal with MORE paperwork than I started with, so I just tackle the job very methodically until completion.
After all, depending on the particular job, who says that you have to start at the beginning?
See, I even put a resonse on THIS post from so long ago to motivate me to tackle writing some comments I’d really rather NOT write - lol
Rita
Rita’s last blog post: Female Sexuality – Laid Bare
Hi Rita - I laughed when I read the line about not needing to start at the beginning. Excellent example
I like your bill-paying approach… ease into it by attacking a more manageable part of the task, then dive right in. The technique definitely should be on the list. Thanks Rita!