Plan Small Actions to Start the Day

One effective productivity strategy is to plan small actions to start your workday. This approach involves carefully identifying a task that will not require a great deal of motivation to begin.

When creating your action plan, it can be especially helpful to intentionally choose an action that is small, specific, and clearly defined. Doing so makes it easier to begin your dissertation work on any given day.

One effective productivity strategy is to plan small actions to start your workday. This approach involves carefully identifying a task that will not require a great deal of motivation to begin.

When creating your action plan, it can be especially helpful to intentionally choose an action that is small, specific, and clearly defined. Doing so makes it easier to begin your dissertation work on any given day.

Examples of Effective Small Starting Actions

For instance, it is much easier to begin your day by committing to:

  • Reading 10 pages of a chapter

  • Revising 2 pages of your literature review

than by telling yourself to:

  • Read an entire chapter

  • Revise a large section of your literature review

Even though the difference may seem like a matter of semantics, the psychological impact is significant.

Build Momentum Through Easy Starts

Starting with a small action reduces dread and hesitation and can lead to increased motivation as you work. Once you are engaged, it often becomes easier to:

  • Continue working beyond the initial task

  • Tackle more demanding parts of your dissertation

  • Build momentum for the rest of the day

I encourage you to experiment with this strategy. Notice whether beginning your day or work session with a smaller, clearly defined task helps you feel more motivated and leads to greater overall productivity.

This article was written by Alison Miller, PhD, founder of The Dissertation Coach, a business dedicated to helping doctoral and master’s students successfully earn their graduate degrees.

 

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