INCUP Strategies, part 1
Ways to implement INCUP today
Tuesday’s dose covered a great strategy for optimizing motivation: INCUP. Here’s a post about implementing interest and novelty into your work. Next week, we’ll cover Challenge, Urgency and Play.
Interest
Interest is about scratching your hyperfixation itch. Not everything in your life can be about the detritivores that live in your backyard, or the entire anthology of Survivor. You have to do laundry.
Pairing
Pairing is one effective approach I’ve taken to help with menial tasks. When I need to do the dishes, I reach for my phone and put on the latest podcast I’m obsessed with as I work. In some cases, I set rules so that the only time I can listen to podcast X is when I’m doing a household chore.
Rewarding
Other times, I have to reward myself. I set concrete, achievable goals and assign a reward to them. ex: “Write a post for ADHD+” —> “read a chapter in my book.”
Novelty
Change Where
I change mini-offices every couple weeks. I need a new chair to sit in, new windows to gaze out of, new sounds and temperatures and smells. This week I’m in the living room corner by the record player. A few weeks ago it was my office. Before that, the kitchen table.
Change When
I also change when I do my work. Some weekends, it’s first thing in the morning, or after breakfast. Other times it’s late night when the house is still.
Change How
Changing up your workflow helps immensely, too. For example when I write a piece for this blog, one workflow I use is:
create art —> decide on topic —> research topic —> draft piece —> finalize
Other times, I:
research topics —> draft pieces —> decide on topic —> create art —> finalize