Why are you procrastinating? You probably have many reasons. Maybe you're afraid of failing. Maybe you're afraid of doing anything less than perfectly. Maybe you're not sure how to get started. Maybe you're just not looking forward to it. What's the answer, then? How do you stop procrastinating?
No matter how many tips you read, no matter how many to-do lists you write, no matter how tight the deadline no matter how many techniques you try, it still boils down to this: You just do it.
Getting started is always the hardest part. The very idea of it gnaws on your soul and sends you fleeing to the nearest book or TV set. Maybe it even motivates you to clean your house! But the thing you dread is probably not even one quarter as bad as you're imagining. Jumping in and getting started is a wonderful catharsis, even if you have to figure things out along the way. Taking action dispels many of the fears and uncertainties.
Don't tell yourself that you HAVE to finish it, especially if it's a big job. Instead, just tell yourself that you wanted to get STARTED. Commit to spending just five or ten minutes on it. You'll often find that after spending a few minutes on the task, you're sufficiently motivated to keep going. And if not, at least you've made some progress.
The next time you find yourself putting something off, just stop thinking about it and take action. Even a baby step in the right direction will help you stop procrastinating.
- Vanessa Carolus
Overcoming procrastination is easier said than done. Sign up for a time management course at http://eliminatingprocrastination.com or visit Stop Procrastinating - Start Something Now! for more tips.
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