Tell yourself you’ll do something for just five minutes. “I’ll write one sentence for that report.” “I’ll fold just three socks.” That’s it. Five minutes is the magic key.
I once had a friend who hated cleaning her kitchen. She’d stare at the dirty dishes like they were monsters. Then she started using a timer for five minutes. She’d wash just a few plates, and before the timer beeped, she’d finished the whole sink. Motivation showed up late, but she was already done.
Why does this work? Because your brain hates starting, but it loves finishing. Once you begin, dopamine—your brain’s “feel good” chemical—kicks in, and you want to keep going. It’s like eating one potato chip. You can’t stop at one.
The power of terrible first tries
Another trick is to allow yourself to be terrible. Want to run? Walk for 60 seconds. Want to paint? Scribble stick figures. I once wrote an entire article in all lowercase letters, on purpose, just to get the words out. It was ugly. But it was done.
Your first try doesn’t have to be pretty. It just has to be started. Motivation loves a messy beginning because it gives it something to improve. Perfectionism is the enemy of getting motivated. So be a little sloppy.
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Picture a toddler learning to walk. They don’t wait until they can do a perfect waltz. They just wobble and fall. And then they try again. That is how motivation works: one wobbly, imperfect step at a time.
