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Beat Procrastination: Unlock More Time and Say Goodbye to Stress
Beat Procrastination: Unlock More Time and Say Goodbye to Stress
Procrastination is that evil little sucker that can creep in and easily become a bad habit. Once it latches on, it erodes your ability to function effectively. First, we have to recognize that it has become a bad habit, and then we have to figure out how to break it, which is not easy. However, it can be overcome with some honest self-assessment and an organized and attainable plan of attack.
I am my worst critic about all the things I do not get done. As you know, I am making a concentrated effort to allow myself to indulge in rest more. With that being said the first step the engaging in some self-assessment is to be gentle with yourself. Give yourself a pat on the back because you have recognized that you have a procrastination problem and have decided to deal with it. It may be so ingrained into your daily life that you haven’t fully recognized how deep and pervasive your procrastination habit actually is. I am a journaling girl, so the first place to start is either journaling or using an electronic log to track your times of procrastination. Now admittedly, this will take a lot of awareness and acts of mindfulness. You are already doing it if you have gotten this far. Now you just have to take it a step further and be purposeful about tracking it so you can do something about it.
How can we get things done? It is not rocket science nor it is anything you haven’t heard of before. The problem, and I have said this more than a million times, is we lack the discipline to do it. Check out 10 steps to make it happen.
Acknowledge where you are and where you want to go. Figure out what your avoiding habit is and work on limiting it for the sake of better time management. What is the list of things you need to get done? Set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) goals.
Break things down into smaller steps. Start attacking your list by taking a large or complicated task and breaking it down into smaller parts that you can accomplish more easily. Remember that the most difficult or complex tasks are simply just a series of smaller jobs
Create accountability. I really am not a fan of this one, but make a verbal commitment to someone else about improving your time management skills and your desire to avoid procrastinating
Set deadlines for completion of these tasks and reassess. Allowing others to become involved in your efforts by reviewing your progress, helping you set deadlines, or evaluating your results can be very helpful. When a deadline is looming, make sure you allot time each day to work on the project so it doesn't sneak up on you in the final hours or days.
Access resources and ask for help. Learn to ask for help when you're feeling overwhelmed or overworked.
Create a time management plan. Sit down and map out a plan to manage your time more effectively but most importantly remember to reassess and adjust if need be. This is not about creating more pressure points in your life but more about creating a reasonable framework that you can function and thrive in
Reward yourself along the journey. Reward yourself for good behavior and accomplished goals. Don't wait until you've accomplished the ultimate goal, but reward yourself for your successes along the way. Make sure the reward is something you like to do. Treat yourself to the newest book by your favorite author and take the time to read it. Indulge in bubble baths or relaxing music. Focusing on getting these things done will require some sacrifice on your part, giving something up because we only have so much time in the day. So let part of your reward be engaging in something you have had to momentarily give up.
Engage in healthy mind, body, and soul habits. Overall do not forget to engage in healthy physical habits which include improving your sleep hygiene and physical activities
Commit yourself by committing to yourself. Remind yourself that you are worthy of all the things you want in life. You are worthy of breath. You are worthy to be in the growing space that you are in. You deserve all the good things that your hard work will get you in the future, and you are worthy of the effort you are putting in now or about to put in. You deserve what is and what is to come. By acknowledging this and making that commitment to yourself, you will place yourself on a path of success and happiness with your efforts leading to a more relaxed, productive, and less stressed life overall.
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