We’ve all done it at some time or other. We put off our exercise routine until tomorrow; 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 need to be doing.
Here are 5 effective processes you can use to slay this giant.
- Do it now
Jump right in! Putting things off until the last minute is a bad habit and like all habits is 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.
- Take baby steps
Sometimes we procrastinate because the task may be intimidating to us. Perhaps we have no possible inkling on where to start. In these cases, it is okay to take it one step at a time. Say you are preparing a report and for the 5th time this week, you’ve turned on the PC and looked at the blank screen. Or you’ve just remembered you need to do some more research before you begin…you’re still not ready. You simply need to break down the project into smaller pieces and tackle each bit separately. Make each task an individual project and after completion of each one, celebrate and acknowledge your achievement.
- 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 often 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? Is the reason you have not started is that it is not important. However, be careful, disregarding a project after a long period of procrastination is a last resort as maybe you should have done it.
- 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.
- Fear of the unknown
Procrastinating on life changing activities could be as a result of fear of the unknown. Is it you are not sure what to do or have you failed at something in the past and this continues to haunt you? What if this thing you are putting off doing is the start of better times for you. What would it feel like to actually achieve something on time? Unless you start it will never get done!
What are your tips for avoiding procrastination? Let me know!
