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The Friction Removal Cheat Sheet

Five types of friction. One action each. When you're stuck and can't start, run through this list and remove the blocker.

1

Decision Friction — "I Don't Know Where to Start"

The task feels vague and overwhelming. Your brain freezes because it can't see the first step.

  • Define the next physical action: one concrete, observable step that takes less than 2 minutes
  • Example: instead of "write report", write "open Google Docs, type 'Q3 Review' as title, paste last quarter's numbers"
  • If still stuck, use the Task Breakdown Generator to get 5 micro-steps
2

Environmental Friction — "My Desk Is a Mess"

Your surroundings create resistance. Every clutter item, buzz, and notification pulls focus.

  • Do a 2-minute friction audit: clear desk, close tabs except one, log out of Slack
  • Put phone in a different room (not face-down — different room)
  • Close all but one browser window before starting
3

Activation Friction — "I Just Can't Start"

The gap between intending to start and actually starting. Your brain resists the energy transition.

  • Use the 2-Minute Rule: commit to just 2 minutes of the task
  • Open the file and write one sentence. Put gym clothes on. Enter one line in a spreadsheet.
  • Pair with a Pomodoro Timer — set 25 minutes, tell yourself you only have to do 2
4

Emotional Friction — "I'm Afraid It Won't Be Good Enough"

Perfectionism masquerading as laziness. You avoid the task because you're afraid of doing it badly.

  • Write a "terrible first draft" on purpose — you can edit bad, you can't edit nothing
  • Give yourself explicit permission to produce something mediocre
  • Track your daily completion streak in the Habit Tracker to build evidence of competence
5

Momentum Friction — "I Keep Losing Steam"

Small interruptions compound and break your flow state. You start strong but stall out.

  • Batch your questions: when you hit something confusing, write it down and keep moving
  • Set 10 minutes at end of session to look things up — never break flow mid-task
  • Use the Focus Dashboard to capture blockers on the scratchpad during pomodoros

Eliminate Friction for Good

The Frictionless Work System includes the full weekly audit framework, friction scoring templates, and the exact morning setup routine that eliminates resistance before it starts.

Get The Frictionless Work System — $19 AUD

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