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Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern.

Friday Fix: Episode 152

We all have things that we don’t want to do yet feel obligated to do them. Working out, cleaning the house, and paying the bills are just a few of those things that most of us don’t love doing yet we know these things are important. 

It’s hard to force yourself to do something boring or to keep going on a task that you don’t feel like doing.

When we give up on our goals–like quitting the gym–or we avoid doing something often enough–like cleaning the house–we can get down ourselves for not having the mental strength we need to persevere.

That’s where temptation bundling comes into play. It’s a science-backed strategy that has been found to help people get those unpleasant tasks done more often.

But, you don’t need to rely on willpower to do unpleasant tasks. Instead, there are strategies you can use to make an unpleasant feel more pleasant. Then, accomplishing it doesn’t seem so dreadful.

On today’s episode, I’ll explain what temptation bundling is, how it works, and how some people in my therapy office have used it to make their lives better. 

And the best news is, you might even find yourself looking forward to those things you normally don’t like doing when you employ this strategy regularly.

More About the Podcast

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Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too.

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Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors. Thank you. 

For media or public speaking inquiries, contact Amy here.

Download the Transcript

Links and Resources

  • Follow Amy Morin on Instagram

  • Check out Amy’s books on mental strength

  • What Is Willpower?

  • Psychological Tricks for Creating Lasting Change With Professor Katy Milkman

  • Friday Fix: 3 Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Goals for Yourself

  • Friday Fix: How to Stop Repeating Your Mistakes