Don’t let procrastination do this to you…
Procrastination is a huge time and energy thief.
And you know what else? It has a profound effect on your self-trust and your confidence. It nibbles away, undermining incrementally. Unnoticed at first, its effects are very debilitating in the long run.
The habit of putting things off creates a vicious cycle that feeds on itself and fosters a spiral of negativity and discouragement.
It can be difficult to do things we don’t want to do. But procrastination doesn’t solve that problem – it just puts it off. The task always waits for you.
Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of
an uncompleted task. William James (Click to Tweet)
So how can you stop choosing to put things off and start getting them done instead?
Tips to Stop Procrastination in Its Tracks:
1. Use your schedule, not your to-do list. For tasks that you are putting off, it is important to get concrete about when you will complete them. So make an appointment in your calendar for the day and time you’re going to work on the task. This is far more effective than perpetually moving the task from one day’s to-do list to the next.
2. Make it as easy to get started as you can. A lengthy task that you’ve been avoiding can be very difficult to start. So shift your thinking and tell yourself, “I’m going to work on this for 10 minutes.” That’s doable enough that you should be able to start. And interestingly, once you begin, you’ll probably spend more than 10 minutes on your task. It’s that first step that often presents the big challenge.
3. Break your task into smaller parts. Larger tasks can easily feel overwhelming. When you proactively divide your task into smaller steps you are taking a different kind of ownership of it. Because of the smaller size of the tasks AND because of your fuller engagement, it becomes psychologically easier to tackle the project. And it’s really true: it’s easier to do 10 small things than one big thing. Try it.
Two more tips…
4. Identify the most dreaded part. Sometimes a small part of the task is all that’s holding you back. Once you identify it, there are a couple of possibilities:
- Naming it may help you to see that what you dread isn’t really that bad – so you’ll be able to move forward and do it.
- Or, another option might be to outsource that task. If it’s possible to get someone else to take care of that part of the task for you, you can then move ahead with the rest of it.
5. Reward yourself! Give yourself a reward for completing each step of the task. Whether it’s getting started, doing the dreaded part, or completing the smaller steps that you’ve broken the task into, validating your efforts is important. It doesn’t have to be anything big, but acknowledging your efforts builds self-trust and also makes the whole process more fun.
Imagine your life without the stress that procrastination creates.
Unfinished tasks have a profound effect on your sense of well-being and peace of mind. Living like that isn’t necessary, and it’s a change that you can make – that’s the really good news.
If procrastination holds you back, you’re certainly not alone. Millions of people struggle with this energy draining time thief. Procrastination’s costs include lost productivity, lost income, lost opportunities, frazzled nerves and damaged relationships.
My accessible and immediately actionable E-Guide Book titled “I Don’t Know Where to Start!” How to Stop Stalling, Get Clear, and Turn Procrastination into Productivity offers you a clear path to get to the roots of your procrastination and start doing rather than delaying — today.
“I Don’t Know Where to Start!” unmasks this time thief with exercises to help you identify your own unique brand of procrastination. And it provides insights to help you successfully address what you discover. You really can make conscious choices about your time and how to use it. And you really can change old habits and patterns. Using the tools and skills you’ll learn in “I Don’t Know Where to Start” you’ll get started and keep going.
To learn more about this powerful E-Guide Book and its accompanying bonuses, just click this link.
Speak Your Mind