Could be one specific task or just in general.
For tasks that don’t require much mental attention: daydream. Let your mind wander, or create stories in your head. I’ve been “working” on an idea for a novel for years–it’s mostly something I think about to occupy myself when I’d otherwise be bored.
Related:
Don’t think about it as “I have to do this”. Think of it as, “I get to do this.”
Be grateful for the things you have, the things you can do, and the people around you.
When you have a toothache you yearn for a time when you didn’t. This hard work you are doing is the time without a toothache.
In every job that must be done
There is an element of fun
You find the fun and snap! The job’s a game
And every task you undertake
Becomes a piece of cake
A lark! A spree!
It’s very clear to see
That a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down, the medicine go down
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way
A robin feathering his nest
Has very little time to rest
While gathering his bits of twine and twig
Though quite intent in his pursuit
He has a merry tune to toot
He knows a song
Will move the job along
Oh, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down, the medicine go down
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way
The honey bees that fetch the nectar
From the flowers to the comb
Never tired of ever buzzing to and fro
Because they take a little nip
From every flower that they sip
And hence (And hence)
They find (They find)
Their task is not a grind…
The 7 dwarves talked about “whistle while you work”, many others have said music.
Personally I gamify tasks and try to make them more efficient, or if they’re maxed out, enjoy the time I’ve saved and the efficient task and smooth running of a process. Then the focus becomes the process rather than the sometimes tedious nature of things.
If there’s a job that must be done
You’ll find it’s much more fun
Don’t pout, don’t sob,
Just do a half-assed job!
If you cut every corner then it’s really not so bad
Everybody does it, even mom and dad.
If nobody sees you, then nobody gets mad.
It’s the American way!
In general, I try to knock out the hardest tasks first, that way everything just (hopefully/usually) gets easier from there.
There’s a saying in this line of reasoning: “eat the frog first.” The idea is that if you have to do something unpleasant (e.g., consuming a slimy amphibian), do it first thing, otherwise you’ll be dreading it all day and it’ll make your entire day worse. Get it done and out of the way, then you can enjoy your day (and the other tasks won’t feel as bad in comparison).
Delegate. It’s so much fun when other people do em.
I listen to music, whether actual music or in my head.
Time myself. Racing the microwave is an example: How many dishes can I get into the dishwasher while my soup heats up? Can I take out the trash before the beeps/with a minute to spare? If there are repetitive steps to something (e.g., washing windows, folding shirts), see if I can keep it under some number of seconds/minutes for each one.
Pot
Use a daily circular habit tracker
Figuring out how to automate them, when possible. Coding / scripting / debugging is more fun than tedious manual tasks, IMO.
When I’m doing exams I like to separate all the pencilwork with outlines for each question, but I like to do a different style every time. sometimes I tile them, sometimes I make weird patterns, and it is a bit of fun.
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Sometimes I’ll smoke weed, it makes shit that sucks seem awesome and I’m such an elite weed head that it doesn’t make me lazy
