What would life be like if we never procrastinated? Where do you think you might be now if, instead of putting things off, you had simply done what needed to be done without making a big deal about it?
Procrastination takes a lot of effort and doesn’t make us feel good about ourselves. So why do we do it?
If you are honest with yourself, there are a couple of reasons why it seems better to put something off than to just do it. One is fear, and the other is because the project isn’t something you actually want to do.
Why do we do things we don’t want to do? It could be to save money, or to try to make someone else happy, or out of a sense of obligation. When a project excites us we jump ahead and would never think of putting it off. If it holds no interest for us, then we approach it with a sense of resentment and avoidance.
Fear is a big one too, and that seems to boil down to the fear of failure. Sometimes it is easier to put something off and in our minds feel as though we could do it, but then not even start because we might fail.
We permit ourselves to dream but not take action. Avoidance because of fear is one of the most destructive behaviours in which we indulge.
Procrastination can become a habit that is difficult to break. We get good at letting ourselves off the hook and it affects our lives and can steal away from our inner peace.
When there are projects hanging over your head, it is difficult to relax and enjoy the flow of life.
In every moment we decide what we are or are not going to do. You can make an agreement with yourself to end the behaviours that aren’t supporting who you want to be, and what you would like to accomplish.
Decide that for the next thirty days, you are not going to procrastinate. It is as simple as making a decision, and then making a commitment to that decision. A commitment is a binding agreement that you will not break with yourself.
Don’t be wishy-washy about this. You know yourself, and you know the avoidance tactics that you employ to get out of doing things you don’t want to do. As of right now, decide that you are going to change the old patterns and just get things done.
Five Ways to End Procrastination
- Make a decision and then make a commitment. Don’t let yourself off the hook. You know exactly what needs to get done, so make the decision and begin to work through things.
- Narrow the focus. Saying you want to remodel the house is nice, but that isn’t a plan. Saying you are going to hire a contractor and then doing research and getting quotes is a step forward. Narrow and attack and accomplish.
- Prioritize. Maybe there are things you don’t actually need to do. There is always something that is at the head of the list of tasks you want to complete. Figure out which one is the most important and then work on that. When that one is done, go to item number two.
- Finish what you start. Don’t take on six different projects at the same time. Work through them systematically and complete something before you start something else.
- Make a timeline. For the next thirty days, commit to getting things done and eliminating procrastination. We spend more time avoiding doing the work than the actual project would take to complete. Just get it done.
Completing tasks will provide you with a sense of accomplishment and well-being that will become addictive. We are here to create and enjoy, not to torture ourselves. If a task is distasteful to you but you have to do it, then do it. Get it over with and move on.
Procrastination is the most self-indulgent, destructive behaviour that we don’t need in our lives.