Sonia M. Rompoti, MSc, Bsc

Let’s be honest. Your brain is a master negotiator, especially when it wants to keep you in bed, scrolling TikTok, instead of tackling that big scary task on your to-do list. Whether it’s starting a novel, cleaning out your inbox, or finally going for that walk, the human brain loves comfort.

But comfort doesn’t get books written, businesses built, or lives changed. Luckily, psychology has a few sneaky tricks up its sleeve. If you’ve ever wanted to outsmart your brain and make progress without the constant internal battle, this is for you.

Here are eight easy ways to trick your brain into doing the hard stuff—without needing superhuman willpower.

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1. Shrink the Task Until It’s Ridiculously Small

Big tasks trigger the “ugh” response in your brain. That’s why writing an entire novel feels impossible, but writing a single messy paragraph feels doable.

Trick: Don’t tell your brain you’re writing a book. Tell it you’re just opening a doc and typing one line. By the time you’ve written that line, momentum will carry you further.

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2. Use the “Five-Minute Rule”

Your brain hates the idea of endless effort, so take that pressure off. Promise yourself you’ll only do the task for five minutes. That’s it.

Most of the time, five minutes is enough to get over the starting hump, and suddenly you’re in flow. And if not? You still made progress.

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3. Pair Pain with Pleasure

Brains love dopamine. If a task doesn’t naturally provide it, add your own.

Example: Only let yourself listen to your favorite audiobook while cleaning, or save that fancy latte for when you’re working on the project you dread.

You’ll start associating the hard thing with a treat, and the resistance will fade.

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4. Change Your Environment

Your environment tells your brain what to expect. Bed = rest. Couch = Netflix. Desk = work (hopefully).

If you’re struggling, switch locations: move to a café, stand at the kitchen counter, or sit somewhere new. Your brain loves novelty, and a fresh space can reset your focus.

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5. Trick Yourself with “Temptation Bundling”

Coined by behavioral economist Katy Milkman, temptation bundling means combining something you want to do with something you should do.

Example: Only watch your guilty-pleasure show while on the treadmill. Or, only light your favorite candle when you’re writing.

This reframes the “hard” task as the gateway to something fun.

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6. Break the Rules (in Your Favor)

Sometimes your brain resists because it thinks things have to be done in one “right” way. Newsflash: they don’t.

Hate mornings? Do your workout at night. Can’t face 40 minutes of writing? Write in 4 bursts of 10 minutes.
When you remove the rigid rules, the task feels lighter.

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7. Visualize the Reward (Not the Struggle)

Most of us picture the grind—sweating, typing, stressing—and no wonder our brain revolts. Instead, visualize how good you’ll feel afterward.

Imagine the relief of sending the email, the pride of finishing a chapter, or the calm of a clean kitchen. That shift in focus makes the task magnetic instead of heavy.

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8. Lower the Stakes with Play

Play is a brain hack. Turn chores into games. Write a scene as badly as you can on purpose. Race yourself against the clock. Pretend your laundry pile is a dragon that needs slaying.

When you bring fun into the mix, the brain forgets to resist—it’s too busy enjoying itself.

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Why These Tricks Work

At the core, your brain isn’t lazy—it’s protective. Hard things often look like threats, because they require effort, change, and risk of failure. By shrinking the threat and sprinkling in rewards, you convince your brain: “Hey, this is safe. This is fun. Let’s do it.”

And over time? What once felt impossible becomes automatic. That’s how habits are born.

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Final Thoughts

Hard things will never stop being hard. But you don’t need a mountain of motivation—you just need clever tricks to get yourself moving.

The truth is, every big dream—every book, every business, every transformation—was built on tiny, sneaky starts.

So the next time your brain tries to bargain you into Netflix instead of progress, smile. You’ve got tricks up your sleeve now. And they work.