The funny thing is it took me an entire week to finally start this article!! Just kidding, but that’s only because I use one ultimate tip to avoid procrastinating!
When I was in school I used to procrastinate. This could have largely been due to the fact that I did not like school nor school work, but nonetheless I used to put off everything until the last minute. Then I noticed something very interesting. When you simply sit down and START doing something, it get’s done. How epic is that tip?!
The truth is procrastination is not an illness or disease (surprise!), it’s simply a mental habit where we continually make excuses or reasons as to why we should not start or do something we have to get done. Next thing we know, we’ve been talking about something or putting something off for months. The mind is a tricky bugger sometimes as it can be very good at coming up with all the reasons in the world for why we shouldn’t just get started on something.
“I will do it later.”
“It’s going to be a hard task!”
“It will only take me 5 or 10 minutes to do anyway.”
“I don’t feel like it right now.”
“One quick episode of Breaking Bad won’t hurt.”
“Maybe I should eat something first.”
“It’s gonna take forever!”
“I don’t feel guided to do this right now.”
Whatever the excuse may be, I’m sure we can relate to any number of the ones listed above. But! It’s time to end all of that by using the ultimate tip we have already discussed. You may have come here thinking you were going to learn some crazy tip found deep within the underground Mayan caves written on some ancient scroll, but no. Instead you are discovering something much simpler.
The Ultimate Tip
Just get started! Turn off the TV or video games and make your way to whatever it is you have to do. If it’s a job around the house, just walk right up to it and START. If it’s school work or writing of some kind, close everything on your computer you don’t need open, and START. If you don’t need a computer close it… and get rid of your phone too! If you absolutely need to, pick a time during the day where you are going to get started on your task and set an alarm. Once your alarm is singing at the top of its lungs, get STARTED.
It’s possible your mind is already telling you it can’t be that simple, because of course it wants to procrastinate on not procrastinating anymore! But it is that simple. Just get started on whatever it is you have to do and it will fly by like you wouldn’t believe. Any challenge or hang up you meet, just keep going.
One more tip just in case?
This one may not be the ultimate, but it’s also good if you are still having trouble. Make a list! Grab a post it, a slice of paper, a napkin, a notepad or even one of those lined yellow pads of paper that make your writing magically look neater somehow; grab anything and just start making a list of what you need to get done. Every time you do something, cross it off. Crossing it off can feel good. Remember, just making a list is not good enough, you then need to START on those things!
You now have the ancient and secret tools to end procrastination. (If them being ancient makes them more valuable of course, other wise, you simply have the tools) You are now wiser.
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Funny, and true. Thank you for your wisdom Joe, I have found the same….it’s pretty mind un-mind-bogglingly awesome, isn’t it?!! In fact, when I feel that steering away from a task, I usually it means I’ll go for it then. The problem lies in the word ‘usually’. I’m thinking about changing that though. Now? Ok, I’m inspired. Nike says “just do it”/
Thanks! The truth is quite often very simple 🙂
what the article says is: no distractions/complete isolation + you just get started.
That’s a good trick but you’re just treating the symptom without actually looking for the real issue.
True – in many cases this has worked for me too. But not for all projects.
Procrastination is a way of protecting our self-image – temporary relief of the stress and anxiety we fear when being confronted with a task.
Making a nice list as you say is a good thing…but can just overwhelm a procrastinator. It has to be done with skill (like the “Getting things done” system from David Allen)
a good book on procrastination is “the now habit” from Neil Fiore. – it should be a nice read for you
cheers
Actually, I would like to inform the author and the readers, that the tried and true way to avoid procrastination is Clear to Neutral. That means: when you’re done, tidy up so that your work space is neutral, so that next time you want to work there, it’s ‘NEUTRAL’ and you don’t have to put in an initial effort to make the space ready for the activity you want to do RIGHT NOW. That means having clearly defined start and end points to any activity, and developing new routines and habits at those key points.
Routines, or HABITS, are even more important and underpin the Clear to Neutral philosophy.
The habit loop:
CUE
ROUTINE
REWARD
Examples:
If you have not developed a good cooking followed by cleaning habit.
CUE: Hunger.
ROUTINE: Check state of kitchen. If it’s too messy, got to fridge/cupboards and grab whatever’s there.
REWARD: Satisfied hunger.
What you can do to improve this situation:
CUE: Satisfied hunger.
ROUTINE: Check state of kitchen. If there’s mess, do some tidying.
REWARD: Sense of achievement + next time you’re hungry, you have space to make something really tasty/healthy and it’s overall a better experience going into the kitchen.
This habit loop can be applied to anything in your life, thoughts and actions both. You can insert new routines into old cues. This is an effective way to stop smoking or develop good, productive habits, which, in effect, prevents procrastination and any number of non-desirable HABITS.
This can apply to large organisations and whole societies and even civilisations too.
“We are all a bundle of habits” – William James
great insight
Excellent points you make.
“a year from now you’ll wish you’d started getting fit” – I read this 2 years ago and it kicked me into action because that’s exactly what I’d done, been thinking about it for a year… 2 years later I’m so glad I made the lifestyle change… regular baby steps in the right direction, turn into great big strides when the mental barriers melt away.
I will write this later…
I agree, it is that simple… The trick to not doing something is, wait for it, doing it. Haha. Sure is funny how we need that reminder once in a while though eh?
One thing I’d add is a nice little thing to do when crossing a task off your list is to write ‘Victory’ or some other positive reinforcing word. The act of crossing off can be a tad negative, especially if it’s a long list. “SWOOSH, only 48 more things to do! Sigh…”
When I try to motivate myself I get physically ill.