There isn’t a productivity guide in the world that will solve the problems that pretty much all of us face daily.
I’m the same as you — I face these obstacles to getting stuff done:
These are all really the same problem: when you have important but difficult tasks to do, you run to distractions, or do busywork, or just goof off because you don’t have the energy.
I deal with this every day, and I don’t always solve it. But what if we could dive into this problem, and figure out what was going on? We’d be masters of the universe.
Pause Training
In truth, we face this problem of running from discomfort all the time, but we just don’t normally see it happening. This is why meditation is such a great training ground for the mind — you sit there and have nothing to do but notice the mind running from the discomfort of the present moment. Over and over. And in time, you learn how to work with this.
So I suggest you use your important tasks as meditation training, so that you’ll learn to work with the discomfort that arises.
Here’s how:
Now we’re going to do 'pause training,' where instead of running from the discomfort, you pause. Breathe. Turn your attention to this discomfort — it might be fear, frustration, uncertainty, self-doubt, tiredness. Drop your story about this discomfort, and just notice how it feels physically, in your body. Where is this feeling of discomfort located? What quality does it have?
You’ll notice that the discomfort actually doesn’t feel that bad, even though you habitually want to run from it. It’s just energy. It’s not actually good or bad, but just energy that’s in your body, one that you normally don’t want to have and normally judge as 'bad.'
Try this pause training for yourself. It won’t work to just read about it, you have to work with it. Get to know it, become intimate with it.
Unconventional Productivity
Once you’ve started to work with the discomfort, you’ll see that it’s No Big Deal. Nothing to worry about. It’s just a feeling, just energy. You’ll relax a little around it. Try to develop a friendly attitude toward it, instead of being harsh on yourself. Just notice, just smile, just breathe, just be gentle.
How do you turn this No Big Deal into productivity? Here’s a system to try:
You won’t be perfect at this, so don’t expect perfection. Just work with it, gently, and you’ll get better and better with practice.
Like this? Then you might like:
How Pick N Mix Spirituality Became The 20-Something Religion Of Choice
Follow Leo Babauta on Twitter @zen_habits
The original article can be found on full here on Zenhabits.net
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.