How to Overcome Procrastination

Funny, I started writing this only to be distracted and went to write a whole different article all together.
It was perfect timing as I could see how I handled the choice of leaving something for later and choosing to resolve it now.

If there were one trait that would guarantee success, it would be overcoming procrastination.

We are fooled to believe that putting something off will not hurt us, we can always do it later right? It gives us a quick burst of relief when we make the decision to leave something to later, but in reality this is a lie.

The moment we put what needs to be done off, we are having a conversation with our sub conscious that causes a weakness in our character, the same weakness that will show up later on. We weaken our will power, which in turn affects our energy and momentum.

This is the reason when you do something you have been putting off, you feel like you have accomplished a great feat, there is an energy of success and a feeling of momentum that comes with it.

Some procrastination comes from simply forgetting things, and when you have a schedule like mine this is the biggest cause of trouble.

If I am in a meeting I will furiously be taking notes, which as soon as the meeting is finished, I will go back over and pull out all the items I need to action, follow up on and handle.

In my diary I have a task list, I always put the items I don’t want to do but need to do on top. This is a habit best described in Brian Tracy’s book titled “Eat That Frog”, where if you do the biggest, ugliest, hardest item first thing in the morning, everything else in comparison is easy. So, if you ate a frog first thing in the morning, everything else would seem insignificant in comparison. This is a great way to build up ones will power and energy.

Another benefit of my task list is that when I cross something off that list, I get a boost. It lets my mind know I have successfully achieved that item and I feel successful. It gives me a feeling of empowerment and boosts my motivation to get more done.

We are human, and sometimes I too forget and find myself overwhelmed with life. I have allowed procrastination to slip back in and take hold.

Sometimes I will catch myself in such a drained state where I need to get myself back on track to even think about “eating that Frog”. When I am feeling overwhelmed and it has drained away my energy just thinking about it all, I will stop, write down all the things I need to do, even the small things, and I will add some easy to achieve tasks. (A little insider secret, I also add in the task “Write a task list” then cross it off as soon as I have finished.)

I attack the small easy tasks, which could be as simple as take the bin out or tidy my desk, which for some may be a big task and could be the daily frog. Once I get through some of the easy tasks my energy levels have increased, it has started the momentum and let my mind know that I can achieve all my tasks if I do them just one at a time.

The millionaire mind has a habit of doing what others procrastinate about. It takes time and practice, but before long you will form a habit, and when faced with the dilemma of should I do it or can I leave it, your response will be lets get it done!