Procrastination

Procrastination

We’ve all done it at some time or other. We put off our exercise routine until another day; we continually delay finishing that project or starting that business.

Procrastination is the mother of all demons and can literally stop you in your tracks from achieving all that you desire.

Here are 5 effective processes you can use to slay this giant.

1. Just do it!

Hold your breath and jump right in! Putting things off until the last minute is a bad habit and like all habits are ingrained in our subconscious mind and hard to break. It feels like the normal thing to do and we simply continue along our path. To complete a task immediately may even feel strange or like a forced action but sometimes it’s what you need, to just take that plunge. As you know it does not need to be perfect, just do something!!

1. Take baby steps

Sometimes we procrastinate because the task may be intimidating to us. Perhaps we have no possible inkling of where to start. In these cases, it is quite fine to take it one step at a time. Say you are looking for a new job, you’ve turned on the PC and looked at LinkedIn and you start to get anxious. You’re thinking you need to do some more “research” or “thinking” ?before you begin…you’re still not ready. You simply need to break down whatever it is you are trying to achieve into smaller pieces and tackle each bit separately. And remember why it’s important for you whatever that is, how it fits with your values, and why it’s a priority for you. Celebrate and acknowledge your baby steps toward the direction you want to go in.

1. Forget it

Why force the issue? If you have been ‘dragging your feet’ on something for a very long time, it may all be for the best. Something somewhere is trying to tell you something. That something is your intuition and it is usually right! Think about something that you have been putting off again and again and again. What are the reasons that you need to complete this task in the first place? Does someone want you to do this? What is THEIR agenda? What are YOUR reasons for this lengthy delay? I find it amazing that 99% of the time I put off doing something, I am thankful that I did!?Disregarding a project after a long period of procrastination is however usually a last resort.

1. Support team

Do you put off tasks because you feel that they are too big and complex for you to handle alone? Or because you need assistance? Be honest with yourself. “No man is an island”. Ask for help! There are many resources out there that can provide you with all you need to carry out your job. Procrastinating on life-changing activities could be a result of fear of the unknown. Get a mastermind group together, find a mentor, join a support group, and get a coach. You don’t have to do it all by yourself. Just ensure that to kick this habit; you do what feels good to you in whatever method you choose. You’ll surely postpone procrastination for a very long time.