You could try to double up -- do something you like while starting whatever it is you don't like. Or you could give yourself a treat for starting.

In my experience is always that first step that is the hardest -- after that it's not so bad. So I encourage you to toil with whatever hurdle you have for just 3-5 minutes. Make that your only goal and it may make the rest of it a bit easier.

i'm with GOD. That's one reason I like Merlin's (10+2)*5 procrastination hack:

http://www.43folders.com/2005/10/11/procrastination-hack-1025/

The idea is you make yourself work for "just 10 minutes" over and over again.

But such a small, silly thing, for such a substantial issue you bring up, is duus trying to trivialize your question? hmmmm.

Ferrante--I have lots of problems with the kinds of issues you mention . I used to have (some kind of) spring of motivation, when I was younger, that has seemed to have dried up (duus says in the passive voice, as to deflect responsibility). And I was searching for a long time for the Big Answer To The Question Of How To Get Things Done And Get Myself Back On Track And Finally Get My Life In Order And Accomplish All The Things I'd Left Behind but now....well, when I remind myself, I believe such a thing does not exist. That's the secret (to me) of the GTD/Lifehack mentality. There is no Big Cure. There is no One Answer. There are just small changes, little things, but the right bouquet of them, and maintaining them is work. It will never be "done." It's a process. A constant struggle. But there are things to learn. Small, incremental things. We are iterating to a better life. In small ways.

We're writing little maintainance scripts on our life. Patches for problems that solve them in little ways, keep it going. We're just keepin' the old car runnin'. We're not going to buy a new car. It's not going to happen. We just gotta do little things to make this one continue to work.

I'm usually scared about starting to work. So I just try to do something for 10 minutes. And then another 10 minutes. And then...another 10 minutes. And, after that, I try to work for 10 minutes. And that's the whole story.

What do you think, Ferrante?

My post began with "I'm with GOD." That's funny.

You're not hopeless at all - I think this is something we all struggle with. I too have gone through periods of decreased motivation where I avoid doing things I once enjoyed.

It seems like your concern is a decreased energy level. Why not plan out your projects with the assumption that you are operating in this decreased energy state? During planning, ask yourself "Would I be able to do this if I'm tired and unmotivated?" This may help you get over that initial hump of actually starting.

I tend to look to historical figures for inspiration. I'm reminded of a quote by Teddy Roosevelt:
"In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing."
Doing something, regardless of how trivial, is always the first step. Even if the first step is to pull out a project folder, it's still one step closer to completion. In my own case, the more I feel like I'm doing, the better I feel about my own productivity.

I like GOD's idea of doubling-up. I've got a few tasks on my lists that have been stagnant for over a month, mainly because these are things that are not enjoyable. For instance, I have to read a few chapters in a legal textbook. Yuck. Maybe if I sat in my favorite chair, put on some Miles Davis, and took notes with my Moleskine, I'd be more motivated to read.

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your suggestions. It seems, as GOD and duus said, perhaps its time to start things with little small steps at a time. And, having into account Stew's suggestion, perhaps I'm not paying attention to my energy levels.

Almost three weeks ago, I've had an sports accident and injured my left knee. So, I'm "stuck" at home for at least 1,5 months until doctors remove the brace and start rehab. I'm trying to use this time to "slow down" my regular living pace, and to try to focus myself on how to improve some issues in my life (music, GTD, reading, etc.). It has been really difficult for me to disconnect from work (I'm still able to get in touch with the office remotely (I'm the boss of a big IT department for a multinational firm), and I feel tired and demotivated.

It's like I cannot stop. But I want to. I want to do other things apart from work. But, as I told you before, I cannot gather enough "fuel" to do it.

Little treats, little steps. It's worth a try.

I'll post my progress. Of course, any extra suggestions are welcome.

Cheers.