How to Outsmart Your Brain and Boost Productivity

Procrastination can be a huge problem in our lives, it makes us find it challenging to tackle difficult tasks, even though can be beneficial for our personal growth. Recently, I've discovered a way to consistently take action. There's a clever method to influence our brains into tackling challenging tasks, even when our motivation is low. To outsmart our brain's resistance, we must first delve into understanding how our minds operate, as our behaviors often follow patterns.

The primary sources of resistance when it comes to hard work are negative emotions and our ego or self-image. Think of our brain as a temperamental child; when things become overwhelming or tedious, our inner child throws a tantrum, leading us to procrastinate. Similarly, our ego strives to protect our self-worth, and when we're faced with tasks that may jeopardize it, we tend to avoid those tasks to maintain our self-image.

The crucial insight here is that trying to battle these resistances head-on rarely works. Instead, if we identify the sources of resistance, we can employ strategies to trick our brain into cooperating with us. Let's break down these strategies starting with negative emotions.

The intensity of negative emotions we experience towards a task directly corresponds to its perceived size. For instance, the feeling of boredom becomes far more daunting if we believe we have to endure it for two months without our phone, as opposed to just one hour. Our brain instinctively assesses the effort required to achieve a goal and responds with the appropriate level of negative emotion.

To overcome this, we can employ a simple technique: tell ourselves that we'll only engage with the hard task for a short duration, taking baby steps. For example, rather than thinking about completing an entire task, we can commit to tackling just one practice problem. The key is to lower the stakes, making the task feel less overwhelming. This approach is akin to James Clear's "two-minute rule," which reduces the perceived effort of a task, making it easier to initiate.

Another effective trick is to initiate the process of getting ready for the task. If you're resistant to working out, just change into your workout attire, put on your shoes, and pick up your keys. Often, merely going through these motions can convince your brain that you might as well complete the task now that you're prepared.

Consider batching difficult work with enjoyable tasks. Our brain operates like a spoiled child; incentivizing hard work with pleasurable activities can significantly reduce resistance. For example, you can plan to hang out with friends after completing your work, effectively pairing challenging tasks with rewards.

Now, let's shift our focus to the ego. Our ego is formed based on our past experiences and significantly shapes our self-image and reality. All our actions and behaviors align with our self-image, but this doesn't necessarily correspond to the action itself. Take, for instance, the belief that you can run a five-minute mile. Regardless of your belief, the act of running remains the same. However, if your self-image doesn't align with a particular action, your ego will resist it to protect your self-worth.

To alleviate this resistance, we can adopt a different perspective. We can change the narrative about ourselves. Instead of telling ourselves we 'need' to work out, which clashes with our self-image if we don't perceive ourselves as fit, we can declare that we are someone who 'works out.' This subtle shift in language aligns the task with our self-image, making it easier to tackle.

Moreover, we can take the pressure off our ego by focusing on enjoying the process rather than obsessing over the outcome. By approaching tasks as games or enjoyable challenges, we can diminish resistance and begin to relish the process.

Lastly, for tasks that seem inherently unenjoyable, we can modify the narrative to align with our identity. Rather than declaring, "I need to work out," we can say, "I am someone who works out." This subtle shift in language connects the action to our self-image, making it more likely for us to follow through.

While these strategies can help trick our brain into taking action, remember that they aren't permanent solutions. The key is to cultivate consistency in our habits, creating a snowball effect that perpetuates motivation. Consistent action leads to progress, which, in turn, fuels motivation. As we become more proficient and comfortable with challenging tasks, they become less daunting and more enjoyable.

I encourage you to try out these strategies for yourself. These are the methods I've employed to overcome procrastination and tackle hard tasks by outsmarting my brain. If you have other strategies that work for you, please share them in the comments below. I look forward to hearing from you, don't forget to subscribe.