What do you do if you're struggling with procrastination and missing deadlines?

Instead of resisting resistance and fighting procrastination, we use a counterintuitive approach that we find very helpful. 1. Notice the felt-sense that procrastination evokes. 2. Ask the somatic feeling (use your imagination) to speak for what it's there to bring that may actually be valid or helpful. E.g. Rest, Caution, Clarity etc. 3. Now focus on finding ways to honor this valid intention, the root of procrastination. Next time the wall of procrastination shows up, remember what you found and create new ways to honor the resistance. This self-coaching approach stops the pendulum of procrastination vs productivity. We teach this to our Certified Master Coaches and Leader Clients - it's very popular and gets great feedback. Hope it helps

The first step in tackling procrastination and missed deadlines is to acknowledge the reality of the situation. It's important to recognize that procrastination isn't just a time management issue—it's often a symptom of deeper emotional or psychological challenges. Acknowledge the Emotional Component: Procrastination can be a way of coping with the anxiety associated with a task, whether that anxiety stems from a fear of failure, a fear of success, or even a lack of interest. It might also be related to perfectionism, where the fear of not doing something perfectly leads to not doing it at all. The journey to overcoming procrastination is about progress, not perfection. Acknowledging the reality is a powerful step towards creating change.

I ensure deadlines are met by recognizing and mitigating procrastination risks, setting SMART goals for manageable tasks, and employing structured scheduling like the Pomodoro Technique for productivity. Motivation and discipline are maintained with a distraction-free environment and a supportive network. I celebrate successes for motivation and practice flexibility and continuous improvement. A healthy lifestyle and advanced time management allow prioritization, ensuring productivity and deadline adherence. This comprehensive strategy guarantees my professional reliability.

When changing an unhealthy habit such as procrastination, the most difficult part is to acknowledge it, as it is a resistance to something we are not conscious about. Resistance manifests in different ways such as avoidance, justification, confusion or distractibility. What we are avoiding is feeling fear, doubt or insecure. Ask yourself why, on some level, you do not want that goal. What is the underlying feeling you are avoiding. Then visualize what would open up for you when you finish that task you have been avoiding. A good way to stay motivated is by setting small steps to follow and rewarding ourselves when we achieve them. When we find ourselves procrastinating we can see it as an opportunity to practice our will power.

La procrastinación es el hábito de posponer tareas importantes, lo cual nos aleja de nuestras metas, a menudo malinterpretada como pereza, en realidad es un acto de autosabotaje. Surge de la evasión de sensaciones negativas asociadas a tareas desagradables, ya que buscamos gratificaciones inmediatas en lugar de considerar las consecuencias a largo plazo. Con esfuerzo y comprensión de sus causas, podemos combatirla y vivir una vida más plena y satisfactoria. Recuerda que la verdadera victoria sobre la procrastinación no radica en la ausencia de tentaciones, sino en la fortaleza para resistirlas y seguir adelante hacia nuestros sue?os más grandes.

If procrastination and missed deadlines are your hurdles, setting clear, achievable goals can be a game changer. Begin by breaking down your big tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces. This makes starting less daunting and progress easier to see. Define what success looks like for each task and give yourself a realistic timeframe to achieve it. Celebrate the small wins; they’re your stepping stones to overcoming procrastination. Remember, clarity in your goals is like a roadmap—it guides your efforts, keeps you focused, and makes the journey less overwhelming. Start small, aim big, and watch how each step forward diminishes the hold procrastination has on you.

It’s not just about WHAT you’re doing but more important to figure out WHY you’re doing it and if it serves your bigger life vision.

Setting SMART goals that are specific, measureable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. Be specific, as in, drill down the daily tasks of the goal instead of just focusing on the bigger goal. Find ways to measure your goals and divide them into smaller areas that you can track. Question if the goal is attainable, especially with sales goals. There is nothing wrong with setting high goals with awareness of the amount of resource, time, effort, and investment that is put into them. Input equals output, which relates to realistic goals that are time-bound. Sometimes we set unrealistic timelines to achieve goals that require more time.

Clear goals are a god send. It allows you to be specific and measure exactly what you are going to do. for example you have a university essay to write; it is much more effective to have a clear goal such as, "I will write 100 words per day," which is easily measurable, as opposed to, "I will do a bit of writing every day." The lack of specifics could mean to write anywhere between one and one thousand words in a day. The latter will undoubtedly cause much more frustration and stress due to the lack of clarity in the direction you are headed in.

It’s very easy to have a rough schedule that exists in your mind but unless you schedule time stuff just doesn’t get done. Get your diary organised. Make time for work, gym, family Be realistic, make it achievable and make sure you build in rest and social time. Your progress to success will be much smoother.

Take a step back, and write all of your tasks on post-its Look at the tasks that are quick to do, and complete them straight away. From there, select the two most important tasks, and work on those next. After this, identify tasks that can be delegated and postponed. Sort this out, and see what's left. Prioritise these tasks, and then work through them.

Je fais attention de me poser des objectifs ambitieux mais atteignable. Je les divise en tache de 20 à 25 minutes en fonction de mon niveau d'énergie. Je raye ensuite les taches réalisées. Je m'oblige à me lever et recharger mes batteries afin de redémarrer ensuite sur un autre cycle. Je fais attention de me laisser toujours 20 % de marge d'erreur sur mon temps d'évaluation ce qui est mon temps d'imprévu. Je garde un ?il sur un compteur temps afin de pouvoir faire rentrer mes taches dans le temps que j'ai alloué.

Definitively create a plan before going in all sorts of direction. With or without a team, creating a plan works and shows at the very least a common denominator.

Un plan realista es necesario y deseable. En ocasiones procrastinamos por tener metas muy ambiciosas o complejas y no tener claro el “cómo” lograrlas. Por tal motivo un plan detallado que nos permita visualizar cada paso hacia el logro es vital. Un plan realista se basa en el conocimiento de los propios recursos y posibilidades, articulados de una manera simple y escalable. Y debe aprovechar los intentos fallidos previos como experiencias sobre las cuales establecer nuevas alternativas para el progreso.

I know when I feel resistance it’s because I don’t like or don’t know what I’m doing. You have options. Leave it. Do a little. Take a deep breath and get stuck in. I choose the latter as that’s the only one that gives you progress.

I've always found that there is a deeper Mental Model or belief about self, the other or the world that at root of the resistance. Increased awareness of these beliefs, usually ingrained and old, helps work more consciously with the resistance. From personal experience, this is an effective way to work with resistance. I plan for the resistance. For example, I take time to get started on anything related to numbers. I know that makes me feel inadequate. I visualize what to do when that feeling comes up. This helps me avoid the frustration of hitting a brick wall, and I know what to do.

Procrastination is fear. That fear is resistance. Become clear of what you're fearful about. You're likely afraid of failing, your efforts not meeting expectations, or what people will think if you were to achieve your goals. Rather than seeing taking action as a test that you can pass or fail, see it as an experiment. When you see it from this perspective, you no longer fear the outcome. When it's an experiment, you can try it again and again until you get the desired outcome.

All the other ways of doing things are known, like being clear about what needs to be done and having a good plan of action, which definitely help. However, I think dealing with resistance is the most helpful when you keep putting things off. I have my own steps that I do every morning: What are my goals for today? What kind of person do I want to be? Something that can make me feel more energetic today. One situation that might stress me out today and how would the best version of myself handle it? What challenges can I turn into opportunities? What are the negative thoughts I'm having today, and how can I change them into positive ones?

Procrastination definitely is a Deep issue coming from the subconscious mind, and it needs to be tackled effectively by first acknowledging it and then taking help and dealing with the subconscious mind, and the subconscious mind cannot be navigated effectively by one own self. One needs to be seeking assistance of a competent therapist.

Accountability combats procrastination by externalizing your commitment. Choose an accountability partner—someone who's genuinely invested in your success and with whom you can regularly check in. During these sessions, you'll discuss your progress and setbacks openly. This process not only reinforces your goals but also keeps you motivated and responsible for meeting your deadlines. Regular engagement with your partner or coach helps maintain momentum and provides the necessary push to overcome obstacles, ensuring you stay on track to achieving your objectives.

After considering what motivating factors drive procrastination, consider a very powerful source for accountability: SELF! When you identify you are struggling with productivity, take fifteen minutes to invest in self. Take yourself for a break; Go sit outdoors for ten minutes and listen to sounds, feel the sunshine or rain, smell the air and experience the environment. Think of your commitment to self that you will reach a particular stopping point. Identify when you can complete a task and honor your own time and energy as you work to completion. Having an accountability partner is a wonderful asset but recognizing the power YOU have to propel yourself forward into feeling accomplished after completion of a task is the ultimate reward.

Accountability is key and there needs to be a pain point in here. Why. Because more people move away from pain than they move towards pleasure. Find an accountability partner who is going to challenge you, and cost you? This is why coaching produces results.

When I'm procrastinating, it takes a while for me to notice that's what's going on. It can easily be disguised by being busy on 'other projects or tasks' that seem to have a greater priority. So the first thing to recognise is why you haven't started or gone back to dealing with a project, situation or task. Understanding what is stopping you can reveal some quick wins to get moving again. You might be missing information, you may lack knowledge or it could be triggering unhelpful emotions. Either way, once you know 'why' you can start to make incremental steps. And finally, in my experience, 'getting started' even if it's not perfect, is the greatest 'win' against procrastination; in other words, "do something"

Absolutely! Accountability is a potent antidote to procrastination. Sharing goals and deadlines with a trusted individual and seeking regular check-ins can provide the extra motivation needed to stay focused. Joining a group or finding a partner with similar objectives can also foster mutual support and encouragement, reinforcing commitment and progress towards your goals.

Battling procrastination and missed deadlines? Remember to reward yourself for milestones achieved. It’s not just about completing tasks; it’s about recognizing your efforts and progress. Set up a system where each milestone brings a small reward, whether it’s a coffee break, a walk, or something special you’ve been wanting. This approach turns your to-do list into a series of small victories, making the journey more enjoyable and motivating. These rewards act as positive reinforcement, boosting your morale and drive to push through. So, next time you tick off a task, take a moment to celebrate your success. This habit can transform how you view and tackle your responsibilities, turning procrastination into productivity.

Self-care and self-motivation go hand in hand! - Try to view setbacks as redirections and opportunities for growth (mindset) - What defines self-care for you: walk in the park, steaming cup of coffee, any hobby? Squeeze it in your schedule - Acknowledge your progress along the way, small steps lead to big victories! - Treat yourself with compassion and kindness

I advise clients to rewire their brain by adding pleasure to unpleasant tasks. In other words - create a stacked habit that begins with a prompt to start the undesirable activity (say after breakfast.) You wake up with this intention. Hook the beginning of your task onto eating breakfast. (If you don't eat breakfast then chose another prompt.) After about a week of getting used to this new routine, you could add something else, say using a timer and doing 25 minutes of Pomorodoros all morning - and so on until you have rewired a new habit. The most important component, though, is the reward. No matter how little you do each day - there must be a reward. That way you train yourself to feel positive about the work you're doing.

I find that I will work harder if I have a gold star at the end of my task, rather than a "carrot and stick" or punishing approach. If it is a large task, I make sure to give myself a treat after about 90 minutes, even if it's just a quick 5 minute break to go outside, pet the cat, make some hot tea and drink it on the porch. After a large project, I make sure to let my friends and family know. The praise I receive is my best reward! It also serves to help me remember the next time the "warm fuzzies" that await me when I'm finally complete.

Procrastination can be a sign of depression and/or anxiety, both of which are brought on and exacerbated by stress. It is often a cycle of emotions that feeds on itself and grows if it remains unaddressed. We must be kind enough to our colleagues, employees, and ourselves to see it for what it is. We also need to see what it is not - laziness, lack of genuine interest, inability, lack of focus, etc. Until corporate leaders are willing to invest their attention, and eventually their resources, into the mental wellbeing of their workforce, procrastination will continue to be seen as a choice being made by a person who should be chastised rather than a potential all-star who isn't well and needs rest and some form of wellness services.

Let me share an anecdote 'I procrastinate and then feel guilty about it' This was the statement someone shared with me as they approached me for personal coaching. After initial discussion we realized that their unresolved EMOTIONS could be the reason for the lack of action from their end. I took them through an inner child healing session. The person went back 10 years ago in timeline where they faced an unpleasant situation related to their exams. They could see the wounded parts scattered all across, they finally healed those parts and integrated them into their internal landscape. Post the session, the person felt confident and relieved. P.S : Procrastination can be due to unresolved trauma.

Understand the root cause of it, a coach can help you with that. Reflect on the underlying reasons for your procrastination and missed deadlines. It could be due to poor time management, lack of motivation, fear of failure, perfectionism or feeling overwhelmed. As you can see it could be anything which cause it but identifying the root cause will help you address it more effectively.

Facing procrastination starts with a deep dive into your motivations. If a task doesn't align with your values, it may be time to let it go. For important tasks, break them into small, structured steps with clear deadlines, making progress tangible and less intimidating. Modify your working environment to minimize distractions. This might mean tidying your workspace, turning off notifications, or setting specific hours for focused work. Remember to be gentle with yourself; occasional procrastination is human, not a sign of failure. If procrastination persists and hinders your life, don't hesitate to seek professional guidance. They can offer targeted strategies to navigate underlying challenges.

I was told once that “Procrastination is not real. Things just aren’t priority.” That stuck with me and I realized that the things I put off didn’t actually light me up. I reframed how I see procrastination and asked myself how I could make this action a priority. If it wasn’t a priority I let it go. If I “had” to do and it felt like an obligation I started shifting the word “have to” to “get to”. Have to felt heavy. Get to seemed like a choice. Little reframes that make an impact.