Do you find yourself constantly putting things off? You are not alone! September 6th is Fight Procrastination Day. Everyone suffers from procrastination at one time or another. For some, it is an ongoing battle. But there are ways to jump start your to do list. Keep these tips in mind next time you are feeling a bit sluggish.
Break tasks down into small tasks.
If you need to organize your kitchen, start with one cabinet. If you work on things one small step at a time you can do a little each day or each weekend and feel accomplished but not overwhelmed!
Know your weaknesses.
Take a moment to think about your worst source of procrastination. Is it doing the laundry, making sales calls, planning for dinner? Do this job first thing in the morning, you will feel accomplished for having it done and off your list!
Do you have 15 minutes to spare?
Even in the busiest schedule, most people can find 15 minutes a day. Budget this short time to tackling a project that you’ve really wanted to get done, but never seem to get to. It seems like a short time, but it is amazing what can be accomplished in this short time. You may find that you spend even longer working on your project once you get started. This also works with accomplishing things while the kids are at an activity, instead of sitting in the parking lot see how many things you can mark off your errand list.
Cure the problem.
Recognize that while procrastination may be caused by simple laziness or boredom, often it is a sense of fear that keeps us from getting started. Take some time to examine why you are putting tasks off, is it fear? Is it stress? Is it a feeling of being overwhelmed? Most importantly, be ready to admit if the job you are trying to accomplish is really necessary after all. You may find that it is something you’d like to get done, but that doesn’t really need to be finished. Giving yourself a break may be the best way to get motivated in the long run, as you will be doing projects when you are more interested in them.
Reward yourself for a job well done.
This is my favorite part of the plan! Plan something nice for yourself--a movie, a special meal, a weekend away--but only do this if the project you’ve been putting off gets done. Share your goals with someone close to you, and you will get encouragement along the way.
