Five Ways to Beat Procrastination

We all are bitten by the procrastination bug at one time or another.  Sometimes it is putting off doing things that are necessary.  For instance, we know we need to get our taxes done but oh, how we hate actually diving in to the work.  Sometimes, it means putting off doing something that isn't required but that if we would only do it, we would be so much happier or comfortable.  For instance, we know that we don't have to stay in a thankless job, but the agony and uncertainty of procuring a new one keeps us stuck.  When we are struck immobile by the dreaded disease of procrastination, what should we do to move forward?  Having succumbed to the tyranny of procrastination on many occasions, I have some recommendations:

Get Going

I know, I know...that's the problem!  What if you lower the standards so the job is less intimidating or overwhelming?  Do it anyway but promise yourself you don't have to do a good job or even stick with it very long.  You just have to start.  For instance, I might tell myself that today, all I have to do is start putting all the tax information into piles and tomorrow I will complete the next step. Or I tell myself that I don't have to write a good blog post or a lengthy blog post, I just have to get something down. Sometimes that is all it takes to get me going and then I continue just to get it done. Or maybe I start and then wait until tomorrow to move to the next step as  planned.  Either way the road block of procrastination is broken. 

Determine the Meaning

Sometimes procrastination or resistance has meaning.  If you know the meaning, then you have choices.  Ask yourself the following questions:

• What was the last thing you did related to the task?  Have you not started at all or are you part way through?
• Where do you need to go from here? What is the next step?
• What is the price of doing the task and the payoff for finishing?
• What happens after I finish this?

Maybe you were into a project and stopped because the direction you were going in is the wrong direction, maybe it's just uncomfortable.  Resistance could be a sign that you need to change direction.  Or reconsider the next step.  Maybe finishing something has its own message.  When you finish the class then you'll have to look for a job or perform a different responsibility so you put off finishing by procrastinating.  There can be a very important message in the resistance.  If you can figure out the why of procrastination, you may also discover what it will take to move forward.

Draw Your Way Out

Use the technique of branching or mind-mapping.  In the middle of the page write down the task you are avoiding and circle it.  Then begin branching out from the task and write every reason you can think of that you are avoiding the task.  What are you afraid of?  bored with?  frustrated with?  distracted by?  Answer each branch with a response.  Separate fact from fiction.  Solve problems and determine reasons that are too silly to even address.

Schedule a Time to Begin

There is something compelling about a list and a time frame.  Schedule a time to begin the task.  Schedule a time to end or at least to take a break.  Then stick to your schedule.  It is especially helpful if you clear your schedule of other appointments and distractions.  Tell yourself that nothing can interfere with the plan.  Then show that you are serious.  I often do this with accomplishing writing tasks.  Saturday mornings are usually my time to write.  I try not to let other obligations infringe on that time.  If it is unavoidable, then I reschedule for another day.

Talk to Someone

Set up a time to talk to someone who is not only a good listener but also someone who can encourage you in a responsible way. Make sure they know that you don't need a 'yes' man; you need someone who can help you see the procrastination for what it is.  Then unload all your frustrations and concerns about the task you are avoiding.  Now it's your turn to listen.  Have your mentor tell you what they hear and what they see the next step as being.  Caution:  pick someone who is empathetic and resourceful rather than someone who is in a similar position.  Remember how misery loves company?  This isn't whine together session.  This is a compassionate kick-in-the-butt session.

Procrastination is a problem that challenges us all at one time or another.  Check out the books on my bookshelf for some additional resources!

Want to determine your passion and kick start your life?  Check out the Called Woman Conference 2014.  It's the Reinvention Convention!!  www.acalledwoman.com

Like this post?  Share on Facebook and Twitter!

Overcoming the Negative Voice Within

As a guidance counselor in an elementary school, I teach a lot of classes on feelings. In one memorable lesson, the book I was reading had the line in it, “Are you feeling bold?” I’ve learned never to assume that children know what I am talking about, so I stopped and asked the kindergarten class if they knew what bold meant. Being five- and six-year olds, they of course did. The child I called on confidently replied “You know it’s when you have no hair.”

One problem that I often face myself is NOT feeling so bold. Does this happen to you? There are a lot of days when I look at my goals and my accomplishments and not only do I not feel bold or confident, I feel downright incompetent and incapable of doing much more than showing up for life. And sometimes even that is a struggle.  These are the days when I ask myself, “Who do you think you are to aspire to such big goals, such impossible accomplishments? What makes you think that you are knowledgeable enough, smart enough, or capable enough to accomplish that? Who or what made you an expert in that area?” And here’s the clincher, “Everyone else is better at that than you. How will you ever achieve that?”

The Negative Voice

There are lots of ways to tackle this negative voice in our brains.  I'm convinced that we all experience it, some are just better at talking back than others.  Learning to overcome the voice with a more positive one is a learned skill.  Many writers have spoken about this negative voice in our brains that loves to tear down our self-confidence. It is that voice that carefully records all our failures but seems to conveniently forget our successes.  It is that nagging voice that raises doubt and says “What if?” every time we venture out into new territory. It is the voice that wears us down rather than builds us up.  Being prepared for this voice is a necessary and important part of following our dreams and accomplishing our goals.  

Overcoming the Negative Voice

The first step in overcoming it is to recognize the voice for what it is, a voice-- not a statement of facts.  When we give the voice too much credence, then we can be easily paralyzed by it.  The second step to overcoming the negative voice is to develop an alternative, positive voice.  This is the step that is often sadly neglected.  Just as the negative voice tracks our deficits, the positive voice must regularly track our accomplishments and achievements.  We need to nurture and nourish this important part of our psyche, so that it can fend off attacks by its opposite and keep us on track with our dreams.  

Six Steps to Slaying the Dragon Within

In his book, Do The Work, author Steven Pressfield calls this negative force within all of us, "resistance".  He begins the book by saying, "On the field of Self stand a knight and a dragon.  You are the knight.  Resistance is the dragon."  Quite an image don't you think?  How do you battle the dragon?  Here's six ways he recommends engaging in this life-changing fight. 

1. Stay stupid---Don't allow yourself to think about the impossibility, the difficulty of the task ahead
2. Be stubborn--Commit yourself to action and then don't stop
3. Keep the faith--Don't give up on the belief that you have something valuable within to create and share
4. Discover your passion--Conquer your fear and you will discover a boundless inexhaustible well of passion 
5. Enlist assistance--No one goes it alone with success.  Develop a support network and maintain it
6. Nurture your Friends and Family--take care of those you love and those who love you the most

We All Need AIR

In previous posts I've written about the first four steps.  In this post I'd like to tackle the last two equally important but often neglected steps.  Chris Hogan, trainer for the Dave Ramsey organization states that "appreciation is oxygen for the soul."  He has created a mnemonic: AIR, that stands for Appreciation, Inspiration and Recognition, all key elements of that oxygen so necessary for the health of our spirit.  When we neglect these elements, we allow the negative voice, the dragon to have victory over us.

We all need appreciation.  Appreciation for a job well done.  Appreciation for our talent and energy.  Appreciation for who we truly are and how we share that we others.  Appreciation like the other qualities is a two way street.  Just as we need to receive appreciation, we need to show and express our appreciation of others.

Inspiration can come from many sources.  It can come from mentors and friends, professional contacts and family.  We can be inspired by the books we read and the seminars we attend.  We need to be intentional about planning for our own inspiration so that the well doesn't dry up.  In order to inspire others, we need to nourish ourselves in ways that inspire.

Finally, we all need recognition on some level.  Not everyone is motivated to win first place or to become famous, but everyone needs to be recognized by those who are important to them.  Chris Hogan says that for some people, the last time they heard any applause was when they walked across the stage to receive their high school diploma.  That's a sad scenario.  We all need recognition on a regular basis even if it's not a public display.  In order to receive recognition,  we must make sure we put ourselves in situations and relationships where recognition can take place.  We must open ourselves up to the possibility.  As with all the elements of AIR, we should also make sure that we give recognition to those around us who may be equally in need.

Over coming the dragon within, the negative voice, is an ongoing battle that is never really won.  However with practice, we can strengthen our positive voice so that we feel more bold and confident.  What about you?  Where do you encounter your resistance?  What is your dragon?  How do you battle against the negative voice?  I'd love to hear your suggestions and comments.

Want to learn more about goal setting and how to Be Do Have, even with a busy life?  Listen to my teleseminar  with Jen McDonough where I talk about goals and goal getting! Details are here:Teleseminar

Want to spend an entire day learning more about following your passion and making your goals happen? Attend the Called Woman Conference in March and listen to an impressive line-up of speakers who can teach you how to take your dream to reality.

Do you love to write?  Attend the Coffee and Quill Seminar for Christian Writers on March 16th. It is free and open to the public.  Details are here:  CAG 

Like this blog post? Share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

Related articles

• Don't Be Their Negative Voice
• Window 97 - Anything is possible if you believe it is
• Coping Skills: The Negative Thought Challenge
• On Fighting The Negative Voices Within [Dear DBN]