Overcoming procrastination

By Jessica McGregor Johnson

We all have an element of the procrastinator in us: the dreamer, the worrier, the perfectionist, the crisis maker, the over-doer, the rebel. Whatever the reason for our procrastination we need to find a way to move past it so we can get moving.
  • Keep your goal uppermost. Create a treasure map - of pictures, inspirational sayings, things you'll have when you reach your goal. Stick it on your wall to remind yourself and add to it daily.
  • Plan each part of your journey and add a timeline. Share it with your supporters so they can hold you to account.
  • Reward yourself for doing something you don't like
  • Give yourself permission to procrastinate today only. Often if we fight it head on it fights back. Don't paint yourself into the ‘naughty' corner.
  • Is it fear in disguise? Ask yourself why you are procrastinating, are you fearful? If so address the fear.
  • Replace "must" with "choose to" and your "should" to "want to". If you are a procrastinator by nature you will rebel against the "musts".
  • Start small. Just do one inspired thing and see where it takes you
  • Create an intention of what you'd like to see happen. They are powerful statements of intent and can start to draw opportunity towards you.

EXERCISE to get you past a real stickler!

  1. Take a piece of paper and write down the thing you don't want to do but know you have to do.
  2. Now write what the underlying fear is eg. 'I don't want to call the supplier because I'm afraid they'll say 'no'.
  3. Next to this fear write: 'this fear is not reality, it is made up in my head, it is an assumption'
  4. Now write down a positive assumption, eg. ‘The supplier could be delighted and say no problem'
  5. Now write down at what time you will start the task that needs to be done and at what time you will finish it.
  6. Now that you have allocated time to the task put it in your diary. If you use a mobile phone or have a reminder alarm on your computer, put in an alarm reminder for it.
  7. Give yourself a reward once you have completed the task you've been procrastinating over.

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