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Ok so it's Monday and I am so having trouble getting started today. It's not that I don't have a lot of work to get through today because I do. I've got articles to write, a proposal for a new client to put together, some work to do for a client we already have, a couple of clients who are going to drop into the office some time today ... and the list just goes on.

The problem is that I'm just not motivated. We worked a bit on Saturday and then took yesterday off and went off and followed a wine trail. We tasted some great wines, bought a few of them, had a stunning lunch at one of the wineries and then came home and slacked off ... and now I just want to go on slacking off.

However, that's not going to be the way it is today. There's work to be done and I'm going to do it! But I do I overcome the inertia and actually make a start?

If you're facing a similar sort of Monday to what I'm looking at right now then here are a few tips on overcoming that inertia and actually making a start.

Make a list
I'm a big fan of lists so make a list of all the things that you want or need to achieve today. Write all those things down on a piece of paper or a sticky note and attach it to the bottom of your monitor. That way it's going to be there, staring at you, accusing you, challenging you until you make a start on it.

When you do give in and make a start on it cross each item off the list as you complete it. The more items you cross off the list the more you will see that you have actually achieved and that encourages you to go on and achieve even more.

Do something simple first
Sometimes the easiest way to get yourself into the swing of working after a great day away from the computer is to start with something simple. So take a look at that list and pick out the easiest job and do it first. Once it's crossed off the list you'll be able to feel good about achieving something and it will be easier to press on to other things.

Shut off distractions
Before starting this column ... one of the items on my written list of things I have to achieve today ... I was reading a very interesting, but very long, article on how car salesmen operate in the United States. As I said, it was very interesting and it does have some relevance to what I do but it was a distraction from what I have to achieve today so I bookmarked it and closed that tab so it wasn't there to distract me any more.

I've also closed Twitter, ICQ and closed the tab that I usually have open with the frequently updating news site. When I'm motivated I can work with all those screens and apps open but when I'm easily distracted they just get in the way so shutting them down allows me to concentrate on what I need to do.

Do your chores
Every one of us has odd jobs around the home or office that we need to get done each day. If you're like me you'll do them at odd times throughout the day whenever you might need a break from the core work you're doing.

However, if you're in one of those moods where you're easily distracted then it's better to get them all done before you sit down to work. So this morning I've filed a few receipts for expenses that I can claim on tax, I've tidied up the kitchen - at home and at the office - and I've already checked my stats.

Now I have no excuse to waste any more time doing anything other than the work I need to get through today.

Get yourself settled
I try not to start my core work till I'm settled and to get settled on days like this I have something of a routine that I work through. I make sure I've got a cup of coffee beside me ... I tidy my desk a little and make sure that what I need for the first piece of work for the day is within reach. I don't want to sit down to start work and then find that I have to get up and go looking for a file.

If I have to go looking for a file then the chances are that I'll get distracted and won't get back to the work I have to do for quite some time.

These days, because we do so much work in mainstream and work from an office downtown, Steve and I have some corporate clothes and wearing those threads help us to subconsciously get in the mood for work. Ironically the whole work uniform thing was something we wanted to escape from when we decided to work for ourselves but when you're struggling to get motivated to work we find having some items of clothing that we wear when we're working helps to focus us.

You don't have to go the whole corporate clothing path if you're working from home but maybe something that you regularly wear when you're working will help you focus at those times when your brain would rather go fishing.

Now some of those suggestions are probably going to sound either simplistic or basically dumb but if you're having trouble focusing on what you need to get done then try them and you'll discover that some, or all of them, will work for you.

And now I'm in the groove I'm going to push on to the next item on my rather long list.