One thing about tasks and the probability that I’ll take them on is the ratio:
reward* : required energy**
But faced with a task, I might remember situations where I did a thing that didn’t take long but had great results, and I felt so good after doing it. That is normal, but it can also be a trap. Example:
It’s late, but I do have time for a little think such as taking the garbage out or cleaning the sink. But then I think: Yes, the effort is not that great, I could do it, but what difference does it make? Might as well take on all the remaining chores tomorrow. And I don’t find a task with a good reward/energy ratio, so I do nothing.
It’s always a fallacy.
What works?
- Simulate tasks in my head and see if one of them appeals; not picking any is fine as long as I simulate them, as it works often enough.
- Just fuck it, fight back. Screw you, brain, and your dopamine hunt, I’ll just do a little thing with almost no gain. Making my bed 3 hours before sleep. Getting an only 70 % full garbage back out. Clean the dust on top of the shelf that nobody sees. Take that!
*(measured in dopamine, visible results, satisfaction, …)
**(motivation, effort, discipline, time)