• Jot down a mandatory work task you find devoid of meaning—something you dread.
• Ask yourself what the purpose of the task is and write it down.
• Ask yourself what this result leads to. Write it down.
• Continue this process until you find a meaningful result.

You can use second-order thinking in two ways:

1. As a purely mental exercise

2. You can write it down on paper

Consider a decision you have to make.

Look at the most immediate (first-order) effects of making the decision. Then for each effect ask yourself: "And then What?...

When you’re not clear why you’re doing what you’re doing – what your purpose is, then it can be very easy to get stuck, and start procrastinating.

When you get stuck, step back and ask yourself, “Why do I want to reach this goal again?” and write down your reasons.