Vividly Specific Contrasting ScenariosPicture the worst and the best case situations—in all their emotional details—for not starting an important task now.How bad could the consequences be if you don’t get it done or done right?How exciting could it be if you did it on time and superbly?What if you intend to start it later today?How many things“beyond your control”can prevent you from getting started?If you did，in fact，start it right now，when is the soonest you might be done if you get clear and focused，and allow no other interruptions until you get to a crucial state of completion or actually finish it?What small indulgence could you give yourself when you’re done?Take a break to savor time with a colleague who makes you laugh?Get a surprise gift for a friend who’s been especially thoughtful recently?Dive into another，slightly less pressing task and actually get ahead of the curve for once?
See Your Success Again and AgainSince most nurses have time-pressed lives，allowing yourself to savor each success is akin to imprinting on your psyche the experience of satisfaction with a task completed.Just as athletes learn new habits to improve performance by watching videos of master athletes，then store up memories of those images of successful work-outs for their constant internal play-back，your stored-up memories of ease in task completion can motivate you to have those satisfying experiences more often.You are literally seeing yourself repeat your performance.That’s new habit-forming.You will become more naturally inclined to dive in early and getmore tasks completed in a state of inward and outward grace.
Take on a Big Task，a Bite at a TimeLarge or unfamiliar tasks where you don’t feel especially confident about your future performance are the ones you’re most likely to avoid.Write down the steps to completion.
Call This Approach“Going Slow to Go Faster Later.”
Writing will make the steps more real and doable to you and your commitment to the timetables you attach to each task become more vital.They are right in front of you.Post your“tasks and timetable”where you can’t avoid seeing it.Tell others of your commitment to that sheet.These actions will place the task higher in your consciousness.
Reward Yourself and Savor Your RewardsPlan your rewards ahead of time.Diligent nurse that you are，don’t deny yourself the reward when you are done by rushing onto the next task.Life goes by too fast anyway.For example，when I complete boring tasks—and not before—I allow myself time to do something that gives me pleasure，such as a stop at a bookstore or timewith a friend.When I finish a big important task I give myself a bigger reward such as a trip or new outfit.
Sidelong Glancing at ItSometimes facing a task straight on just makes you freeze.Try to picture how to do it by“sidelong glancing”，that is getting small glimpses out of the corner ofyour mental eye about how you can most easily do the task.One of the best ways is to literally get moving and looking around.In times of mind—blocks，anger or tension，men tend to act out more while women tend to shut down，moving less，You will be more aware of your emotions and motivations when you get into motion.Consider walking，showering，eating or otherwise being“on your way”to doing the task.You will let your mind go naturally free.
When you are in motion and not focusing directly on what you have to do，especially if you can get outside into the fresh air and sunlight，you can literally see farther，gain a larger perspective and see how the parts of the task can fit together.You will pull up ideas from lower in your consciousness，think of apparently unrelated ideas that will do，in fact，have a bearing on ways to get the task done.Your unconscious mind becomes your friend in helping you recognize your best path to accomplishing the task.And the task will seem less onerous because you lift your mood when you put yourself in motion.
