motivation solutions? | Ask MetaFilter:
Try a SPRINT.
It is as simple as can be. Pick a task you don't like. Set yourself a short timeframe, say, 10 minutes. Set an alarm or timer and then FLY LIKE THE WIND! Go as quickly as you possibly can and still get the task done accurately, knowing you only have 10 minutes.

Why does this work? Everyone can ignore interruptions, focus, ratchet up the energy, and so on, for only ten minutes. And it gives you a definite really short-term end-point for the task. Heck you'll be done in ten minutes!

And it is very important to really quit at the end of your ten minutes. That way your fun-loving, easily-bored inner kid starts to trust you when you say that you're only working ten minutes. If you go over, that kid in you knows better than to say yes to the next 'sprint'.

Why ten minutes? Because it is short. Sprinting for an hour isn't a sprint. It's a really fast grind.

Try it out. I think you'll find it very effective.
posted by tamills at 2:17 PM PST on August 15