5 Battles To Overcome Procrastination
July 6th, 2007See How Easily you can Overcome Procrastination by Conquering These 5 Battles
Are you struggling to overcome procrastination?
Do you find yourself festering and stewing without getting anything done?
Procrastinators and Procrastination fit into 3 types:
- arousal types, or thrill-seekers, who wait to the last minute for the euphoric rush.
- avoiders, who may be avoiding fear of failure or even fear of success, but in either case are very concerned with what others think of them; they would rather have others think they lack effort than ability.
- decisional procrastinators, who cannot make a decision. Not making a decision absolves procrastinators of responsibility for the outcome of events.
Which type are you? . . . whichever type you are, you can overcome procrastination if you conquer these 5 battles:
5 Battles to Overcome Procrastination
1. Chore versus Pleasure
A phrase I like to use when I’ve seen somebody for the first time in a long time that I’ve enjoyed is . . .
“Always a pleasure, never a chore”
This rings so true when it comes to overcoming procrastination. If you adopt the mindset that a task you’re about to do is a “pleasure” for you, you’ll be more likely to do something about it and get it done with passion and purpose.
2. Finishing versus Beginning
Many procrastinators find themselves overwhelmed with information that they find hard to process and simply see a task as being impossible. You don’t have to finish tasks in one breath or stretch; if you start a task you’re more likely to pick up the pace as you go along.
3. Perfectionist versus Productivist
One common trait of procrastinators is that they are perfectionists. If you look above this means they’ll often fit into the ‘avoiders’ category. So many tasks that need to be done simply don’t require perfection and should only be given the time and effort they deserve.
I might have made up a word here in ‘productivist’, it basically means someone who is productive and gets things done. They don’t see too much importance in basic or minor tasks. If something isn’t crucial then don’t strive for perfection – aim to get things done.
4. ‘Time is my Master’ versus ‘Master of Time’
Don’t be a slave to your watch. Don’t feel constrained by time. A clear mind is essential when it comes to completing tasks. It’s natural that your attention wanes after about an hour of solid concentration. Take a break! Have a coffee, a bath, a walk, anything that will clear your mind and let you refocus.
5. Eating a Whole Horse versus Bite-Sized-Pieces
As hungry as I get at times, the thought of eating a whole horse is quite daunting. If you’ve got a monster of a task or project don’t try and tackle the beast in one go. If you divide the task into smaller bite-sized-pieces and goals they will be a lot easier to digest.
This method is a great means to an ends to pursue a task. In no time big tasks will not seem so overwhelming and you’ll change your mindset to that of ‘everything is possible’.
Are you a prolific procrastinator? Get the lowdown on everything you can imagine on procrastination with 10 Things You Need To Know About Procrastination
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July 12th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
I read ur tips on procastination & feel inspired.I intend to start pracrising & will get back to u soon .Thank u so much
July 19th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Thanks for sharing these great tips. There are very easy to learn and use energy psychology tools that can help to eliminate all of the above internal blocks. People really are like computers and they can be reprogrammed, so their subconscious minds act in ways that support them, not in ways that hinder them.
July 19th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
This is a useful way of looking at this challenge. I’ve covered this topic too. Like you I agree a lot of it stems from “eating the horse” problem and the pleasure/pain principle. I also talk about linking it into your overall goals. Sometimes when you’re not sure where you’re going the easiest thing to do is procrastinate. Knowing where we are going solves this. Another thing I suggest is asking others for help.
July 20th, 2007 at 2:33 am
I like you persistant Silva guys. ha
You continue sending worthwhile information and I continue reading them—thinking it’s good for someone ‘else’ I know who should be aware of this or that.
Now I think you’re senting this intformation for MY benefit?–funny.
I know so many procrastinators–and while reading this email of articles, I think I may be one of them!
July 20th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
I’m resting up today after assembling a morris chair, the
matching ottoman and a side chair, moving old furniture out
for Salvation Army Tuesday, stowing a case of eggs and a case
of toilet paper that arrived during this process, as well
hauling away all the packing boxes. I kept myself going by
telling myself, “I only have to do those two screws now.”
I kept going through 16 screws that way. I got the packing
boxes and material out of my apartment with the same bite
sized realizations. And while carrying out the next to the
last load, I encountered two men who helped me with the heavy
stuff.
Today I’m enjoying my newly furnished apartment. And since
I’m 72 years old now, I really do deserve that lovely chair
and ottoman to sit with my feet propped up and do my morning
meditations.
Very good advice this don’t eat the whole horse thing! Thanks!
July 20th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Thanks guys for the information. I know exactly into which peg I should go into. I definitely have to change my procrasting habit soon.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
I agree with all of you; it’s definitely a mindset. Passion and fire are also necessary elements to getting a job done. One of the best way to light a fire under the butt is to make notes about how much you’ve accomplished already and how much you love doing it. Then go one step further each time. Just like in progressive resistance training: Add a little more weight each time. Just like learning a musical instrument: Add a little more complexity each time. One more step each time makes a world of difference.
July 21st, 2007 at 3:07 pm
i also agree i start something and then change my mind. i decide to wtite what i need to do down and check it off as i do it.thanks for the tips.it took me seeing written down it black white.
July 22nd, 2007 at 12:20 am
Hi. Fist time I read your blog, and I find this post really inspiring.
These topic has been treated so much in many blogs, and this is the most clear, precise an inspiring I have read.
July 22nd, 2007 at 9:43 pm
It’s taken me a while to respond to this info (as I’m a procrastinator), but I’m glad you put it out there. People like me need more on this topic!
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:18 am
[...] 5 Battles To Overcome Procrastination [...]
July 24th, 2007 at 2:50 am
When I read this I reviewed as to why I procrastinate at times. This really provided me a new way of thinking about my actions and I have already started to work on the simple guidelines given here on a day to day basis and results are fantastic
July 24th, 2007 at 11:06 am
[...] 5 Battles to Overcome Procrastination [...]
July 25th, 2007 at 5:10 am
[...] 5 Battles To Overcome Procrastination [...]
July 26th, 2007 at 3:51 am
[...] 5 Battles To Overcome Procrastination [...]
August 1st, 2007 at 11:16 pm
I am a procrastinator. Admitting this does not fully repair the why but can bring perspective. A 5 step approach is easier than a 12 step program. These steps of breaking the task into smaller pieces, STARTING a project opposed to avoiding, seeing the pleasure of completion over the pain of beginning and being aware that dwelling on perfection is wrong can guide me to better resolution of future tasks. Simple solutions to completion of a seemly tortuous task.
August 3rd, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Great ideas. I’ll do soemthing about it some time. In the meantime, I think I’ll just sit here enjoying being alive.
August 3rd, 2007 at 2:49 pm
It is a myth that things are achieved by hard work, punctuality, organisation, doing, doing, doing. All this doing has left this world in one hell of a mess, and going downhill fast. Maybe if people would spend more time thinking (procrastinating to some) we’d have less people on the road, super highways and the internet. Listening to the voice within is a stronger and more reliable source of information.
I sit at my desk and think, and everyone else around me works. When they get stuck, I give them advice, and at the end of the day, they are grateful that at least somebody around here is thinking. I visulaise customers walking in the door buying our products. I ask the sales people what they would like to achieve and tell them its possible, and will happen.
When they achieve their targets they think I’m a magician. I just use my imagination and create wealth for everybody.
We should differentiate between people who like to think first, create an expectancy of something (an event or outcome) and watch it happen, and those who sit and soil themselves because they are too lazy to go to the toilet. That is procrastination.
To all of you wonderful thinkers out there, think. if you believe that that is procratination, it is.
November 9th, 2007 at 8:10 am
[...] 3. Get Started – Think about it. How many times does the anticipation of your workload actually prevent you from getting started? Your brain experiences a flurry of activity as you prepare for the tasks ahead, and this sometimes causes you to forget to start! Having a plan is important, but don’t get lost in planning. Or sulking because of upcoming work. Just do it. Here’s a few specific tips for overcoming procrastination. [...]