Do you suffer from procrastination?
As I sat down to write this morning, I found myself needing to throw a load of laundry in the machine, answer ALL of my emails, and start planning what I was going to make for dinner tonight. So, yes, I was guilty of procrastinating today too.
Everyone has some degree of procrastination.
For some, it’s the daily chores like doing dishes, laundry and paying bills.
For others, it’s responding to emails, phone calls, and texts.
For others, it’s waiting until the last minute to complete big things.
Whether you are a chronic procrastinator or more of a situational procrastinator, procrastination carries a heavy burden on our psyche.
If we wait TOO long to complete a task, we may end up paying a financial or emotional price for our avoidance.
So, WHY do we procrastinate?
Usually, the task at hand either feels “boring” or “daunting.”
Procrastination is ultimately a fear of failure.
This is why so many perfectionists procrastinate.
Learning to develop more self-confidence is the key to breaking the procrastination cycle. But there are also immediate tricks you can do to get started right now:
-Turn off the distractions. Turn off the TV. Put away your cell phone. Close the excess tabs on your computer.
-Turn on music or white noise to help you focus. You might find headphones helpful to keep external noises from interfering with your concentration.
-If you have a big project to tackle, ask someone for help. This might be a friend, a colleague, or an expert in the field. Sometimes just talking through a project can help motivate you to get started.
-Don’t look at the task as a chore. See it as a choice. What is the benefit of getting it done?
-Take ONE baby step forward. What is an EASY step you can take right now for something you have been putting off?
Getting one thing finished builds momentum, and will motivate you to be more productive.
Happy Wednesday!
xo, Jackie
P.S. Do you need help overcoming procrastination? I can help. It starts with one baby step: reach out to me for a consultation call today.
P.P.S. Check out my latest podcast episode on The OverThinkers Guide To Joy on Procrastination. You can list on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or by clicking here.
