How to Overcome Procrastination
Are you a Hopeless Procrastinator? Do you put off until tomorrow what you could do today? Do you have an excuse for not doing what you should be doing? Do you always find something easier or fun to do instead of the boring work you should be doing? Do you blame others for not getting it done even when it is your responsibility? Do you do everything at the last minute?
If you answered YES to these questions, you may be a hopeless procrastinator. Procrastination is simply putting things off. Procrastination can rob you of your goals, dreams and valuable time. But, as hopeless as it may seem we can cure the habit of procrastination.
- The first step is to admit that you are a procrastinator. Admitting it helps you begin to deal with it. Procrastination is the fear of something: failure, success, rejection, change, etc.
- The second step is to discover what you are afraid of and acknowledge the fear. Ask yourself these questions: What am I afraid of and what can I do about it? What is the worst thing that could happen if I did this? If I don’t do this?
Once you determine WHY you are procrastinating—it may be different for each occurrence—then you can decide how to handle it. Some suggestions for handling procrastination effectively:
- Divide large jobs into smaller, manageable stages, and set a date and time to complete them and follow through.
- Make a list of the things you hate to do, and, if possible, find someone else that can do it for you.
- Do the hard jobs first, get them completed so you can move on to the things you love to do.
- Notice when you are procrastinating and ask the question, “What am I afraid of and what can I do about it?”
- Reward yourself for finishing a project or job on time.
- Use your daily planner to schedule your time and stick to it.
- List all the things you are losing as a result of procrastinating: time, money, opportunity, goals, etc.
“Successful people are not exempt from procrastination, they respond differently. At some point we have to find the strength to face the issues, accept the truth, rectify the problem and ASK for help, if needed.” ~ Linda Coleman-Willis
