Managing Boring and Repetitive Tasks Efficiently: Strategies for Success

Many startup CEOs swear by time blocking for deep work and they're big on delegating what doesn't need their attention. Automation is a game changer too because it takes repetitive tasks off their plates so they can focus on high-impact work. They're great at saying ‘no’ to keep their energy on the big wins and weekly goals keep them dialed in. Plus, they don’t skip sleep, exercise, or decent food to stay sharp.

Automation and Scripting for Repetitive Tasks

When I was working as an automation engineer, I would get paid to help people with these kinds of tasks. We would receive requests from people working with Excel who would do a specific task every day for an hour or so. Turns out, it can be easily automated with scripting using VBA (Visual Basic for Applications).

Of course, you might not be an engineer, but that doesn’t mean it is hard to learn code. My friend who worked with various Office products everyday learned to write some code. He managed to write a script to simulate mouse clicks on specific fields in their Excel dashboard.

Adopt a Productivity Mindset

Aside from coding, you can adopt this mindset:

1. Gamify It

Create artificial milestones for yourself and a reward at the end. For instance, write 10 emails and then you can make some coffee or grab a snack. Try to do as many tasks as you can in 30 minutes. Next time, try to do more. When we have some kind of competition, even with ourselves, it often gives us motivation to do the work.

2. Regular Breaks

- Short breaks: Take short breaks to rest your mind and prevent fatigue. Use these breaks to stretch, take a walk, or do something enjoyable.

- Longer breaks: Schedule longer breaks after extended periods of work to recharge and maintain overall productivity.

- Background Music: Listen to background music or white noise to drown out distractions. Choose music without lyrics to avoid disrupting your focus. If the task doesn’t require much thinking, put on your favorite tunes!

Handling Repetitive Tasks as Habits

Repetitive work often gets boring when we start thinking about whether we need to do the work or not. The best way to handle repetitive tasks is to make them a habit. For example, when we get up, we just go to the bathroom, start brushing our teeth, and then use the toilet. Here, we don’t think because it has become a habit.

Conclusion

By adopting the right strategies, you can efficiently manage even the most boring and repetitive tasks. Whether it’s automating with code or setting up habits, these techniques can help you stay productive, focused, and motivated.