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How to tackle your procrastination in 5 easy steps, starting today

5/10/2013

16 Comments

 

OR... A year from now you will wish you had started today 

I have been intending to write this post for weeks but as the Ex-Mayor of ProcrastinationVille, it would be completely insensible of me to do so, on time.

Yes, I am a recovering procrastinator and up until a few years back, procrastination was my lifestyle of choice. 

I didn’t pay my bills on time, I didn’t do laundry until it was too late (really, really, late), I was missing opportunities to pursue my personal goals and I was practically putting off any task that scared me.

"I'll get to it next week, I am really busy at work this time of year", "Now? Oh, no, it’s impossible to work in this state of mind, I need to unwind first", "Ok, I’m just checking my emails and I’ll get to it, as soon as I’m done”.

Sounds familiar? 

Don’t worry; all of us procrastinate, at east to some degree.

I was a chronic procrastinator and I didn’t even know it, until I finally realized it wasn’t just the little things I was procrastinating heavily on, it was also the big ones. I was putting off important life decisions for “someday”, I was repeatedly postponing dealing with deep-rooted fears, I was avoiding facing my own reality.

In my case, procrastination did a lot more than sabotaging my day’s work. It was silently sabotaging my whole life. 
Life Coach Yourself Away from Procrastination
And even though I understood, that I was on the right track, by realizing the very fact that procrastination was becoming a problem for me and my development, I still thought there was nothing I could do about it. It felt like an unjust disease from which I could not recover. And so a couple more months passed by and then I had an epiphany. 

Procrastination was not a disease. It was a decision. My decision. And I was the only one that could actually do something about it, by taking small steps every day.

So, here is my favorite action list on bringing the procrastination wall down, once and for all -well, maybe not for all, but close enough...

  • Become a Procrastination Detective: Ok, so you have no intention whatsoever to start working on the task at hand. But WHY? Is something holding you back? Is your procrastination covering up your fears or insecurities? Is it the fear of failure or even worse, the fear of success? The fear of letting people down or of looking kinda stupid? Every time you find yourself procrastinating, play detective and try to understand why. Notice the fears fueling your procrastination and free yourself from them. 
  • Start Where You Are: And never stop until you get what you want. You don’t have to be perfect at it. You don’t need to be a perfectionist. You just need to be a Doer. Start by doing something small and soon you will find yourself breezing through mini tasks with ease and competence and before you know it the book is written, the house is clean, your new apartment is furnished and the rest is history.
  • Plan Ahead & Break it Down: If your task is too big to tackle at once, don’t bury it at the bottom of your list until you get a miraculous 2-year, paid vacation period to work on it. Break it down to small steps. Planning your work and working on completing bite-sized goals, minimizes the intimidation factor. Create milestones and celebrate each one of them! You are already a winner.
  • Schedule some Procrastination Time: Yes, you read that one right. Instead of being stranded my indecision, boredom or fear, simply schedule some procrastination time, every now and then, even every day if you feel like it, simply to indulge in the sweet atmosphere of pure laziness. And then get on with your day.
  • Celebrate Each Victory: So you woke up this morning in less that 5 minutes your alarm went off. Way to go, you! You don’t have to become the King of supreme efficiency before you pat yourself in the back. Recognize your victories big or small and celebrate them (ideally by procrastinating a little bit!) 

So, are you fighting your own battle against procrastination? How do you deal with it? Don't put it off for later... Let me know in the comment section below. 

If you have a question you’d like me to personally answer, email me at nichole@take-ten.com
If you enjoyed this post, share it! Facebook it, Tweet it, Digg it or email it to friends. 

Other Post You might Like:
Stay Motivated and Transform Your Life, One Day at a Time 
How I Discovered my Life's Purpose and You Can Too 
Are your "Buts" in the Way of your Dreams? 

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About the Author

Nichole, is a Life Change Architect and a Motivational Speaker, Coaching, Writing and Running Workshops about Personal Growth and Positive Change. 

Connect with Nichole on Facebook or email her at nichole@take-ten.com


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16 Comments
Alie
5/10/2013 03:53:11 am

Very well put, Nichole and as always, beautifully written.
It's just that today is Friday so can I take that first, tiny step on Monday?

Reply
nichole link
5/20/2013 05:07:11 am

Now, that's the Alie I know, personally coach and love!
Take our time love but remember... tick-tock
xoxo
nichole

Reply
Bill
5/10/2013 05:54:12 pm

Hello everyone,
For me, a list of things to do for the day does the trick.
Every morning I list the top 5 things that must get done during the day and off I go.
Have a great procrastination free weekend.

Reply
nichole link
5/20/2013 05:06:06 am

Hello Bill,
I am also a huge fan of lists, since most of the time I can hardly remember I have to eat (like I would ever forget...)!
Thank you for sharing your trick here.
xoxo
nichole

Reply
Daddy Monkey
5/11/2013 01:10:37 am

First of all I have to admit that I am doing it! FIRST STEP CHECKED
Next I have to agree with Bill, it works also for me, after having a cup of coffee I am writing ten things that I have to do, checking one by one, at the end of the day I am doing the famous crazy dance for my success.

Reply
nichole link
5/20/2013 05:03:58 am

My Dearest Daddy Monkey,
I like your approach and its usually one of my favourite go-to solutions, when procrastination is getting the best of me.
Thank you for sharing here with us.
xoxo
nichole

Reply
David
5/12/2013 02:01:05 am

Nichole,
Nicely written post. For me I believe the fear of rejection is what fuels my procrastination. But I am working on it. Thanks for the inspiration.

Reply
nichole link
5/20/2013 05:01:39 am

Hello David,
Fear of rejection, criticism, or failure is usually behind procrastination, for most of us. You can read this post http://www.take-ten.com/1/post/2013/05/overcoming-the-fear-of-failure-how-i-rejected-the-illusions-of-fear-and-you-can-too.html for more info on overcoming those fears.

Reply
Sara
5/13/2013 02:02:45 am

Thank you for these easy steps. I hope I will be able to do better. :-)

Reply
nichole link
5/20/2013 04:57:56 am

I am sure you will Sara!
Take one baby step after another and positive growth is guaranteed.
xoxo
nichole

Reply
Danae
5/13/2013 02:06:47 am

Great work and really motivating. Thank you Nichole.
I also have a trick I use against procrastination. It's the carrot and stick method. I do not get to do the things I want to, if I haven't first completed my to do tasks. Like I don't get to check my FB account unless I have finished studying. Works every time.

Reply
nichole link
5/20/2013 04:56:10 am

Hi there Danae!
I have to admit I often use your trick from time to time and it does work. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Much Love,
nichole

Reply
yiannis m
5/13/2013 11:57:40 pm

Thanks Nichole for the great input on procrastination. I procrastinate like most of us. In most of the cases the reason is due to fear on how the task will be accomplished. I believe the problem is based on the fact that I focus more on the intermediate things and not on the final outcome or goal. I start thinking of obstacles, difficulties, lack of knowledge, uncertainty and this keeps at a distance from my goal. I think I will start concentrating on the things that I love and desire most instead of the intermediate steps for their completion and I believe the universe always opens doors where there were walls before.

yiannis m

Reply
nichole link
5/20/2013 04:54:45 am

Hello Yiannis,
I think that would be a great deviation. Give it a try and let us know how it went. I am strong believer of positive focus and therefore I think you will have immediate results.
xoxo
nichole

Reply
Js Park link
5/15/2013 06:21:55 pm

Thanks for the post. Nice read here.

Reply
nichole link
5/20/2013 04:52:25 am

You are welcome J!
Visit often for more inspiration.
Your blog looks great too.
xoxo
nichole

Reply



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