(no subject)

[alexseanchai]

Uh, so, what are y'all's tips for self-motivation? Because I am about to resort to bribing myself with Talis Kimberley CDs I don't own yet in order to get my homework for this past week done, and I really, really shouldn't spend the money.

The icon indicates I am talking about writing. That too.

Comments

[neotoma]

I've been known to bribe myself with desert and/or candy.

[ladyjanelly]

My biggest thing is reassuring myself that things don't have to be perfect, and then I can quit procrastinating.

I also tend to work until I get stuck, and then do something physical, like walk around the block or spend half an hr cleaning. Rewards of internet time or inactivity don't seem to work for me--I'm even more of a slacker when the reward is over.

[cantarina]

On the really bad days, I only commit to five minutes of work at a time. Sometimes I wind up doing more, some days I can't even go that long, but it's usually enough to get me started.

[silveradept]

My bribe is supposed to be "after chores, then games." Having someone in your ;ife that constantly feeds you chores kind of ruins that, but that's the idea.

[lynnoconnacht]

Bribery with things used to work really well for me and then it just... stopped. Possibly because I couldn't afford it, knew I couldn't afford it, bribed myself anyway and then didn't get myself my treat. Which isn't particularly helpful, I know.

I find the approach of slowly going forward helpful. 'Just a sentence (or a small thing)' and then another and then another. If a single sentence/small thing is already enough to get motivated, then I might move up to 'just a paragraph' otherwise I'll just go do as many small things as I can. Telling myself that small steps are okay helps too. Small steps also get me where I want to go. It just takes more steps. It might work better for you with minutes, a firm word count, or something else entirely, though.

I hope you can find something that works for you!

[nenya_kanadka]

Yeah, the "It doesn't have to be perfect" and the "C'mon, you can eke out two sentences here, right? Five minutes, I swear, then you can go back to screwing around," things seem to work best for me. Otherwise I get all tangled up in guilt and anxiety and THAT doesn't help. But if I get into a project just a liiitttle bit, often enough my brain will engage and you'll end up having to pry me away. Not always, but sometimes. And if not, I got five minutes of writing done? It sometimes helps to have an intermediate goal after that, too--200 words, or 15 minutes, or whatever.