If you’re like most people, your list of to-dos is a lot longer than your list of to-dos you actually got done. The cruel irony of this common state is that the more to-dos pile up, the more intimidating it can be just to get moving on any of them. And the situation gets worse over time. Many people end up completely paralyzed, stuck in a rut of inaction they feel they can’t escape.

But fear not – finding your motivation again isn’t as daunting as you might think. Plenty of solutions help you leap back into action mode. Sometimes all you need is a little jump-start to get your motor revving.

Take a look below for 5 time-tested strategies that always work for a quick boost.

1. Break To-Dos into Achievable Chunks

One of the reasons we avoid taking action is because the task seems bigger than it really is, and we get stuck in a state of overwhelm.  An easy way out of overwhelm is to split your task or project down into small, manageable chunks that you can achieve more easily. When you get ultra-specific about the task at hand, you may just discover that a 3-hour task actually involved 25 15-minute tasks.

Anyone can handle a 15-minute task. Easily.

Breaking tasks down can work for large projects – like writing a novel – as well as small batches of work, like answering email or cleaning your house.  Start with the high-level breakdown of what needs to happen, determine in which order each little bit needs to happen, and then decide if you need to chunk bits down even further.

Then all you need to do is tackle the first tiny task. Instead of dealing with a large and overwhelming project, now you’re dealing with a much smaller to-do that has a clear beginning and end.

You’ll find it easier to take action, and you’ll be able to track your progress as you knock out bit after bit.

2. Set Up Mini-Rewards For Completing Tasks

Yes, this involves bribes. Conventional wisdom may say that bribing yourself to get tasks done just leads to dependence on bribes, but I’ve never found that to be the case.

It’s more like “sweetening the pot” – making a deal with yourself that helps you get excited about completing your tasks.

Setting up a mini-reward for completing a task you’ve been avoiding can be transformative for your productivity. Face it: You’re not doing the work now, and if that’s been going on for a while that’s unlikely to change. Why not reward yourself for taking action?

Mini-Rewards work best when they’re linked to treats you haven’t given yourself for a while (or ever).  Maybe your reward might be a luxurious massage for every 10 tiny tasks.  Maybe it’s a treat you want but haven’t bought, like that accessory you always hesitate to buy because you feel you don’t deserve it.

If you get your work done, you do. And the more work you do, the more treats you’ll get, and the more motivated you’ll be to do even more work.

You wouldn’t use this tactic for every single tiny task on your list – unless you’re extremely stuck and on the point of complete, debilitating inaction – but it can be a great way to get those stubborn items off your list.

3. Use the “Just 5 Minutes” Trick

Sometimes getting started is the hardest part, so this little trick is a great way to make progress on tasks you’ve been avoiding – and we certainly all have those on our list.

All you have to do is spend just five minutes on the task. 5 only – no more, no less. Grit your teeth, take a deep breath, set a timer, and begin.

It’s actually not that hard to get yourself moving when you know you only have to do so little – that’s why the “just five minutes” idea works so well. You know it will be over very soon, so that daunting feeling disappears. (Dislike stays, but that’s okay. You can handle that.)

A nice side effect is that sometimes when the timer goes off, getting that first little bit of activity in play gives you the momentum to continue.  At the end of your 5 minutes, you may find yourself saying, “I can do just a little bit more; I’m already moving.”

Yes, you told yourself 5 minutes, no more, no less, but this is a commitment that’s beneficial to break when the mood to keep going occurs.

4. Get the First Step Set Up In Advance

For tasks you need to do on a regular basis – such as going to the gym, writing content for your newsletter, or keeping the house clean – setting up the first step in advance can be a lifesaver.

In the same way that “just five minutes” becomes the antidote to inaction, setting up your first step ahead of time can dissolve resistance to getting started in the first place.

For example, if you need to go to the gym on Wednesdays, get your workout gear ready and packed the night before.  If you need to write a new newsletter for your list by Friday, open up a new document and give it a title (or write the first few sentences) before you go to bed on Thursday. If you’re getting into a daily cleaning routine, set up your cleaning kit every evening and leave it in plain sight – it’ll be ready for action the next morning.

When you wake up, apply your “just five minutes” trick, and away you go.

The reason setting yourself up in advance works so well is because it eliminates having to put effort into getting ready, and then immediately put more effort into doing the actual task.  You’ve chunked down and split up the task into tiny bits: The “getting ready” is entirely separate from the “actually do”, so you’ll experience less resistance.

All you need to do is set up that first step.

5. Get Accountable with Someone You Like

You can’t grow a seed unless it’s in fertile soil – and tackling your to-do list alone creates a very fertile environment for bailing out on the tasks you need to do.

You’re only accountable to yourself. You only disappoint yourself. And you’re probably already doing plenty of that already. That’s why it’s so helpful to have someone who can hold you accountable to, even if just for the little things in life.

You can set up an accountability relationship on the micro level or the macro level.  If you want to start small, find a friend with whom you can just agree to get in touch with at a specific, chosen time to let them know you’ve accomplished your tasks.

Send them a quick email or make a quick phone call saying, “Here’s what I’m going to do today (or this week)”, and then send an email or call with a follow-up saying that you did it.

On the macro level, you can engage with someone on a deeper level.  You set your goals, set your deadlines, and then discuss any issues that cropped up along the way, and what to do about them.  It’s kind of like having an accountability coach, but on a more informal level.

Micro or macro, either way works wonders. It limits your ability to let things slide with no accountability.

Here’s one big tip to making this work: Don’t set up an accountability relationship with a friend who always lets you off the hook. That’s not accountability – that’s enabling.

Let These Strategies Help You Get More Done This Week

All 5 of these ideas are proven, tested, can’t-miss techniques that work to get more done and keep your motivation high.  Put them all into practice, and you’ll be amazed at how fast the items on your to-do list get crossed off.

Which trick will you try this week?  Take a look at all 5 again and commit to at least one to start with so you can tap back into the motivation you’ve been missing.