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Put off procrastination today

One challenge that everyone faces at some time in their lives (and some, like me, most days!) is procrastination.  We can all come up with a million different reasons why we haven't yet undertaken a particular task or why we should hold off doing it for the time being, but be honest with yourself, are those really good reasons or are they just an excuse to delay taking action?

So, how can you get yourself to step up and start taking action?  Use one of these 3 proven methods!

1.  "It only takes a minute"

In the immortal words of Take That, it only takes a minute to make a start on that project you have been putting off.

Choose a task that you have been putting off for a while but you know that you need to do.  It could be writing that presentation. moving the junk from the spare room, starting some form of exercise or reading that book that has been gathering dust on the shelf.

Now commit to spending a fixed period of time on the task, even if it is only 1 minute.  Pick a time period that doesn't feel threatening to you - it might be 1,3,5,8 or 15 mins - it's up to you.

Now set a time (if you don't think you have one check out your mobile phone, most have alarms that can be set for any time) for the time period you have decided and work on the task continuously until the buzzer goes off.

Once the buzzer sounds you are free to stop - you have done what you set out to do.  Or, if you don't feel like stopping, you can continue for another few minutes.  It's up to you.  You may find that having started you are quite happy to carry on and finish sorting through that box or complete that chapter.  If you don't though you are free to go off and do something else with a clear conscience because you did what you said you would do.

If you do stop at that point all that I would ask is that you commit to spending the same amount of time on the project again soon (i.e. within the next couple of days), cos after all, that last 5 minutes didn't hurt, did it?

2.  What a difference 1 can make

A twist to the strategy above, if you aren't particularly keen on working to time, is to choose a certain amount of work that doesn't feel daunting.  If we go back to the examples above it might be that you commit to putting together the first slide of the presentation or if you are trying to clear that room of junk you might want to decide to clear 1 box or 1 drawer.  You see how it works?

3.  The perfect combo?

The last way, and for many people the most effective way, is to combine both of the above so that you commit to e.g. complete 1 slide or spending 8 minutes on the task.  Whichever comes first, that is when you can stop.  And who knows, you may even have a little fun trying to beat the clock!

Sounds simple don't you think?  Well it is, so TRY IT!

The final step. once you have completed your allotted time or portion of work, is to reward yourself.  Perhaps before you start you would like to think of a small thing that you will allow yourself as a reward for taking action.  Maybe you will go and make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, perhaps you will have a quick (and I mean a couple of minutes not an hour!) chat with a colleague or go out and buy that book or CD that you have been wanting to get.  You get the idea.  We are talking little rewards here - that brand new winter wardrobe or holiday in the sun will have to wait till you have achieved something a little bigger!

I hope these tips inspire you to get going on those projects that you have been putting off.  

If you would like to find out more about overcoming procrastination and how I can help you to stop delaying and start taking action to get the life you want then contact me now.

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"If and When were planted, and Nothing grew".

Proverb