How to Start When You Don’t Feel Like It

There are tasks that drain us before we even begin them.

We look at them and immediately feel dread, frustration, overwhelm, regret, or resistance. Sometimes we procrastinate. Sometimes we push through anyway while feeling miserable the entire time.

What now?

Many people force themselves through those tasks because they believe discipline is the only answer. Sometimes that works, but it often drains a huge amount of energy. Yet those tasks are often important and tied to the success we want to create.

That is why some motivational speakers talk about “eating the frog” first thing in the morning — doing the task you resist the most before anything else.

But what if there is another way?

Instead of wrestling the frog to the ground and forcing it down while gagging, what if you took a little time to turn it into a gourmet meal? Something far more manageable. Maybe even enjoyable.

Of course, there are frogs we can delegate, postpone, or release entirely. Not every task deserves our time and energy. But some frogs remain. Some things still need to be done by us.

So how do we make them more edible?

First, understand the resistance

Resistance is often a signal. Not necessarily that the task is wrong, but that something inside us needs attention before we begin.

That does not mean endlessly postponing things. It may simply mean spending 5–15 minutes reducing the emotional friction before starting.

Step 1 — Acknowledge how you feel

One of the first things I do is sit quietly with the feeling instead of fighting it.

By touching my forehead or heart, I say:

“I acknowledge that I don’t want to do this task.
I acknowledge that I feel overwhelmed.
I forgive myself for feeling this.
It is okay that I feel this.”

Spending even five minutes acknowledging the feeling often reduces the resistance dramatically.

Step 2 — Find the real reason

Resistance usually has an underlying cause. Often it is one of these:

1. Fear of failure
2. Feeling overwhelmed
3. Missing knowledge
4. Missing resources
5. Not knowing where to start
6. The job is tedious and boring

1. Fear of failure

Sometimes we resist because we are scared we will not do the task well enough.

Oddly enough, forgiving ourselves in advance can calm the nervous system. We can still aim to do our best while accepting that mistakes are part of learning.

When fear decreases, the brain comes out of survival mode. Thinking becomes clearer and creativity returns.

2. Feeling overwhelmed

Big tasks can feel paralysing.

Instead of focusing on the entire project, tell yourself you will only work on it for five minutes. After that, you are free to stop.

Ironically, once we begin, we often continue far longer than planned.

3. Missing knowledge

Sometimes resistance comes from not knowing how to do something.

That is where research can help. A tutorial, article, or YouTube video can remove a lot of uncertainty.

I often pause videos step by step, follow the instructions, and continue from there. Before long, the task is done.

4. Missing resources

Occasionally we genuinely do not have everything we need.

Instead of stopping completely, identify what is missing and explore how to get it. In the meantime, start with the parts you can do.

5. Not knowing where to start

This one is extremely common.

Ask yourself:

• “Which part feels easiest?”
• “If I did know where to start, where would I begin?”

Sometimes the mind responds when we stop pressuring it.

6. The job is tedious and boring

Some jobs simply feel painfully dull. Just thinking about them can make us tired.

That is the moment to ask:

• How can I make this more enjoyable?
• Could I listen to music or something motivational?
• Could I do it with someone else so it feels less lonely?
• Could I turn it into a challenge or a game?

Sometimes changing the experience changes our willingness to do it.

My story

I created the iThrive App, which contains audio programs designed to reshape beliefs about ourselves and the world around us. The app includes around 80 audio tracks organised into hundreds of playlists.

Recently, I moved the iThrive App from one platform to another. That meant manually creating a page for every playlist.

If there was ever a tedious job, this was it.

I wanted it finished, so I used several tactics to motivate myself.

At first, I told myself I only needed to complete five at a time. The work was so repetitive that I occasionally found myself nodding off in the middle of it. It was also incredibly easy to make mistakes.

So instead of fighting the boredom, I started looking for ways to make the process more enjoyable.

I timed myself to see how quickly I could complete one playlist page. I created a system that sped things up and reduced errors. Every time I finished one, I celebrated by punching the air and shouting, “Yes!”

When I completed a larger set, I danced around the room 💃. It sounds ridiculous and definitely looked weird 😊, but it worked.

The movement boosted my energy and changed the emotional experience completely. Suddenly I could complete 30 at a time without feeling drained.

And now the iThrive App is looking amazing.

Why Resistance Affects Results

Imagine you are writing an important proposal.

When you resist the task, your energy drops. Your mind searches for excuses. Mistakes become more likely. Everything feels heavier.

But when your resistance decreases, your energy changes too.

You think more clearly. You work faster. Ideas flow more easily. The quality of your work improves because you are no longer fighting yourself while doing it.

People often sense that difference, even if they cannot explain why.

So the next time you are staring at a frog you cannot avoid, pause before swallowing it whole.

Find a good recipe first.

How self-esteem changes the process

When we value ourselves, we are less likely to force ourselves through misery simply because we think we are supposed to.

We become more willing to look for a better approach. A smarter approach. One that works with our whole being, instead of against it.

That is one of the reasons I created the iThrive App. It includes audio programs designed to reshape limiting beliefs and strengthen self-esteem.

I even made the self-esteem program free because I want people to experience what becomes possible when they stop fighting themselves all the time.

You can explore it at iThrive Zone