A Simple Method to Boost Motivation (As-Salaam-Alaikum)

As-Salaam-Alaikum - I’ve found a method that consistently helps me stay motivated and get things done. Thought I’d share in case it helps you too. 1) Break tasks down until you can roughly estimate how long each will take. Keep them small enough to guess the time. 2) Give each task a slightly generous target time. Estimates are uncertain, so err on the side of having a bit of extra time. If something might take 10 minutes when everything goes perfectly, allow 15. If it could be 4–5 minutes when rushed, round up to 10. 3) Try to beat those friendly targets. Time yourself and note the actual result beside the target. More often than not you’ll finish early, which feels good. Over several tasks you build a time buffer - part of it covers things that run long, and the rest is bonus time you can use however you like. 4) Making the list is itself a useful task. Spend 10–15 minutes making a proper plan at the start of a work or chore session. Finish the list a little early, tick it off, then move to the next item. Overall, this approach costs very little time per task but saves much more through better focus and motivation. It turns your day into a small, rewarding game that helps you accomplish things almost effortlessly, and it teaches you how long things actually take - which is beneficial in everyday life and in fulfilling responsibilities.