How To Overcome Procrastination

Are you bogged down by detail?

It’s time to step back and take a look at the big picture.

What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

Sometimes we get so caught up in the detail that we lose sight of where we’re going.

Overwhelmed?

If the task seems overwhelming – break it down into small doable steps.

Identify natural milestones along the way.

If you want to lose a stone – aim for 1lb each week.

Do you want a tidy, organised desk? Tackle it one drawer at a time.

Undecided?

Do something - anything. You’ll soon know whether you've made a good decision - you’ll know whether it’s the right decision for you.

Give yourself permission to change your mind if it becomes obvious you're headed in the wrong direction.

Doing something really is better than doing nothing - it will get you started.

Lack Confidence?

Is your lack of skill real or only in your imagination?

If it’s imagined - recognise the fear and deal with it.

Fears shout loudest when they feel they’re not being heard. Acknowledge your fear and devise a plan to deal with it - the fear will lose its power.

If you need further skills – take steps to get them – ask for help.

Take a dew deep breaths and step out of your comfort zone.

Not enough time?

It isn’t always easy to find large uninterrupted chunks of time.

Try doing things in 15 minute chunks.

You’ll be surprised how much you can do in 15 minutes – and it gets you started.

Too many distractions?

Decide not to answer the door or the phone for an hour.

Take control and give yourself the gift of uninterrupted time.

Too many things to do?

If you genuinely have too much to do, say so - either to yourself, your family or your boss - prioritise, enlist help, delegate.

Ask, ‘What's the most important thing to do right now?’
Focus on that.

Many ‘urgent’ things aren’t as important as people make out.

An Unpleasant Task?

The longer you wait, the more chance it will go away or someone else will do it. By procrastinating you get a reward!

Evaluate the need to do it at all.

Could it be done less often?

Could you trade with someone or buy in help?

If you need to do it - do it sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the more energy you'll spend thinking about it.  Better to spend that energy actually doing the task and reap the reward of finishing it.

Finally

When you find yourself procrastinating, ask yourself what's so bad about it?

The anticipation is usually worse than simply doing it.

Try allocating 15 minutes to it and see where it takes you.

One thing's for sure - you won't be procrastinating any more.

"The hardest work in the world is that which should have been done yesterday"

Procrastination drains your energy - it truly is the thief of time.

Plug the drain and begin what you've been putting off - you'll feel better for doing it.

I'd love to know how you get on. Maybe you have your own ways of overcoming procrastination? Please leave a comment and share them with us.