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10 Ways To Kick The Procrastination Habit by: Julie Plenty |
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I recently read about a survey (by the University
of Chicago) which suggested that those who relish challenge are more likely
to live up to 10 years longer than those who spend their lives inhibited
by timidity.
Trying to realise our ambitions, even if we don't
always meet them, is preferable to not having the courage or motivation
to take the risk. So not making any resolutions because we fear that we'll
break them is having a defeatist attitude, as we allow procrastination
to become an insidious habit which stops us from leading more fulfilling
lives.
The following offers 10 ways to kick the procrastination
habit!
1. Personal values development. Take the time to
find out what you really want in life, what your personal values are.
Do you want more time, more money, better health, greater self esteem
and confidence, more fulfilling relationships, a different career, set
up a business? When we procrastinate it's often because what we are planning
to do is not really aligned with what we truly want. We may be scared
of our skills (or perceived lack of) or fear ridicule from others.
2. Make health a priority. Without good health we
are less likely to have the energy and dynamism needed to make positive
changes in our lives and it's easier (and necessary if you're very ill)
to procrastinate. So ensure that you have a nourishing diet, sleep well,
exercise and meditate. Incidentally, it is thought that regular meditation
helps delay the worst effects of the ageing process.
3. Visualise your life without procrastination.
See and feel the benefits in your life if you didn't procrastinate. What
could you do and achieve? Begin to act as if you're not a procrastinator.
Write down, draw, imagine your life as a film. Use affirmations to help
you.
4. Banish the Gremlin. That little voice which runs
on auto in your head - that dismisses any idea that you might have. It
says things like "I'm not in the mood" "I don't have time" "I can't do
this". Stop running on auto, replace the "should's" "oughts" "have tos"
with "want to" "desire". You have a choice. Acknowledge your choices and
banish the Gremlin. Again, using affirmations can help you replace the
Gremlin with more positive alternatives.
5. Overcommitment. Saying "yes" to everything -
often leaves you feeling tired and without the energy to focus on what
is most important to you. This leads to procrastination as projects and
tasks are dropped. Identify what is most important to you and only focus
on those areas which will make the biggest difference to your life. It
will enhance your focus and motivation.
6. Setting personal professional goals. It's hard
to motivate yourself when you don't have a good idea of what you want
to accomplish. So when setting goals think about what you want to achieve
in the short term and long term. Techniques for doing so include the SMART
strategy. S = specific M = measurable A= Action R = Realistic T = Time
based. Use goal setting software to help you in goal planning and setting.
7. Prioritize Your Goals. Develop a plan or schedule
to help you reach your goals. In doing so you will begin to identify whether
some elements need to be included or enhanced or dropped completely. Also
remember to be flexible, revisit your goals regularly and modify or drop
if appropriate. Just because a goal is written down doesn't mean that
it is set in stone!
8. Divide and conquer. Once you've prioritised your
goals, divide them into smaller chunks. Sometimes we procrastinate because
a project seems really large that the scale of it overwhelms us and puts
us into a temporary form of paralysis - you don't know where to start,
so you don't start at all! Approach each project - especially large ones
- on a step by step basis.
9. Reward yourself. Once you start to complete tasks,
reward yourself by giving yourself something that you want. So instead
of seeing a film before you complete a task, see it afterwards and make
it a reward for you.
10. Just get started. No excuses. Don't wait until
you're "in the mood". The mood never comes! It is a clever camouflage
and a delaying tactic. What you resist persists! Start with what is easiest,
so that you experience immediate success, which will give you the fuel
and motivation to upgrade and take on larger projects.
Do any of the above and you'll be well on your way
to Kicking the Procrastination Habit. And if you're procrastinating over
doing any of the above :.), then remember that life is the biggest deadline
of all!
Julie Plenty is a Personal and Business Coach who specialises in coaching self employed creative professionals to live more creative, fulfilled lives. To sign up for the Life Design newsletter visit: http://www.self-help-personal-development.com
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