How To Build Discipline For Increased Productivity and Motivation

A practical guide to getting things done.

Not feeling motivated?

You’re not alone.

You might feel a lack of motivation regarding your job — either traditional or freelance — or perhaps a side gig. You might have another necessary but unpleasant task, such as getting your taxes done or paying that month’s bills.

The worst feeling is when you’re not feeling motivated to create when you usually would be. That lack can lead to you feeling unproductive, which in turn makes you feel bad about yourself, which can then lead you down a deeper spiral.

Who needs that?

What if I were to suggest “motivation” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be?

The thing is, if you want to be productive, you need to build a sense of discipline.

You accomplish this by creating a habit.

In my own case, whether I want to or not, I sit down, scan my to-do list, and get to work. Sometimes the work is engaging. Sometimes it’s horribly tedious.

Welcome to the glamorous life of a freelance writer.

That said, each day, without fail, I open my laptop and get to work. I may not be excited about some of the work I’m doing, but I have bills to pay, and I need to get it done. Today, for example, I had an article on contesting wills to finish and an article on HOA budgets to begin.

These aren’t exciting topics. I don’t feel a “rush” when writing them as I might with a short story, a poem, or movie review.

But, as I’ve mentioned, I have bills to pay. And it’s my job and, overall, I enjoy it — especially compared my some of my old jobs. So, I make a pot of coffee and get to work. Even when my daily routine has been disrupted by travel or family obligations, I still manage to get in a few hours’ worth of work on a laptop or tablet.

By the end of the day, I have tasks checked off. I’ve been productive.

You might respond, “Huzzah, but what does that have to do with me? I need to feel…

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