Stop Postponing Taking Action On Hard Tasks

We tend to postpone tasks we expect to be difficult or unpleasant. That’s human nature. Everyone does it. For example, we might happily take our dogs for a 30-minute walk, but cringe at the thought of spending 30 minutes doing yard work. That tendency carries consequences. We get less done, focus on the wrong things and even develop a foreboding sense of failure for repeatedly putting off important items. And of course, our to-do lists continue to grow as difficult and unpleasant tasks linger on them, carried forward day after day. There are two schools of thought concerning how to solve this issue. Some folks advocate tackling the hardest tasks on your to-do list first, before you address simpler or more enjoyable items. Other folks advise the opposite - work on a few easy tasks to get your momentum and then focus on the harder items. Both approaches have merit. Both can be effective. Everyone works differently; the strategy that works best for you may be a poor fit for someone else. I’ll give you several action steps in a moment that will help you to figure out which approach is best-suited to you. First, however, let’s take a look at how the tendency to postpone difficult tasks hurts your productivity.

How This Bad Habit Hurts Your Productivity 

As I mentioned yesterday, postponing tasks doesn’t make them disappear. They remain on your to-do list where they constantly demand your attention. Worse, each one points an accusatory finger at you, chiding you for your lethargy. Over time, tasks that should have been completed - or at least started - days or weeks prior begin to take an emotional toll. First, you’ll experience increased anxiety as your once-manageable to-do list grows out of control. Second, you’ll become increasingly frustrated. Each time you glance at your to-do list, you’ll be reminded that you actively chose to postpone difficult items. Third, you’ll start to feel pangs of guilt and shame. Putting off hard tasks implies - fairly or otherwise - an inability to take action. You’ll blame yourself for your apathy. Fourth, the more anxiety, frustration and guilt you experience, the less focus you’ll enjoy. You’ll find it increasingly difficult to concentrate. That, in turn, will make you more susceptible to distractions. Fifth, this bad habit can even lead to health problems. In 2015, the Journal of Behavioral Medicine published a study showing a link between postponing tasks and the onset of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Occasionally putting off tasks is sometimes necessary. And it’s rarely a problem. But there’s no question that it will hamper your productivity if you do it on a regular basis. With that in mind, here are several steps you can take today to break the habit.

Action Steps 

1. Set aside an hour in the morning to work on one Big Rock. As we discussed in Day 3, your Big Rocks are the most important items on your to-do list. They may be difficult or unpleasant. But they must be addressed or bad things will happen. For example, suppose you’re the CEO of a publicly-traded company. One of your Big Rocks might be to prepare a presentation for an upcoming meeting with your board of directors. If you fail to prepare, the board may lose faith in your ability to lead the company. Work on one of your Big Rocks during the first hour of your day. Don’t worry about completing it. Just work on it for one hour. Doing so with the knowledge you’ll be able to stop in 60 minutes will make the task seem less daunting.

2. Choose two Big Rocks for the day. That’s it. No more than two. Most people overestimate the time they have available, and underestimate the time they’ll need, to finish large or complex tasks. By limiting the number of Big Rocks you’ll work on during any given day to two, you’ll avoid overburdening yourself and destroying your motivation.

 3. Start. That may sound pedestrian. But it’s the hardest step, especially for tasks you expect to be difficult or unpleasant. Once you start working, it’s relatively easy to continue working. Moreover, every moment you spend working on the task builds your momentum. For example, suppose your Big Rock is to clean your house. Rather than dwelling on the time and effort needed to complete the entire job, start by wiping down your kitchen countertops. Then, clear off your living room coffee table. Then, wash the dishes sitting in your sink. Just start. You may be surprised at how easy it is to continue working.

4. Expect obstacles. The greater the scope and complexity of a given task, the greater the likelihood you’ll face stumbling blocks. Anticipate them. You’ll save yourself frustration when they surface.

5. Be aware of how your brain tries to avoid hard tasks. It can be sneaky. For example, do you have a tendency to check Facebook whenever you’re on the cusp of starting an unpleasant task? Or do you launch your favorite game on your phone to play for “a moment or two” before getting to work? Those are tactics your brain uses to shun difficult tasks. Once you identify them, you can take measures to hobble them. For example, the moment you notice the impulse to visit Facebook, acknowledge your brain’s Pavlovian response and actively suppress it.

6. Set a time limit. One of the reasons difficult or complex tasks are daunting is because they often take a considerable amount of time to complete. Consequently, we shy away from them. Short-circuit that inclination by limiting the amount of time you’ll commit to the task at hand. A time limit provides a definite ending point. It represents light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. For example, rather than rolling up your sleeves and toiling away until the task at hand is complete, commit to working on it for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes have passed, decide whether to continue working on it - taking advantage of your momentum - or move on to another item on your to-do list.