Startup problems in this heat? Not anymore with these 8 unhinged tricks
When I opened the back door this morning, I briefly doubted whether I was still in the Netherlands or if I had been teleported in my sleep. Spain I know it's incredibly Dutch to always complain about the weather, but with red code temperatures approaching 40 degrees, I find it justified.
This heat is manageable if your only task is to lie by the pool with a good book and a cocktail relax. But when there’s work to be done, cleaning, studying, or exercising,, it becomes a different story. Is it mainly the starting that you struggle with? Then here are eight tricks to get yourself moving anyway.
1. Don’t negotiate with yourself
If you’re like me, you have a complete discussion with yourself before every task. “If I load the dishwasher now, I might as well have lunch first. But I don’t want to work out with a full stomach later. Maybe I should just...” And before you know it, fourteen minutes have passed and you’ve done absolutely nothing. Making a plan can help, but sometimes you just have to pretend it’s Black Friday 2017. Don’t think, just run.
2. Lower the bar (embarrassingly low)
A big task can become so overwhelming that you don’t even know where to start. Instead of making a complete plan (if that works for you: definitely do it), you can also just set the bar extremely low. Put one thing back in its place. Fold two T-shirts. Write three sentences for that report. Make it so ridiculously small that it feels embarrassing.
3. Do a task intentionally poorly
Sometimes the idea that you have to be really good at something right away is exactly the reason why you... do absolutely nothing. Therefore, give yourself permission to completely mess up a task. Chances are, once you get started, you’ll exceed your own expectations.
4. Get yourself vertical
Lying down and hanging out are the official relaxation positions of the human body. Once you stand up, your brain switches to action mode much more easily. Bonus points if you have a standing desk or have DIY’d one.
5. As if you’re going to the office
If there’s ever a sweaty weather, it’s this. Your first instinct is probably: swimwear. A bikini It breathes, dries quickly, and if you sit outside with your laptop, you might even get a tan. But your brain associates a bikini with vacation and relaxation. Not exactly handy when there’s a to-do list waiting for you. So unfortunately: Bermuda shorts, a blouse, and for the real go-getters, even kitten heels underneath.
6. Turn on background noise
For many, silence feels like extra pressure. So put on some music, a podcast, or a series that you know by heart by now. Gossip Girl works for me time and again. You already know the story by heart, so Blair Waldorf can no longer sabotage your productivity.
7. Stare at the wall
The English saying watching paint dry exists for a reason. I can hardly think of anything more boring than watching paint dry. Staring at a wall for ten minutes is the ultimate reset for your mind. Zero stimuli or distractions. After that, even your tax return looks like a fun afternoon project. Everything is more enjoyable than staring at that bare wall for another five minutes.
8. Don’t wait for motivation
And then the most important: motivation doesn’t just come out of nowhere. After sixty minutes of doomscrolling, you don’t suddenly feel the irresistible urge to clear your inbox or tidy up that closet. Unfortunately, absolutely no one works like that.
Motivation usually only arises after you’ve started; so just begin. I can imagine that you’ve only read this article to avoid starting for just a little longer.
