Whenever I'm having a real sh*t day, the two things that help me get my head right:
• Setting out to get one small win that has nothing to do with what i was planning to work on (change the stupid t...
Man, it sounds like you have ADHD.
Getting started is the hardest part sometimes because once you're doing, you get consumed by the doing. You get those little dopamine rushes & then 2hrs go by before you notice.
I have a running "things I can do list" and I add stuff to guide the doing part of me towards action that is strategically aligned with my goals. Once I'm in doing mode I lose what little executive function I have & get consumed by the task.
Like you I sprinkle it with small, easy tasks that can be completed in 30 minutes. Nothing complex or likely to have bottle necks but completing it makes my life a little better. This reduces my tendency to do stuff to procrastinate doing the big complex job that is important to have done. The ADHD mind doesn't give a shit how important the job is, it's more interested in novelty.
I also add a starting task for the big job to my list. Just like the other tasks, it's simple & quick to complete. I know that once I complete that little task I'll have momentum & I'll want to keep going as I like the feeling of closure. If on the otherhand I stall & get bored after that first task, I move on with my day. I'll later add the next best little task to complete to my list that keeps the big project moving forward.
The big thing for me was understanding that the doing part of me doesn't care how important something is. He only cares if it's interesting & stimulating. Giving him small novel tasks that have lowish importance was a game changer for getting shit done.
Getting started is the hardest part sometimes because once you're doing, you get consumed by the doing. You get those little dopamine rushes & then 2hrs go by before you notice.
I have a running "things I can do list" and I add stuff to guide the doing part of me towards action that is strategically aligned with my goals. Once I'm in doing mode I lose what little executive function I have & get consumed by the task.
Like you I sprinkle it with small, easy tasks that can be completed in 30 minutes. Nothing complex or likely to have bottle necks but completing it makes my life a little better. This reduces my tendency to do stuff to procrastinate doing the big complex job that is important to have done. The ADHD mind doesn't give a shit how important the job is, it's more interested in novelty.
I also add a starting task for the big job to my list. Just like the other tasks, it's simple & quick to complete. I know that once I complete that little task I'll have momentum & I'll want to keep going as I like the feeling of closure. If on the otherhand I stall & get bored after that first task, I move on with my day. I'll later add the next best little task to complete to my list that keeps the big project moving forward.
The big thing for me was understanding that the doing part of me doesn't care how important something is. He only cares if it's interesting & stimulating. Giving him small novel tasks that have lowish importance was a game changer for getting shit done.