September is for Starting

September 25th - Make a sandwich

Sep 25, 2025
Photo by Dmitry Stepanov on Unsplash

Struggling to get into action? Try making a sandwich.

No, not a literal one (though that helps too, I’m a big fan of snacks). A time sandwich is when you layer work and play together to make starting easier:

  • Work – Play – Work: Do a short task, enjoy a break, then get back into another task.

  • Play – Work – Play: Give yourself a treat first, tackle the task, then reward yourself again.

It’s a simple way to trick your brain into motion: the “play” makes the “work” feel lighter, and the structure gives you built-in motivation to begin.

What could this look like?

I have a standing coffee and crafting date with a friend on her weekday off. After about 45 minutes we each naturally gravitate to our phones to check in with the morning’s messages. After 10-20 minutes of answering questions and getting other people set up with what they need, we make our way back to our projects for another hour or so. We mutually acknowledge we’re taking a short break to handle our own tasks, and we’re motivated to be efficient to get back to our crafting and coffee.

Likewise, I often use time sprints to crank out batches of content. I save specific crafts I love for mini breaks. If I want to do this craft, I need to write some newsletters.

What kind of sandwich could you make with your next task?

Download your free worksheet here: September 25th - Make a sandwich

 

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