For some tasks in our work life, urgency comes easy.
You know, preparing for a pitch, sending a sales contract or hitting our boss’s deadline.
Urgency tends to emerge when there are external drivers like being evaluated, accountability or immediate consequences. Let’s call this fear-driven urgency.
Perhaps it’s creative work like writing a blog, starting that side hustle you’ve been talking about for months/years, or having that tough conversation with a colleague/co-founder.
Chances are these tasks hold meaning for you because they are tied to what really matters: your values, your growth and your long-term goals.
So, how do we generate urgency for tasks that matter when external pressures are absent, but the nagging feeling is very much present?
The answer lies in shifting from external fear-driven motivation to internal values-driven motivation.
1. Reconnect with your values
Ask yourself – Why does the task matter to you? What value or long-term goal does it support?
For instance, writing a blog might align with your value of creative expression. Or the side hustle, your value for autonomy and financial freedom.
Knowing your ‘why’ fuels intrinsic motivation and sparks action.
2. Visualise the benefit
Find an urgency from within by projecting yourself into the future.
What will it feel like if I have a go at writing this blog? Pride, growth, satisfaction.
Motivation soars when we acknowledge the psychological reward of completing a task that aligns with our core values.
3. Reduce ambiguity to build momentum
Ambiguity kills urgency. Break vast and undefined tasks into smaller achievable steps.
For example, for the side hustle, set a goal of researching three competitors by the end of the weekend.
Small wins create momentum that overcomes psychological inertia—the tendency to remain in our current state because starting feels too daunting.
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When urgency comes from within—grounded in what truly matters to you—it’s no longer a frantic scramble to avoid failure or judgment. Instead, it becomes a sustainable force that drives you toward the tasks that align with your values and long-term vision.
Part of Short Tales of Psychology—a series about interesting humans and the psychological lessons we can apply to enhance our mental wellbeing and optimise performance.
Photo credit: Rachel McDermott
