We’ve all been there. You look at your to-do list and see that one task—the one that isn’t necessarily hard, but it’s long, repetitive and feels like it’s going to take forever.
Today, that’s me. Today, I’m working on reaching out to over 150 people as part of a marketing campaign. And, to be honest, I started this task yesterday, so continuing it today is even less appealing.
You’re probably thinking, “Just create a distribution list and hit ‘send’ on a mass email!” I wish. Because these are all individual online contact forms, I have to manually submit every single one. It’s a marathon of clicking, copying and pasting.
So the question is, how do you plow through the boring task and still keep your sanity?
Here is my game plan for getting it done.
Get everything ready first
Don’t try to “wing it.” I wrote my master message email first and gathered the names and links for everyone I wanted to reach out to. (You could also do this by entering the email links into one spreadsheet.) Now, I don’t have to think; I just have to execute.
The milestone treat
Looking at 150 names can be overwhelming. Looking at a smaller number, like maybe 10, is easier. My strategy for today’s task is to power through 10 contacts, then give myself a tiny reward—maybe a quick stretch or a fresh cup of coffee. Small wins keep the momentum going.
Change the scenery
Since it’s January and the air is crisp (okay, it’s freezing!), I’m planning a brisk walk halfway through. Getting away from the screen and into the fresh air is like a “reset” button for your brain.
Use “productive procrastination”
Since I’m working from home, I’ll break up the monotony with quick chores. Throwing in a load of laundry or tidying a room gives me a break from the screen while still making me feel like I’m winning at life. Be careful, however. Too much procrastination could mean extending your boring task another day!
The finish line
I’ve set a “hard stop” for my day. No matter where I am on the list, the laptop shuts at a specific time. Having a clear end in sight makes it much easier to stay focused during the final stretch.
We all have different ways to plow through boring tasks. How do you do it?
Writing for you. 