Getting started on a task or a big project is hard, especially when it’s something you don’t want to handle. It’s easier to make excuses and avoid taking the first step. But have you found that sometimes when you do get started, the project or task isn’t as bad as you thought it would be? Use one of these methods to help you get started.

Elephant—The old saying, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time,” is still true. Break your project into smaller tasks and the entire project will seem more manageable.

Ten-Minutes—Promise yourself that you’ll work on a project for ten minutes and then quit if you’re tired or bored. Chances are that at least 30 minutes will go by and you’ll have made progress.

Best For Last—This is a slight form of a reward system. Handle a few tasks first and as a reward, handle the easiest task or the one you want to do more, last. It’s kind of like eating the stuff that’s good for you first and then digging into the dessert (something I haven’t quite mastered).

Game Playing—Challenge yourself to handle one task in less than half an hour. Then move on to another task and shorten the amount of time you give yourself. Make it a game to see how quickly you can tackle the tasks you’ve been putting off. Games can make working naked a bit more interesting.

Public Announcement—Tell others about your plans (if you’re brave enough). When you commit to doing something that everyone knows about and you fail, not only do you have to face yourself, you have to face others. Friends can be brutally honest.