Don't wait until tomorrow to begin, start today! I've been struggling with procrastination recently so I thought I would share a few tips to help you get started.
A quick question: how often do you procrastinate? Maybe once a week or maybe once a month, it doesn't really matter. What does matter is the cycle you create around it.
If you spend 10 minutes deciding whether or not you want to take action, you will most likely spend the next 30-40 minutes waiting for that decision to be made. You might also spend hours trying to make up your mind or rationalize why you shouldn't start.
Here are a few tips to help break this cycle:
- Start with just one thing
Start by committing yourself to a small action for now. Even if it is only to write down your fears and doubts so you don't let them hold you back later.
When I first started doing this, I was paralyzed with fear that I wouldn't be able to finish. It was only after I got started that I realized there was nothing to worry about.
If you find yourself getting stuck, just start.
- Don't make decisions for someone else
If you spend 10 minutes making decisions about how to start, then you'll spend 10 more minutes convincing yourself that what you want to do isn't worth doing. When you start to feel this way, start thinking about what you want to do and how you will benefit from it.
If you don't like the outcome, you can change it later. But if you keep putting off acting, the situation will never improve.
- Find someone who will hold you accountable
Find someone that you trust to hold you accountable. Set a deadline for starting. Be specific. For example, every Monday afternoon you need to start writing your next article.
I had a friend that I used to use to help me with this. He would make sure I was going to meet this deadline and he would tell me if I failed.
- Have an alarm clock
Set your own alarm clock. You don't have to go crazy, just something that wakes you up in the morning so you know what you have to do.
- Stop comparing yourself to others
This is a classic trap we all fall into. We compare ourselves to others or compare our own performance to others. The best way to break this habit is to remember that it is very unlikely anyone can outperform you.
There are only two types of people in the world: those who are willing to fail and those who are not.
- Have a reward system
Once you get started, it's important to have a way to track your progress. You might have to work out a system that works for you.
Some people use a journal and write down their accomplishments and other people use a spreadsheet and keep track of their goals.
Good tips.