We’ve all procrastinated at least once, twice, or even more. We put off our exercise routine until tomorrow; we continually delay finishing that project, task, or starting that business.
Procrastination is the mother of all demons and can stop you from achieving all that you desire.
Here are 5 effective processes you can use to slay this giant:
1. Do it now
Hold your breath and jump right in! Putting things off until the last minute is a bad habit and these habits are ingrained in our subconscious minds and can be hard to break sometimes. It might feel like the normal thing to do, that’s why we simply continue along that path. Completing a task at a time like this may even feel strange or like a forced action. But you have to look past it to get the job done at once.
2. 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. Let’s say you are preparing a business plan for the 5th time this week, you’ve turned on the PC and looked at the blank screen. or you just remembered you need to do some more research before you begin… but you’re still not ready.
What you need to do here, is simply need to break down the project into smaller pieces and tackle each bit separately. Make each task an individual project and after completing each one, celebrate and acknowledge your achievement.
3. 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.
Ask yourself, 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.
4. 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. If you’re a solo professional and you put off answering emails, then don’t answer them yourself. Hire an assistant, find some college students that want experience, and get a family member to help. Procrastinating on life-changing activities could be a result of fear of the unknown. Find a mentor, or join a support group. 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.