Hack for hard workdays

Some workdays just suck.

Not because you hate what you do.

Sometimes there's simply a lot to do.

A long list.

Problems.

Decisions.

Calls.

And another six hours of work before you're done.

I've noticed something incredibly simple that makes those days much easier for me:

I need something to look forward to in the evening.

It doesn't even have to be something big.

For me, it can literally be:

There's a good football match on tonight.

Or:

I'm going to get something REALLY good to eat.

That's enough.

Suddenly the day feels different.

Instead of looking at eight more hours of work, there's something waiting at the end of it.

And I've started thinking that we should use this much more strategically.

If you already know tomorrow is going to be a brutal day...

plan the reward BEFORE the day starts.

Order your favorite food.

Plan a movie.

Watch football.

Meet someone.

Go somewhere.

Buy yourself something small.

Whatever works for you.

Give the day a finish line you're actually excited to reach.

I think we sometimes make productivity unnecessarily complicated.

We look for the perfect morning routine.

The perfect productivity app.

The perfect supplement.

The perfect time-management system.

When sometimes your brain just needs:

"Get through this shit and there's pizza and Champions League waiting for you."

That's not exactly groundbreaking neuroscience.

But it works surprisingly well for me.

And there's another reason I like it.

If you're ambitious, it's very easy to accidentally build a life where everything enjoyable is always somewhere in the future.

I'll enjoy myself when the business reaches X.

When I make X amount of money.

When this project is finished.

When things calm down.

The problem is...

there's always another project.

So instead of waiting for life to eventually become enjoyable...

I think it's smarter to deliberately put small things into your days that make them enjoyable NOW.

Work hard.

Build ambitious things.

Have stressful days.

But give yourself something to look forward to.

Christian