When there's a piece of work or a project you've been putting off at work, school or home and delegating it out of your life is not an option, to prevent any further stress or anxiety it's best to tackle it head on, right now. Of course, but how is this moment any different to the other times you've thought about buckling down only to put it off again? Simple. Make it fun.

by the time we start...it becomes as painful as we expected it to be

Usually, by the time we start, there's insufficient time to perform the task well and it becomes as painful as we expected it to be. It could be working on a major assignment for university, a detailed report for work or cleaning the bathrooms or kitchen at home. We each have tasks that we uniquely find the most unbearable or are unlucky enough to have been tasked with, but changing our attitude to it by creating a comfortable environment to do it in can work wonders.

Assign an extra few minutes to half-an-hour to prepare yourself and set up a comfortable environment to convert a daunting or time-consuming task into a piece of work you can take pleasure in completing.

Prepare yourself

• Try to change your mindset. Avoid negative self-talk. Think of the big picture by reminding yourself why you need to get it done – for a grade, to graduate one day, to get paid, for a promotion, to pay for a vacation, because you forgot that you once enjoyed it.


• Focus on the process. Don't worry about the outcome, especially if it's too late to make a genuine effort.


• Clear your mind. A clear mind is often said to be dependent on a clean body and we all know how refreshed and motivated a shower and brushing teeth can make you feel.


• Wear comfortable clothing. Nothing is more distracting than clothes that are too tight or too loose. If your undesirable task involves a lot of movement, opt for sports clothes or comfortable sneakers.


• Stretch or go for a short walk. A light stretch or 10 to 20-minute walk will get your blood pumping and bring more oxygen to your brain to help, which will help you think and work clearly and productively.

Set the scene

• Make it cosy or fun. Even at work or school, there will be a space where you can be comfortable, avoid disruptions and tackle the task without feeling pressure. Think library, meeting rooms, lounge areas, nearby cafes or arranging the use of a room or office whose occupant will be out or away.


• Gamify. Identify small milestones, set alarms and grant yourself small rewards, such as a coffee or tea, checking social media or 10 minutes on something else you enjoy doing. To maintain momentum, breaks should be kept under 10 minutes per hour. Focus time should be at least 30-60 minutes; shorter for physically intense work, longer for intellectually demanding work.


• Listen to music that lifts your mood. If you don't have an upbeat playlist ready, a quick search on Spotify will do the trick.


• Adjust the room's temperature so that you're neither too hot nor cold. If you prefer fresh air, use a fan or non-itchy blanket.


• Lighting should be bright enough to read and write clearly, but if you're at home, you could supplement lighting with a few candles around your workspace.


• An oil burner can create a pleasing and relaxing space. Peppermint or lavender oils are believed to help with stress or anxiety without putting you to sleep.


• Drink water. Hydrating while working on a demanding task is important as both the mind and body require water to function at their best.


• Be unavailable. Close your email, put your phone on silent or airplane mode and close the door.