How To Do Things You Hate: Self-Discipline to Suffer Less, Embrace the Suck, and Achieve Anything

by Peter Hollins

Doing things you hate is a skill. And it's a skill that is always in high demand.
Look, you can teach hard skills. You can teach a monkey to do lots of things that humans can do. But you can't force them to work without a monkey revolt on your hands.

All growth comes from discomfort and the ability to push through.
How To Do Things You Hate is a primer on how you can embody the self-discipline to live the life you want. It's not easy; otherwise everyone would be there. It requires surmounting boulders, crossing oceans, and not a small amount of pain. It's always worth it, but are you able to get there? Are you tough enough? Can you find the motivation inside you somewhere? Are you able to taking it on the chin?

After this book, you will be able to resoundingly say YES!

Self-discipline and willpower are the best habits, because everything can stack on them.
Peter Hollins has studied psychology and peak human performance for over a dozen years and is a bestselling author. He has worked with a multitude of individuals to unlock their potential and path towards success. His writing draws on his academic, coaching, and research experience.

Not just more productivity, but you'll start to notice that your to-do list will always be DONE.
-Diagnose and understand the exact type of laziness problem you have and why your butt is always glued to the couch
-The value of discomfort and how to love it with daily exercises and practices that make you absolutely monk-like
-The incredibly valuable 90-second rule of emotional volatility and self-mastery
-The doom loop of procrastination and how you are probably caught in it right now, every day.
-How you should approach your daily tasks like a pro athlete with daily routines, and activation modes

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Productivity, Personal Development, Mental Health, Audiobook, Business

123 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2023

About the author

Peter Hollins is a bestselling author, human psychology researcher, and a student of the human condition. He possesses a BS in psychology and a graduate degree.

Reviews

[Catherine Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some good advice in this little book, but none of it is anything that you haven't heard before. The author pulls from many well-known sources and traditions and, as far as I could tell, doesn't add much of his own. It doesn't go into enough depth for my taste, and some of the advice is VERY hard to follow in real life. But I love the Lego guy on the cover!

[Francisco Nunes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book that can make us very easily relate to any of the examples described. Good for taking a moment to analyze some of our behaviors and identify reasons why we might not want to do things.
I say it was useful.

[Minnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggle with executive dysfunction. It sucks. This book was not only validating (because I love to think poorly of myself during bad episodes) but also helpful. I feel like reading this allowed me to reframe the way I view “doing things”. This was a quick & easy read. Definitely recommend!

[Elizabeth G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

found myself using the advice in the book to actually finish reading the book lol

[Swochchhanda Shrestha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a realistic look into sustainable ways to improve discipline and “self-mastery”. Many true root causes of laziness were tackled, and consequent fixes were explored as well. I appreciated the many different philosophies covered throughout the text ranging from Eastern wisdom to Ancient Greek strategies and modern high-achieving individuals.

I felt that the author really made a point to show a lot of compassion towards the reader and emphasize that motivation, discipline and energy can wax and wane even when one has achieved so-called self-mastery but it is important to have sustainable systems in place to take advantage of our highs and sustain through our lows. Overall, a good non-judgmental read on improving discipline and

[Radwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't think that this book this much inspiring💓 It helped me to free myself out from Stress and think out of the box, i liked how smooth he wrote this book and how wisely it described < how we do things we don't love >
I highly recommend it and for sure it will help you somehow💓💘💖💕🦋

[Alex N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the part about procrastination reasons and analysis to be most interesting for me, but the rest was more or less repetition of material already known. It’s nothing bad, but mostly my personal impression, the book per se is good.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t want to say there is bad advice in this book, because there isn’t. But it’s a hodge-podge of self-improvement techniques that, if you’re reading this book, you’ve probably read up on elsewhere. Like I said, it’s not a bad book and you could do a lot worse in life if you did the opposite of the recommendations in it, but it’s just not a good book.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book 5 stars.

The book was interesting to read. I got a lot of good insights I hadn’t thought about before, and I’m now incorporating them into my daily routine. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very concise and practical guide with many techniques for tackling difficult problems and overcoming the urge to procrastinate. Despite its short length, it offer a very broad interdisciplinary approach that definitely makes this a worthwhile read for anyone faced with such challenges.

One example of how to deal with distractions, let's say you are working on something you have no interest in and you know that in the kitchen there is a cheesy snack that you really want to eat. The decision seems to be, enjoy cheesy snack or work on horrible task. But instead, you need to reframe this as how working on the task will eventually allow you to complete your education or advance in your career, while the cheesy snack is nothing but unhealthy calories. If you are able to think like this, then you might be able to withstand the temptation.

Another example is knowing how to optimise your work schedule according to your body rhythm, doing the most difficult tasks when you are most focused and productive (for most people it's first thing in the morning) and knowing when and how much caffeine to drink. This is something I've definitely adopted with some success myself.

Another interesting idea adopted from Warren Buffet is to make a list of the top 25 things you want to achieve. Then you work exclusively on the top 5, and make sure you are not wasting any energy on the other 20, you avoid them at all costs, until the first 5 are done. This allows you to conserve and focus your resources for what matters most. A historical analogy of this was the Spartans, who devoted their lives to the pursuit of making war, and outsourced everything else to the people they enslaved.

These are just three of many ideas in the book, which as explained well but not in too much detail. Recommended read for anyone struggling to get things done.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m giving this book a solid three stars.

I’ll be honest: I really did not like the cover. In fact, I was a little embarrassed by it. I originally bought this book for my teen, not for myself. But I ended up picking it up anyway—and I’m glad I did.

It’s a very quick read with large print and an easy, approachable layout. You can move through it fast without feeling overwhelmed. The advice is solid and practical, broken down into small, manageable ideas. There are a lot of little “aha” moments throughout—nothing groundbreaking, but genuinely helpful reminders.

One of my favorite parts is the summary of each chapter in the back. That alone makes it worth keeping on hand, especially for teens or anyone who benefits from clear takeaways.

Overall, this is good, straightforward advice without fluff. It’s not life-changing, but it is encouraging and useful—especially for someone who struggles with motivation or procrastination. A good pick for teens, and a surprisingly decent skim for adults too.

[Sri Lakshmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Do Things You Hate is one of those quietly motivating books that makes you rethink your attitude toward discomfort, discipline, and procrastination. It’s not preachy or filled with clichés — instead, it’s honest, relatable, and packed with small mindset shifts that actually stick.

I liked how the author talks about doing things even when you don’t “feel like it,” not with guilt, but with compassion. It’s about building emotional resilience, accepting resistance, and learning that self-growth often looks unglamorous. The tone feels more like a wise friend than a lecture, which made it an easy, comforting read.

Some parts repeat the same core message, but the simplicity is what makes it powerful. It’s a great reminder that motivation follows action — not the other way around.

Short, practical, and thought-provoking — perfect for anyone trying to break out of laziness, overthinking, or fear of failure. 🌱

[kennedy parrish · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐ rounded up.

Picked this up hoping to get a bit of inspiration for helping the students I work with increase motivation. Was drawn in by the subtitle because "embrace the suck" is a phrase I already use pretty frequently with kids when we're working on increasing their ability tolerate boredom, frustration, or anything non-preferred.

There was a lot I agreed with in this little book, but a lot that rubbed me the wrong way too. I didn't like the way the author framed a lot of his points through the lens of "laziness" in the beginning, and I especially didn't appreciate the suggestion that you play pretend at poverty for a while in order to increase your mental fortitude or whatever. Many more thoughts are in my notes and highlights.

[Vivian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't get anything out of this book that would help me to tackle projects I'm avoiding doing because the tasks are monumental. The book starts by describing the different kinds of laziness (how to criticize your reader and offend them) and the book didn't improve from there. I'm not lazy. I'm overwhelmed. TYVM!

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would love to give this 5 stars, but the fact that it is split into 4 chapters is what makes it difficult to read. If the chapters were parts and the sections split into near chapters it would be more accessible. Plenty of great advice, but just getting through this read makes me wonder how much of it I actually needed...

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a good little book. I ended up getting lots of tips from it. So glad I purchased it.

[Jason Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using ACT therapies to engage with hard things of life

[Amy Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Most of what's in this little book is stuff I already knew, but it's a decent little synopsis and short enough to consume quickly.

[Ayşe | عائشہ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it twice or thrice and until it sinks into the core of your brain...
Perfect book ..

[Nopadol Rompho · Rating 5 out of 5]

หนังสือที่แนะนำให้เราเข้าใจตัวเอง โดยเฉพาะเรื่องการผัดวันประกันพรุ่งว่าทำไมเราถึงทำอย่างนั้น และเราจัดการตัวเองได้อย่างไร อ่านแล้วมีประโยชน์ครับ

[Jimmy D · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a 3.5. Was hoping for more out of this but still a good read. Chapter 2 slaps

[Daisy Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s an easy read with practical wisdom! Just do it! I hear you and I am! Thank you for the kick I needed! :)

[Gen Damaso · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Very insightful. As someone who procrastinates, I get a lot of good points from this book.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most effective JUST GET IT DONE book. Tryna apply it.

[Martine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several books like this but this one was a quick read and I have already used some of the tricks in it. Don't let the Lego man fool you - it's well worth the read.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Procrastinator’s manifesto

[Myra Vergani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last 1/4 of the book was the best!

[smh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not perfection, but promises kept with myself.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically this book says I’m lazy & it’s probably correct.

[Blanca Ivonne Montaño Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó mucho, es una lectura fácil con buena narrativa, no tan académica y con buenos ejemplos de como dejar de aplazar lo que tienes que hacer y enfocarte.