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how to overcome the dread of a difficult task
We keep avoiding a difficult task because we are afraid to face it. There are many debilitating questions that can kill the motivation of even the strongest person, especially if these questions are left to fester. Worry begins to creep in and it won’t let go.
See how to overcome the dread of a difficult task:
- Start now
When you let your molehill turn into a mountain, the fear only builds and builds until you face it. That means you just have to jump in and get started. Once you start, you will begin to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Breaking down the task in parts will make it seem possible and actually enjoyable to do.
- Separate the hard parts from the easy parts
Every task has its hard and easy parts. When you can separate the two, you can pick the type of work that fits your mood. Let’s say you work best in the late morning. You can then choose to pick the hardest tasks for this time period. If your energy dips in the late afternoon, you can choose to do work that is easier and uses less brain power during this time.
- Enjoy the emotional challenge
Difficult tasks are usually avoided because of the suffering that they may cause. You worry about how you might become frustrated, angry or sad. Acknowledging these feelings is a great first step in building your emotional strength. You can use a difficult challenge to become more patient, more relaxed, or just quicker to release frustration when you engage your emotional development at work.
- Chip away everyday
You may look back at the end of the busy day and realize you didn’t get half of what you wanted accomplished. This usually happens because you did the light work instead of the heavy lifting. The way to feel fulfilled at the end of the day is to tackle the difficult tasks early so you can ease up when your energy wanes. You will be impressed at the end of the week at how much you really were able to accomplish.
- Find someone that wants to help you
A difficult task is dreaded because of all the work that lies before you. You feel like you can’t do it all by yourself and you should not. That’s why finding someone to help you is very important to your emotional health. This person can be a creative sounding board as well as someone you can complain to when things don’t go quite right. Find someone who does not have all the same strengths as you. Try to match yourself with a person who can make up for your weaknesses and complement your strengths.
- Ask yourself, “Am I the right person for the job?”
There are some jobs that just don’t fit with your strengths. When working for someone, you may not have the power to turn down a project. Adding people to your team will allow you to work on tasks that are aligned with your strengths. If you are repeatedly given work that you don’t like, then you may need to make a change. You have an obligation to yourself to do work that makes you feel successful.
