The discomfort of taking on difficult tasks can push you to seek out distractions, focus on busywork, and procrastinate. This meditation-like exercise will help you focus on why you want to run from the hard stuff, and make you more productive overall.

You’ve probably heard time and time again to take on your hardest task of the day first thing, but for some reason you can’t seem to do it. If that sounds like you, Leo Babauta at Zen Habits suggests you try some “pause training,” which works similarly to basic meditation exercises. Start by picking one important task you have to do today. Remove yourself from as many distractions as possible, and try your hardest to focus on completing that task. As Babauta explains, your mind will want to run from the discomfort:



If you keep pausing and identifying that feeling when it comes, you’ll begin to realize over time that it’s not a big deal and nothing to worry about. It’s just there. Eventually you’ll become comfortable with that discomfort, and maybe even use it as a motivator instead of a hindrance. Your difficult tasks will still be important, but you’ll want to take them on instead of running from them. The whole article is worth a read so be sure to check it out at the link below.

Unconventional Productivity | Zen Habits

Photo by Dave Hosford.