Tackling Procrastination

Okay guys.  Today we are going to be talking about my number one nemesis – procrastination.

I am a HUGE procrastinator.  It is something that I have always done, but only recently have I really stopped to think about what a negative effect it has on my life.   Procrastination really does not accomplish anything for me other than creating a whole lot of stress and anxiety.   For some reason, the things that I really should get done first are the things that I end up doing last and, as a result, I end up doing them late at night {when I really should be in bed!} or in a mad panic when I am really not in the best frame of mind to be doing them at all.

Last month I turned 40 and resolved to start making a few changes in my bad habits.  Tackling procrastination was one of the top things on my “things to change” list, so that is where I started.   I wrote down a number of reasons why I procrastinate as well as some ways to help me overcome my strong pull towards putting things off and thought that I would share them with you.  This is definitely a work in progress for me, but hopefully these tips will help you conquer the procrastination beast as well!

I also made you a little printable for you to help you remember that you can do it.  Whatever it is that you have been putting off – from starting on that diet to getting going on a big project that you have been wanting to do – just take that leap and get started.  No excuses.

You can download the 8×10 printable HERE.

Need a little boost to get going?  Here are some tips to help you out!

Ask yourself why you are procrastinating.  
There are many reasons why we might put off a task.  Maybe we don’t know how to get started or think that it may be too difficult.  Other times, it might be because the task is boring or we just plain don’t want to do it.  Sometimes, it is simply a matter of poor time management or prioritization.  In any case, knowing why we are procrastinating can often help us find a solution to actually getting the task done.  Once you have come up with your reasons, take a few minutes to figure out how you can overcome them.  Maybe you need to schedule some time to research your project, or look for a babysitter to watch the kids so you can have some uninterrupted time.  Don’t settle for your excuses and find a way!

Determine if it really needs to be done.
If you are procrastinating because you don’t want to do something, ask yourself if it is something that really needs to be done.  Not doing your taxes, for example, can only be put off for so long; however, maybe you don’t really need to repaint your living room or make up a fancy scrapbook album after all.  These items just clog up your mind and can cause unneeded stress and anxiety.  Let go of what you think you should do or be, and make sure that the tasks on your list are all things that either need to be done or are things that you truly have a desire to do.

Get to tasks as quickly as you can.
It’s Murphy’s Law – the longer a task sits on my to do list, the harder it is for me to do.  It doesn’t really matter how simple or complex it is to do.  I always joke that I either do a task right away or a year later and, honestly, that is not too far from the truth.  If I don’t deal with things as I go, it takes me forever to get back to them.  Try and get in the habit of doing all of those “little things” right away and don’t put off for later what you can do right now.

Write a daily to do list.
I think that the trick to successfully using a to do list is to keep it short and sweet.  A long to do list just makes me feel overwhelmed and actually increases my tendency towards procrastinating.   By switching to a list with only my top three priorities for the day, I have been much more productive in getting things done and ensure that the most important tasks are getting done first.  {I will be sharing more about this in another post so stay tuned!}

Break down big jobs into more do-able sub-tasks.
One of the main reasons that we procrastinate is because we feel overwhelmed.  Maybe the task just seems impossible to tackle or maybe we don’t know exactly what to do or where to start.  The task of decluttering your basement, for example, might be something that you really want to do but just can’t bring yourself to get started.  By breaking the task down into smaller components, you will remove that mental overload and feel more confident that you can get things done.  Start by committing to 15 minutes of decluttering or going through one box.  You might just find that you are even motivated to do a little extra!

Don’t wait for the perfect time.
I hate to break it to you but that perfect time never comes.  There will always be some excuse that you can come up with – you want to wait to start your diet until that big batch of cookies has been eaten up or maybe you are going to wait to start exercising until your kids are a little older.  Don’t wait!!  Maybe you won’t be able to do exactly what you ideal plan is but you can still get started.   And isn’t that always the biggest hurdle?

Schedule break times.
The key word here is “schedule”.  A scheduled break time is much different from getting distracted and suddenly realizing that you have spent an hour surfing the internet.  If I actively choose to take a break and go on the computer for half an hour, I am able to enjoy this time and use this as a reward for getting one of my tasks done.  If, on the otherhand, I am trying to work on the computer and end up getting distracted by all of my Facebook messages and then end up scrolling my feed for half an hour, my brain does not seem to recognize this as the same break.  In my head, I am still thinking about the task that I should be doing and cannot fully relax to enjoy this time.

Don’t be a perfectionist.
This is a big one for me.  Many times, I put off doing a task until I will have the energy/ability/money to do it perfectly.  That time rarely comes, my friend.  Let go of the perfect and just do the best that you can in the moment.  Just get started NOW and you can always make changes later on down the line.

Do one thing at a time.
Maybe I am just not a good multi-tasker, but, for me, multi-tasking just ends up creating more stress and prolonging how long a job will take to complete.  There have been many days when I work all day long, but at the end of the day, I still haven’t completely finished one thing on my list.  Often, I have one or two tasks that I am putting off doing, and end up creating more tasks for myself just so I don’t have to do that one task that is really the one that should be done.  I am stressed all day long thinking about that one job instead of just doing it and getting it over with.

Set a Timer.
If you are having trouble getting going on something or are prone to getting distracted easily {squirrel!}, set a timer and commit to doing NOTHING ELSE during that time other than your primary task.  I use this one all the time and find it so helpful for me.  Do not “just quickly” check your phone or email, do not start another job, and do not turn on the television.  It’s just you and your job until the buzzer goes.

Let go of the guilt.
Yep.  Right now.  Take a deep breath and let go of the guilt.  Realize that we are not always perfect and all we can do is just strive to do our best.  Remember that procrastination is a choice – a choice that you actually have control of.  Sure there will be some days that you need a bit of a break and will choose to put off a task or just take a well deserved rest.  The trick is to not let it throw you off course.  Enjoy your break free of guilt and use that newly acquired energy to put back into getting a few more things checked off your list.

So here is what I want you to do. Think about one thing that you have been putting off – it can be big or it can be small.   Take a second to think about your plan of action and START NOW.  It may just be a baby step towards whatever it is you need to do, but be proud of yourself for just getting started.  And always remember…

Progress.  Not Perfection.