Doctor Heal Thyself, Part 1
By Shannon Feather
Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?
Sometimes the best way to help others is to look in your own glass house and fix what is broken. In 2007 my resolution is to stop procrastinating. Having not been able to kick this habit as easily as I had expected over the past few weeks, I began to do some research. I have come across some useful information and tools to assist myself and to help you get motivated and get things done.
People procrastinate for several reasons; usually fear of failure or success or just plain laziness. A lack of self-confidence can play a major role in this as well. It is important to identify your own personal reason and then take the necessary steps to overcome it.
It is also important to know is that procrastinating is just a habit, much like smoking or overeating. Remember in order to break one habit you have to replace it with another more positive and beneficial one, and then repeat it frequently. This takes patience and perseverance. The mind thrives on repetition. So begin your new habits at the same time every day until you start to do them almost automatically.
Here are a few new habits to overcome procrastination:
- Write down your goals. Make a list of the pleasures you will receive from accomplishing your goals. Then put into perspective what will occur if you do not accomplish them. Get passionate about what you would like to achieve and be realistic about what opportunities you will miss if you do not follow through.
- Make a timeline and give yourself realistic deadlines. Become your own best manager and visualize the outcome. Break each goal down into baby steps and get moving.
- Make a list of all the things you need to accomplish on the next day before bed. Having a list of all the things you need to accomplish each day will help you manage your time more effectively. By making your list in the evening your mind can begin to prepare subconsciously for how you will tackle each task at hand.
- Complete all the tasks on your list as early in the day as possible. A great habit is to get up early and just get busy. Do not put off later what you can get done now and get out of the way. This will allow more time later in the day to relax and do the things you enjoy.
- Always complete one task before beginning on the next. Staying focused on each task is key and keeps you from spreading yourself into too many things at once. You eat one bite at a time, work one bite at a time.
- Break any large tasks down into smaller components. Accomplish large jobs one piece at a time. This will keep you from feeling frustrated or overwhelmed.
- Remember things always seem a lot harder than they are. Unpleasant tasks are rarely as painful as you think to accomplish. Always schedule first the things you like least to do least. You will be amazed that any perceived hurdle is really just a bump in the road.
- Reward yourself for your small accomplishments. Become your own cheerleader and take pride in your completion of tasks. Remember, you did it! Rome was not built in a day and neither are your dreams.
- Taylor your environment to suit your needs. If you need quiet to accomplish your tasks then make it so. Remove any distractions and inform your family, friends, or coworkers of your intentions.
- Take care of yourself physically and emotionally. When you feel bad you tend to accomplish less. Be realistic about any other bad habits you may be harboring and then take any action necessary to break them as well. Exercising and maintaining a healthy diet will increase your energy to get things done and help you maintain the focus you need to move forward.
