Procrastination is an art we have all mastered. It is also one of our worst habits. And, at some time in your life, you will realise that you need to shake it. But how can you do this?
Steps to combat Procrastination
Step one: Get to know your demons
The first step to shaking this habit, or “unmastering” this art, is to understand why you procrastinate.
Procrastination presents itself in the form of excuses:
- Too busy?
- Too broke?
- Too old?
- Too young?
And so on.
But that is all these are – excuses that keep you from doing real work and experiencing the emotional discomfort associated with making changes in our lives.
The drive behind these excuses is fear. If left unchecked, fear can make you believe that if you procrastinate for long enough, the situation will improve or simply go away. But you soon come to realise that these fears are only keeping you from living your best life.
For some people, procrastination is a sign of a serious underlying health issue, like ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression and more.
Procrastination may also be a cause of serious stress in addition to illness.
In either of these cases, it is wise to seek professional help.
Step two: goal orientation
The second step to overcoming these fears is to write down your goal and to give yourself a deadline within which to achieve that goal. That way, you can’t put it off indefinitely.
Break the goal into smaller, more achievable pieces. This way it is easier to handle the little changes instead of being overwhelmed by the big change.
Step three: visualisation
Visualise what you want to achieve. Visualise how it will feel to have accomplished this goal.
Then, visualise how you would feel if you don’t accomplish this goal. Obviously, this reality isn’t as appealing.
Step four: build a support system
By building a support team – whether it is family, friends or colleagues – you create accountability. The support team will keep you honest, focused and on-track.
A good way to keep you goal-orientated is to also reward your progress. When you accomplish one of the smaller goals you have set for yourself, you get a reward. This will give you the additional motivation you need to complete the next goal.
Also assess the environment you are working in. Is it productive and motivational? Or does it make you want to sleep? Choose the environment that inspires change.
Eliminate distractions. Switch off your phone, television, or whatever seems appealing to your procrastinating nature.
Procrastination is a state of mind it can be fear or an underlying health issue. The best way to overcome procrastination is to set yourself a goal and break it down into achievable steps. Allow yourself to work towards this goal without overwhelming yourself but set appropriate deadlines. Without the right guidelines, you can get sucked back into the vortex that is procrastination.
Contact Trifocus Fitness Academy
To learn more about how to combat procrastination – as well as other issues in your life – sign up for Trifocus Fitness Academy’s Life Coaching Certification. On it, you’ll learn how to deal with the critical issues that life throws your way!
