How To Stop Procrastinating

Everyone at some time or another has put off doing something they don’t want to do. You mistakenly think it’s ok, you’ll do it tomorrow. However as the old saying goes tomorrow never comes!

Each day you manage to find another excuse to prevent you from starting. Keep reading as I show you how to stop procrastinating

If you’re not careful and fail to take action you can end up with missed payments on credit card bills, an untidy home because you put off cleaning, and the list goes on..
One of the saddest things is people who put off achieving their dreams, waiting for the right time.

There is always an excuse, but unless you stop procrastinating and take action you’ll still be in the same position this time next year.

what causes procrastination

There are a number of reasons why you may put off doing something that brings you closer to your goal

Self doubt

You fear you’re not good enough, and that you’ll fail anyway. This cam be a big cause of procrastination. You’ll keep finding excuses not to start. If you have a dream of doing something don’t give up on it. Just start, even if you think you’re not good enough yet. You can learn as you go along. Starting can be the biggest hurdle!

Lack of motivation

If you’re motivation isn’t strong enough you’ll find it hard to keep focused. You have to enjoy doing something and have enough passion to keep you going when times get hard. One of the biggest reasons why people quit is that their heart wasn’t really in it.

Prioritising less important tasks.

This can also be linked to self doubt as it’s a way of delaying the most important task that get you nearer your goal. This is a very common reason why people procrastinate

The easiest way to deal with this is to write down all your tasks for the day, then prioritise them in order of urgency. Get the most urgent ones out of the way first, making sure you finish one before starting the next. Unfinished tasks are a major distraction and can hold you back.

Putting relaxation time first.

While it’s important to relax, you have to push yourself if you want to reach your goals. Try and restrict tv viewing to just a few hours a day. Also cut down on socialising. Sacrificing the odd social occasion will be worth it in the end when you finally achieve your dreams.

Not realising how long each task takes

One common issue is believing you have more time than you really have. If you’ve had a long day at work, it’s likely you’ll feel tired. You’ll need plenty of motivation to spend the evening working on your goals, rather than watch tv.

Deciding that you deserve to put your feet up and watch one more episode of your favorite show may seem a good idea. After all what’s another half an hour? However this is precious time you could be using to get one step closer to your goal. In the long term maybe even give up your day job:)

A good way to overcome this is to set a time limit for each task or micro goal.

Micro goals are often tasks you do consistently every day. Using the example of making a thousand dollars, your daily tasks may involve posting to social media, or writing emails. You are less likely to procrastinate if you set a time limit for each task. Sticking a post it note on your computer with your ultimate goal can also help. Really feel the emotion of having a thousand dollars in your bank account, and never lose sight of this.

You find it hard to say no

Sometimes you have to be firm and put yourself first. This doesn’t make you a bad person, but you need to do this if you want to get things done. If you’re the type of person who finds it hard to say no, just start letting others know you have deadlines to meet. You’re unlikely to lose friends over it, unless of course, they only want to know you when they need something!

You feel lost

If your goal is very big it can be overwhelming. You have so much you need to do that you don’t know where to start.

Sit down with a pen and paper and break your goal up into smaller ones. Then break those up into micro goals. For example if your goal is to make a thousand dollars online in 6 months, work out how you’re going to achieve this creating monthly, weekly and daily goals.

Your daily goals will be micro goals that lead to your ultimate big goal of a thousand dollars.

Lack of focus

The above tips can certainly help you keep focused, but you may still be distracted by a constant stream of thoughts going on in your head. If your mind is constantly jumping from one thought to another you’ll find it hard to keep focused. Worries and anxieties can play on your mind stopping you from work. If problems crop up, deal with them. Don’t let them build up in your head. Keeping things under control is the best way to stay focused.

So how can you do this?

One of the best ways to calm the mind is meditation. Just meditating for 20 minutes each day over the long term can produce amazing results. You will feel calmer, more focused, and able to deal with stress more easily.

If you’re very short on time you could break this up into two 10 minute sessions. Try it, even if you have to get up 10 minutes earlier!

Keep your workspace clean

A cluttered work space fuels procrastination. A cluttered work area often means a cluttered mind as the two go together. You’ll find it hard it hard to focus on a task, and may find yourself jumping from one thing to another.

Scientific research has shown that clutter can affect your brain’s ability to process information. Your mess is constantly competing for attention, and is a great distraction.

Clear your desk and only have on it what you need. Your laptop, pen and paper maybe all you require. Everything else is just clutter and should be either filed or thrown away.

Keep your laptop tidy as well. Have everything accessible so you don’t spend precious time searching for a missing password, or important document. Deal with emails as they come in, and don’t let your inbox pile up. All these things can easily cause procrastination unless dealt with.

Find an accountability partner

A great way to stop procrastination is to find an accountability partner. Keeping yourself accountable to another person is very powerful, especially if you both share similar goals.

There is nothing more embarrassing than admitting your failure at sticking to a deadline. If you are easily distracted and frequently find yourself doing other things instead of working on your goal then this one is a must!

Reward yourself!

As a child you were probably rewarded for doing something good. At least I was:) Mum used to buy me candy as a treat for getting good grades in school.

Apply the same tactic to yourself when you successfully complete a goal. This can help stop procrastination as you want to get finished by the deadline so you get your treat! You have to be strict with yourself though and only reward yourself if you complete the task on time. NO CHEATING:):)

Anxiety and procrastination

If you have issues going on in your life and feel uneasy or uncertain about things this will affect all areas of your life making it very hard to concentrate on anything. As I mentioned before, meditation and the goal setting techniques I shared will help, however you still need to address your problems.

Money worries, relationship problems, work issues can all cause anxiety. Find solutios to any problems as soon as possible so your mind is free to focus on your goals.

And finally, applying the law of attraction in your life can bring amazing results, attracting positive energy your way.This in turn will help you achieve your goals, and avoid procrastination!

I hope you enjoyed reading this article,
take care,
Kathy