NEVER Let Procrastination Be a Problem Again

August 7, 2019

It happens to the best of us:

We postpone doing something until the very last minute.

The truth is, everyone’s a procrastinator from time to time (yes, myself included… though I tend to be a ‘productive procrastinator’, doing everything BUT the thing I need to be doing).

If procrastination has held you back from reaching your goals, it’s time to declare a change to the “I’ll-do-it-later” thinking.

Note: Procrastination does not equal laziness.

People who procrastinate are not lazy – often, they do take action. It’s just not the action they really need to take to see progress. Something’s stopping them, and often, even they don’t know what that something is!

First, find the reason behind your procrastination.

Before anything else, you have to find the reason behind your procrastination.

Often, you may try to beat procrastination on a surface level by trying to trick your brain into being productive – which only works in the short run.

Most of the time, there’s a deeper reason behind your procrastination, something that’s bothering you on the inside. Take the time to find and deal with it directly first.

What’s stopping you from scratching that thing from your to-do list?

Here are the most common reasons people procrastinate – see if you recognize yours!

Fear of failure (‘But what if it doesn’t work?!’)
Fear of success (‘What might change in my life if I achieve this?’)
Lack of knowledge (‘I have absolutely no idea how to get started on this’)
Opinion of others (‘My partner/friends/kids will judge me if I…’)
Limiting beliefs (‘I’m never going to succeed so why bother…’)
Scope of work (‘So much to be done I’d rather take a nap!’)
Happiness levels (‘I’m just not in the mood for that’)

Once you know what’s stopping you, here’s what you can do about it…

1. A mindset change to eliminate your fears and doubts!

No time management tool is more effective than a mindset change.

The thing is, if you procrastinate because you fear failure or you believe others may judge you, then managing time is very likely not the problem here – your mindset is.

Take a closer look at your beliefs – do you nurture beliefs that no longer add value to your life? Are your recurring thoughts mostly negative? Do you feel paralyzed by fear?

Write down every single thought you have that’s stopping you from getting work done and start doing the work to shift them. This is KEY if you want to get to a place where you never have to worry about procrastination again!

2. Break down your larger goals.

I still clearly remember all the times when I delayed starting something just because completing it seemed so damn impossible.

Ideally, the goals you set should excite you, not intimidate you to the point you don’t even get started on them.

If you feel overwhelmed each time you set your goals, then try to break your larger goals into smaller, more manageable milestones.

A good goal – or milestone! – is SMART:

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Time-bound

3. Check up on your overall wellbeing.

Sometimes, the reason we procrastinate may hide in the fact that we’re unhappy about a particular aspect of our life.

Every once and a while – and especially if you notice you’re developing the procrastination habit – stop and do a quick self-check.

Be brutally honest with yourself here, without judgment or shame.

Is there something you’ve been worried about lately? Is your job making you feel miserable? Do you feel like you’re making as big of an impact as you wish?

Don’t forget: nothing boosts your productivity as being happy with what you do!

Click here to learn how to build a lifestyle business you’ll love – it’s easier than you think and our community is always here to cheer on you if you ever feel stuck!

4. Knowledge is power!

If you’re postponing starting something just because you don’t know how to do it, then all the time management techniques in the world won’t help.

Fill in the gaps… the all-mighty Internet is here to help!

There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of great resources online where you can learn everything that stops you from getting started.

And if you still don’t find what you’re looking for? Then ask someone who can help – there are dozens of successful people out there willing to share their journey and experience with you!