The work that matters isn’t supposed to feel easy.

Ever ended a busy day feeling like you were constantly on the go but didn’t actually accomplish anything important? You’re not alone. Surveys like this one show that 80%+ of employees believe technology distractions are killing their productivity at work.

In response, many of us chase that perfect productive mood – a state where work feels effortless and everything just flows. But here’s the thing: we’ve been chasing the wrong goal. The work that leads to promotions, new opportunities, and successful career changes isn’t supposed to feel easy – it’s supposed to feel hard.

This might sound discouraging, but it’s actually liberating. The mental struggle you feel when tackling a tough project isn’t a sign you’re failing – it’s proof you’re growing. Let’s explore practical ways to embrace that difficulty and actually get important work done.

 

Why difficult work matters

Here’s something that might surprise you: if your work feels hard, you’re probably doing it right. When you’re writing a complex report, analysing tricky data, or learning new software, that mental friction isn’t a roadblock – it’s the actual process of growth. Your brain is forming new connections, and that takes real effort. Research shows that the practice which builds genuine expertise is deliberately uncomfortable.

Think about it: a surgeon performing a routine operation they’ve done hundreds of times isn’t learning anything new. But when they’re mastering a new technique? That struggle is where the growth happens.

Try this: Next time you feel mental resistance when starting a difficult task, reframe it. Instead of “Why is this so hard?”, try “My brain is building new skills right now.”

 

Sort what actually matters first

Before managing your time, get clear on what deserves your attention. The Eisenhower Matrix helps you sort tasks into four groups:

Do now: Urgent and important – these need your attention today.

Schedule: Important but not urgent – book time for these or they’ll never happen. This is where your most valuable work lives.

Delegate: These need doing, but don’t require your specific skills.

Delete: Be honest – you don’t actually need to do these at all.

 

The matrix protects time for ‘important but not urgent’ tasks – exactly the ones we put off because they feel hard, but which actually build our careers.

Try this: Look at your to-do list right now. Identify one task you can delete or delegate immediately to free up mental space for what genuinely matters.

 

Make difficult work manageable

Once you know what deserves your focus, use these simple techniques to protect your concentration:

Time-blocking: Schedule specific slots in your day for each important task. Treat these appointments with yourself as seriously as you’d treat a meeting with your manager.

Task batching: Group similar tasks together – answer all your emails in one session rather than scattered throughout the day. This reduces the mental fatigue from constantly switching between different types of work.

The Pomodoro Technique: Break work into 25-minute focused sessions with short breaks between. After four sessions, take a longer break (20-30 minutes). Twenty-five minutes feels manageable even when the work is difficult. You’re not committing to finishing the entire project – just to focusing for 25 minutes.

 Pro Tip: Combine these methods. Use time-blocking to schedule a 90-minute “deep work” session, then use the Pomodoro Technique within that block. Three focused sessions with short breaks can produce remarkable results.

 

For those really difficult starts: Try the “Just 5 Minutes” strategy. Commit to working on that dreaded task for only five minutes. This small commitment makes starting feel less daunting and often builds enough momentum to keep you going.

 

Moving forward

Stop waiting for work to feel effortless. That uncomfortable feeling when tackling something difficult isn’t a sign you’re struggling – it’s proof you’re growing.

The career moves you’re working towards – whether that’s a promotion, a qualification, or developing new expertise – won’t happen during those rare moments when everything feels easy. They’ll be built in focused blocks of deliberate effort, often just 25 minutes at a time.

These simple tools can transform an overwhelming goal into achievable steps. Start with one technique this week and build from there.

What’s one important task you could schedule for just 25 minutes this week to move your career forward?