Ask HN: How do you motivate yourself to do un-motivating work?

Re:Ask HN: How do you motivate yourself to do un-motivating ... by staunch on Monday October 12, 2009 @04:31PM (#877567)

1) Do the easiest/most fun part of whatever boring task there is to do first. Most things are not as boring or as excruciating as they seem to be, once you're actually doing them. Objects in motion...

2) Only do the bare minimum work necessary to get passing grades in high school, unless you plan to attend college. No one cares what grades you got in HS. Anything you're genuinely interested in you can learn much more deeply on your own.

3) Learning self-discipline is extremely valuable, even if you rarely invoke it. This boring work could be a blessing, if you can use it to teach yourself discipline.

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Re:Ask HN: How do you motivate yourself to do un-motivating ... by TrevorJ on Monday October 12, 2009 @04:40PM (#877588)

2 and 3 are at odds. Do the bare minimum, but learn self-discipline? Self discipline is a muscle. Don't exercise it and it atrophies.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How do you motivate yourself to do un-motivating ... by staunch on Monday October 12, 2009 @06:04PM (#877771)

I didn't claim they weren't contradictory. I don't think they are though. He could work to become very disciplined in doing the bare minimum consistently and efficiently.

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