How to Use ClickUp Temptation Bundling
Using ClickUp together with temptation bundling helps you turn important but uncomfortable tasks into simple, repeatable routines you actually enjoy completing.
Temptation bundling is a behavioral science strategy that pairs something you should do with something you want to do. When you connect both in a single repeatable workflow, you lower resistance, fight procrastination, and make progress without relying on willpower alone.
This how-to guide walks you through setting up a practical temptation bundling system inspired by the ideas shared in the original article on the ClickUp blog. You will learn how to define your bundles, translate them into clear actions, and track them consistently.
Step 1: Understand Temptation Bundling in ClickUp
Before building anything, get clear on what temptation bundling means in daily life. It is the process of pairing a task you want to avoid with an activity you naturally enjoy, so the reward is built into the work itself.
The source article on the ClickUp blog on temptation bundling explains that this tactic works because it:
- Links short-term enjoyment with long-term goals
- Reduces the feeling of sacrifice
- Creates built-in cues for when to start and stop
- Helps form sustainable habits instead of one-off efforts
You will translate these behavioral ideas into a simple personal system that you can track and refine over time.
Step 2: List Your “Should” and “Want” Activities
Start by identifying the two building blocks of any bundle: the actions you feel you should do and the activities you look forward to doing.
Identify Your “Should” Tasks
Your “should” list includes tasks that matter but often lead to procrastination, such as:
- Deep work projects that feel intimidating
- Studying, training, or skill-building
- Health habits like exercise or stretching
- Household chores and maintenance work
- Planning, budgeting, or admin tasks
Write these out in a simple list. Keep each item specific and action-based, not vague intentions.
Identify Your “Want” Activities
Next, list your “want” activities. These are things you enjoy and rarely avoid, including:
- Watching a favorite show or listening to a podcast
- Enjoying a special snack or drink
- Browsing social media or reading entertainment sites
- Gaming, hobbies, or creative play
- Spending time in a favorite space or environment
Make this list as concrete as possible. The more specific you are, the easier it becomes to create solid temptation bundles.
Step 3: Create Temptation Bundles You Can Track in ClickUp
Now pair one “should” with one “want” so you can work toward your goals while enjoying built-in rewards. The key is to allow yourself the “want” only when it is linked to the “should.”
Design Practical Temptation Bundles
Use simple, rule-based pairings such as:
- “I only watch my favorite show while folding laundry.”
- “I only drink my premium coffee while writing my daily report.”
- “I only listen to this podcast during my daily walk.”
- “I only scroll social media after I finish 25 minutes of focused work.”
Check each bundle against three criteria:
- Clear start and stop: You always know when the bundle begins and ends.
- Measurable: You can tell if you completed the “should” part.
- Realistic: You can perform the bundle consistently, not just once.
Translate Bundles Into Simple Rules
For each bundle, write a one-sentence rule that combines both sides. Keep the rule easy to remember and repeat. This clear phrasing is what you will track and refine over time.
Step 4: Turn Bundles into Repeatable Routines
Temptation bundling works best as a routine instead of a one-time experiment. The goal is to attach your “want” to a regular slot in your day so it becomes the natural way you perform that task.
Choose When and Where to Run Each Bundle
For each bundle, decide:
- Time: Morning, midday, or evening
- Location: Home, office, gym, walking route, or other space
- Trigger: What reliably happens immediately before the bundle, such as finishing lunch or sitting at your desk
Align bundles with existing habits where possible. For example, attach a planning routine to your morning coffee or connect a learning session with your daily commute.
Start with a Small Number of Bundles
Begin with two or three bundles instead of trying to redesign your entire schedule at once. This keeps the system manageable and lets you test what works before layering on more complexity.
Step 5: Track Your Bundles Like Tasks
Any temptation bundle becomes more powerful when you monitor it like a recurring task. Tracking completion gives you visibility into patterns and makes it easier to adjust when motivation drops.
Use Simple Tracking Rules
For each bundle, define exactly what counts as a successful completion. For example:
- “Walk for at least 20 minutes while listening to my chosen podcast.”
- “Write 300 words while sipping my favorite tea.”
- “Fold all laundry in this basket while my show plays.”
Once you have the definition, mark each day as complete or incomplete. A binary yes/no log is easier to maintain than a complex scoring system.
Review Your Progress Weekly
Once per week, quickly review how often you completed each bundle. Ask yourself:
- Which bundles feel natural and enjoyable?
- Which ones feel forced, confusing, or inconvenient?
- Do you need to adjust the reward, timing, or environment?
Use that reflection to refine your bundles, not to judge yourself. The goal is to design a system that fits you, not to force yourself into a rigid structure.
Step 6: Strengthen Your System with Helpful Resources
As you maintain your bundles over time, you may want frameworks, prompts, or templates to help you design better routines and personal workflows.
Explore Practical Behavior and Productivity Guides
You can deepen your understanding by exploring additional guides on personal systems, behavior design, or habit formation. Many professional consultants and workflow experts share step-by-step methods that align with the principles used in temptation bundling.
For help structuring your workflows, you can review resources from specialists such as Consultevo, who focus on building effective, scalable systems around daily work and long-term goals.
Return to the Original ClickUp Article
Whenever you need a refresher on the concepts behind temptation bundling, revisit the original explanation on the ClickUp temptation bundling blog page. It outlines key principles about combining enjoyable rewards with meaningful but challenging tasks.
Step 7: Keep Your ClickUp-Inspired Bundles Sustainable
The most important part of using this method successfully is sustainability. A temptation bundle only helps if you can stick with it week after week.
Adjust When Life Changes
When your schedule, energy level, or responsibilities shift, revisit your bundles and modify them to fit your new reality. You might:
- Shorten work sessions and keep the same reward
- Swap in a different reward that fits a new environment
- Move a routine from evening to morning for more consistency
Treat the system as a living process instead of a fixed commitment.
Keep Rewards Genuinely Enjoyable
Your “want” activities must remain appealing. If a reward starts to feel routine or dull, rotate it out and introduce something new that you look forward to using alongside your “should” tasks.
Putting Your ClickUp Temptation Bundling System into Action
By listing your “should” and “want” activities, pairing them into clear rules, and tracking them like tasks, you turn abstract goals into concrete, enjoyable routines. The ideas behind temptation bundling, as outlined in the original ClickUp blog article, give you a simple formula for beating procrastination and reinforcing the habits that matter most to you.
Start with one or two bundles today, run them for a week, then refine your approach. With consistent practice, the combination of structure and built-in rewards can transform how you approach both work and personal tasks.
Need Help With ClickUp?
If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.
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