The other day I was totally unmotivated to do anything. It’s not that I didn’t have stuff to do. I just didn’t feel like doing any of it. The distraction trap is real.
So I read some of my own articles. I wasted a lot of time trying to get motivated. I told myself I was looking for inspiration on social media. Nope. Those posts on upcycling furniture, people making their own cosplay outfits, tips for going to Disney World (I wish), Alex Guarnaschelli making her favorite salad dressing, and the cute little baby pygmy hippo in Kansas drew me in.
The algorithms are stacked against productivity
The algorithms know me. And they know you, too. They’ll destroy any semblance of time management you have. They’ll send post after post, video after video, specially designed to keep you on the platform. The puppies are cute, the food looks good enough to eat – or more horrible than you can possibly imagine, so you can’t look away. The social media distraction trap is real.
My problem was that I didn’t set a timer. Or look at my Get Stuff Done Funtime Menu.
Easy methods to get back on track
These are easy methods to get back on track. If you know what you have to do but don’t want to get to it right away, set your timer for 5 or 10 minutes. Your phone timer will do, but a kitchen timer is better. Allow yourself a few minutes to waste time scrolling. The problem with a phone timer is that, on your way to find the right app, you run the risk of going down another distraction rabbit hole. But if you trust yourself, then by all means, use your phone.
Your Get Stuff Done Funtime Menu can be a valuable tool in keeping yourself on track. You’ll be listing tasks of varying lengths of time so that when you lack motivation, you can find something that’ll spark your interest, change your mindset and get productive again. Be sure to include a variety of tasks in your Menu – physically challenging, easier, writing tasks, lists to make, so you’ll find an activity you’ll want to do.
