The other morning I decided to finish this blogpost by 9am. Guess what friends? It was 2:20pm before I even got started.
I woke up at 6am (super early for me), started a load of laundry, fed the dog, folded a blanket that was lying in the floor, made the bed, rearranged my study desk, made breakfast, read my emails, rearranged some boxes in the garage, scrolled through Facebook while still in the garage (lol), swept the back porch and thought about writing this blog post.
The bills had to be paid so I got started doing that, called the bank because I could not login to my account, went through a pile of mail (threw some away and put some in another pile) and sat down in front of my computer and thought about writing this blogpost.
But first I took a short nap (because I woke up so early) and afterwards I sat down to write this blogpost.
Does any of this sound familiar? I’m sure it does. Life is full of distractions and we are full of curiosity. And the distractions will lead us astray over and over again.
Procrastination has been know to contribute to job loss, failed marriages, poor health, depression, anxiety and so much more. It can actually paralyze us into doing nothing.
I want you to know this about yourself. It’s easy setting goals, but if you are a procrastinator it’s hard completing them. But here’s the good news… it can be done!!
Why do we procrastinate and what can we do to correct this problem?
Procrastinators are not necessarily lazy, but they do have some evident roadblocks:
1) Most are perfectionists. Perfectionists tend to put off tasks in order to start at “the perfect time” which seems to never come and the tasks get pushed into the future over and over again.
2) Most procrastinators avoid the task because they are afraid of being judged. If they never start they never fail. As sad as that is, it is absolutely true.
3) Some procrastinators like the pressure. Putting off a task until the absolute last minute puts procrastinators into motion. They feel like they work better under pressure but that is not always true. Working under a tight deadline can lead to a lot of mistakes that you do not have time to correct therefore a mediocre job is the result.
4) They affect others, but they do not realize it. Procrastination can lead to resentment. The person counting on the procrastinator feels slighted by them and resentment begins to grow. The procrastinator must learn to read people and try harder not to make them feel used.
But there is hope! Just like losing weight or running a 5K, we all have bad habits we need to get rid of and good habits we need to incorporate.
It is a scientific fact that if a task takes longer than 4 seconds to start …well…we will probably skip it. For example, I need to write down what my child just told me they would love to have for Christmas, but I don’t have a pen and paper and I’m not the type that puts notes in my mobile device (even though I am, this is for example sake). So, the toy does not get written down and I think I will remember later, but I actually don’t. On the other hand if I always have a plan to immediately type things into my notes on my mobile device then there is no 4 second delay and… success!
Change takes time but can create more success in all areas of our life.
The hope you can have in changing the way you procrastinate is to write down #smallsteps with action words like this:
Call insurance agent at noon
Pick up groceries for supper
Fill up gas tank
Write blogpost at 9am for 1 hour
I know the above seems pointless but it has been proven it really works. When you read your to-do list throughout the day and you read the action word in front your thoughts will begin to “move into action”.
Others have found victory over procrastination by using rewards for their #smallsteps. For example, a coffee break, a short walk, or time on your computer after finishing a small goal. This might really work for you. I’m personally not motivated by these types of rewards, but you might be! Actually completing a #smallstep toward a larger goal is my huge motivator and it’s all I need… as in finishing this blogpost, lol.
Whatever works for you to change you from procrastinator to completer- stick with it. Rome was not built in a day. It took one stone at a time and you can change your life by taking one #smallstep at a time until you reach your larger goal.
Good Luck!!
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