I've been procrastinating on writing this blog post. You know, the one about procrastination and fear. I think I'm just scared to tell you that you're not perfect and need to work on self-care too. But here we are...let's do it!
Procrastination is the act of putting off tasks until it's too late. Procrastinators are often afraid they won't be able to do something well, so rather than failure fueling their fear and making them panic even more about whatever task at hand may appear difficult or overwhelming (which would only lead to another round-about process) - these individuals use procrastination as an escape route; avoiding facing one’s greatest enemy: Failure itself!
To get out of the procrastination cycle, you need a plan. So here are a few tips on how:
Figure out what you're procrastinating about. Is it a big deal? What is the consequence of not getting done on time? What are scared of when it comes to the task? Example: Doing your taxes. I hate doing mine. They are complicated and take at least a day to complete, and I know what I am doing. I put it off and I put it off until I have backed myself off into a corner. I do this because I am scared that I have made a mistake somewhere along the year that's going to cost me more than I can pay at the moment. I do it because I'm afraid of disappointing my spouse. I do this because, well, it's the IRS, and they're just scary.
I've found a good strategy of breaking down those huge tasks into smaller ones so you don't have any major worries or anxiety right before deadlines strike-time enters your life seamlessly instead of feeling overwhelmed by one big responsibility. I get to work on my yearly expenses in October. I take lots of notes, review them and then go back through the paperwork again because there are always some little things that slip past us when we're busy running our businesses. Now in January, everything should be all set for me to finish up without too much trouble.
Create an incentive for yourself to work hard e.g., if you finish in 30 minutes, reward yourself with 10 minutes of coffee or a break from your desk. In my case, if I finish early I take the rest of the day off. It was a task for IRS so I earned it right? :) Personal incentives can be highly motivating to the person who gets them.
I saved the hardest one for last, keep your workspace free from distractions - turn off your phone, put away any books that are unrelated to the task at hand, etcetera. Turning the phone off is not an option, but I will say that I have used the do not disturb option on my phone when it was needed. I employ music to help me focus on the task. For some tasks, it may be absolute quiet is necessary. Set your space up so that you are in an environment that is conducive to your focus.
As we wrap up this blog post, I want to leave you with a final nugget of wisdom. The only thing stopping you from reaching your goals is fear and the belief that it’s not possible. You are enough! Fear will never be stronger than the knowledge in your heart that you can complete what life has set out for you today. So, stop letting it hold you back and just do it! Now go get ‘em, Tiger!!
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