5 ways to persuade yourself to be more productive
If you’ve ever spent more time talking yourself into doing something than it actually took to complete the task, you know how hard self-motivation can be.
Whether it’s procrastination, distraction or disinterest, the struggle can be real. Fortunately, there are some tricks that can help get you moving.
Science-backed principles of persuasion can be the push you need to get stuff done, says New York Times bestselling author Daniel Pink, who teaches a new MasterClass on persuasion and sales. “Self-motivation has a new urgency in the pandemic when time is so distorted,” he says.
If you’re feeling stuck, try one of these five simple tricks:
1. Just five more
Use this technique by agreeing to do just five more. For example, make five more calls, read five more pages or send five emails.
“In many cases, 80% of the problem is getting started,” Pink says. “By making that initial step easy, you’re not trying to change your mind; you’re doing what you need to get started and you’ll likely build the momentum to do a lot more.”
2. Set interim goals
Setting goals is how many of us achieve the things we desire most, but goals can also be daunting when they’re big, like writing a book. Persuade yourself to get moving by setting smaller, interim goals, such as writing a chapter every week.
“Long-term goals don’t motivate,” says Pink. “They can be too much and cause you to freak out. Goals that are easier to accomplish can be motivating. When you see the end of something, you kick harder to get to the finish line.”
3. Make a public commitment
Posting an intention on social media can also be motivating. “A public commitment is like being watched,” Pink says. “You don’t want to lose face or look bad.”
To work, the tactic has to involve specific goal setting. You can’t just proclaim you’re going to write a book or run a marathon. “If one has never written a book, for example, it won’t be effective,” Pink says. “Provide a timeframe, such as a finishing a chapter this week. Smaller and more specific is better than large and general announcements.”
4. Take breaks
Another trick for getting more done is to take a break. The brain and body are not meant to work nonstop, Pink says.
“For whatever weird reason, we have the idea that powering through is the best way to get stuff done and a sign of our own virtue,” he says.
Your drive to get more done would increase if you simply took a walk outside every afternoon. “Go out for five- or ten-minute walks with someone you like, talking about something other than work,” Pink says. “Suddenly, whatever you were banging your head about will resolve itself.”
5. Set deadlines
Having a looming deadline can be a good motivator for committing to action. You can set them yourself or leverage deadlines given to you by a manager or coworker.
“Deadlines help turn an abstract into something concrete, instead of a dull nagging to do something,” Pink says. “Deadlines also provide the power of endings. It helps when you see the finish line.”
However, Pink cautions against using deadlines if you’re engaged in divergent thinking that requires greater creativity. They can inhibit your performance instead of enhancing it.
In addition, if a deadline is too severe, it can deaden your intrinsic motivation.