Self-Discipline for Tedious, Boring, and Difficult Things

the more immersed you are and the fewer distractions you indulge in, the quicker the work goes and the less tired you feel.

None of us can control the fact that there are some annoying tasks and obligations we’re required to do in life, but we can control how we do those things and the way we think about them.

“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” —Carl Sandburg

Being engaged in deep work can feel great—and procrastinators are sometimes surprised by just how much they can do once they’ve gotten started. But resist the temptation to do just five more minutes, even if you’re feeling really engaged.

he entire system falls apart if you’re muddling through your work with half a brain or thinking about all the things you’re going to do while you’re supposed to be relaxing.

“Time is the coin of your life.

When you plan your time properly, less work can actually mean more work.

If you try to force yourself to take action while you lack clarity, all you do is create resentment and fatigue

The perfectionist mindset is fragile and unproductive. Perfectionism is not the same as having high standards or being ambitious or meticulous. It’s actually all about self-judgment, inflexibility, and fear. The all-or-nothing approach almost always leads to nothing, not all

So, by using the 52:17 method (keeping track of minutes and hours), the four quarters method (keeping track of the days), and the twelve-week year framework (keeping track of the weeks and months in a year), you are empowering yourself to better manage time in the short-, medium-, and long-term range