A Mental Model To Get Anything Done Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

You know the saying…

“Do it even when you don’t feel like it.”

But nobody tells you how.

In this article, I’m gonna tell you the exact steps you need to follow to do anything even when you don’t feel like it.

The common advice is that you need to use your willpower and push yourself into doing the work even when you’re not in the mood.

And the people who try this only end up failing.

They think they lack willpower and can never be like the other guys who just get it done.

But this is not true at all. The difference between you and the other guys is not willpower — it’s a mental model. A way of thinking that makes it easy for them to get things done regardless of how they feel.

That’s the mental model I’m gonna share with you in this article.

But before you can make use of this mental model, you need to develop a skill. It is a prerequisite.

What is that skill?

Self-awareness.

In my previous article, I shared a simple 10-minute habit to build monk-like self-awareness.

Go ahead and read that and then come back and continue reading this.

Here is the mental model:

I call this mental model PTCA.

PTCA — Pause. Think. Chunk. Act.

When it’s time to do a task but you’re not in the mood, the best thing you can do is pause. Just freeze. Don’t do anything.

This pause is easier said than done. That’s why you need to develop the skill of self-awareness.

Because most people act out of impulse. If a task is overwhelming, they immediately start scrolling on their phone without even realizing it.

After pausing, think.

Here is an example:

Let’s say it’s time for you to hit the gym but you’re not in the slightest mood to hit the gym — it just feels IMPOSSIBLE.

Now the worst thing you can do here is doing something else (even something “productive” like reading, meditation, etc. This is called “productive-procrastination.” It makes you feel like you’re being productive but actually you’re not. You’re just avoiding the actual work.)

If you start doing something else you’ll get distracted and never hit the gym. That’s why you should pause (just do nothing.)

Now think.

Here is how I usually think:

“I’m not in the mood to hit the gym. Not even a little bit. What can I do now? Can I do double the workout tomorrow? No, I want to be consistent. I should hit the gym. Who can do this? Who can hit the gym at this state of mind? Who can? I can.”

This is kind of self-motivation. But you can also think about why you decided to hit the gym in the first place.

Here is an example:

“4 days ago, I decided to lose my weight. Because I’m being teased by my classmates. I worked out consistently for 3 days. But today, I’m not in the mood. I know if I workout consistently I can lose weight and look sexy. I should hit the gym. I don’t want to be teased by my classmates.”

This type of thinking fuels you.

Hitting the gym is just one example. This applies to everything.

Let’s say you’re not in the mood to write.

“I start writing online because I want to make money outside my job. I don’t like working my 9–5 job. To quit that, I need to make money writing online. Today, I’m not in the mood to write. Do I want to live all my life working a 9–5? No, fuck my mood. Let me write.”

Think as long as you want. It is scientifically proven that you can change your identity with just your thoughts.

In case if you don’t know, the reason it is hard for you to do a task even though you know it is good for you and can potentially change your life is because your current identity doesn’t match the identity of someone who does that thing.

By constantly pausing and thinking even when you’re not in the mood to do the task, you can rewire your subconscious mind and change your identity.

Now you know the P & T from the PTCA mental model.

Let’s talk about C & A.

You need to make the task as easy as possible for your brain.

How do you do that?

By chunking.

Don’t think about the entire task. Always break down the task into small easy steps.

For example, don’t think about the entire workout that you have to do.

Think about the first step: Put on the shoes. That’s easy.

Then the second step: Grab the bike key. Easy.

Then the third step: Drive towards the gym.

Fourth step: Do 20 rope jumps. Easy.

And so on.

Before you know it, you’ll become motivated to finish your entire workout.

We think that we need to be motivated to take action. But the truth is:

You need to act to become motivated.

Action leads to motivation. Not the other way around.

Chunking works. You don’t have to take my word for it.

Dr. Andrew Huberman (Stanford neuroscientist) explains that when tasks feel overwhelming, the amygdala hijacks motivation systems. Reducing perceived threat through micro-goals keeps the prefrontal cortex in control.

Whatever task it is, break it down.

That’s it.

This is the mental model.

Hope it was helpful.

See you again!

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P.S. Right now, you might be procrastinating on a task by reading articles on medium (productive-procrastination huh!). Stop it and do the task using the PTCA Mental Model.