Conquering Procrastination Fighting procrastination. It can be one of the biggest saboteurs of our long term self-improvement. As I was researching this topic, I discovered that, in fact, Sept 6th is National Fight Procrastination Day. Think about that for a moment. It’s such a common theme with so many people that there’s a day dedicated to fighting it. It’s not unusual for many of us to experience that d-r-a-g-g-i-n-g energy of putting things off that need to be done. It drags you down and drains your energy, often looming over you like a shadow. Procrastination can lower self-esteem, crush confidence and make you feel awful about yourself. Maybe when you procrastinate you feel guilt or shame or embarrassment. I've put things off and greatly regretted it later. I admit it, I'm guilty too. However, I have found that there are some great ways to help alleviate some of the tension and drudgery surrounding getting things done. Inactivity and apathy are constrictive and restrict the natural flow of life. Approaching our most challenging issues around procrastination in a calm and centered state can help us stay in the natural flow of life instead of trying to fight against the current. So, grab a journal and spend a little time with these steps. First, breathe! Find a spot somewhere indoors or outdoors where you can be undisturbed and just breathe. Focus on the breath and only the feelings of how your body takes in air and exhales air. Feel how it moves into your nose and down your throat and then fills your lungs. Just breathe for a few minutes, clearing your mind and focusing on just the sensations and sounds of breathing. Allow yourself to achieve a calm state before addressing the issue. Take your time. Next, identify one thing you often put off or might even be putting off right now. What it is? Maybe it’s cleaning out the attic or garage, or maybe it’s letting go of a bad habit, or maybe you want to take a class or change your career but keep putting it off. It could be any area of your life where procrastination is impacting you in some way. Just allow it to gently come into your awareness, reserving any judgments. Besides, you already know the issue, you don't need to attune to the drama or chaos that likes to tag along with your issue). Ask yourself, if this were a landscape, what would it look like? Try to imagine it through your five senses: what do you see, hear, smell, feel, etc. Ask yourself: why do I put it off? What is it about the activity or task that you don’t want to do? Why do you feel you put it off? As you observe this landscape, imagine what it would look like if you didn’t procrastinate and you got it done. What would that look like? How satisfying would that be? Imagine the landscape now, and see how it’s changed. Consider how both landscapes are two polar opposite realities of your life right now and both are possible. You should be able to tell which one you prefer! Let this be the impetus to motivate you forward towards conquering your procrastination.
4 Simple Tips to Help Conquer Procrastination
Take small little pecks to crack the whole egg. Taking small steps daily often will often help to lessen the stress around a certain task or activity we dread. I call this pecking because it’s easier at times to just make small but meaningful pecks daily to reduce the size of the problem we’re facing. If you're dealing with procrastination constricting more than one area of your life, dedicate short amounts of time each day to each area so that you can feel you are making progress. It will eventually get done and you're keeping the momentum going.
Tackle the task by working in your own creative way. One thing I have learned is that you can give yourself all the firm deadlines in the world but, if you're not someone who usually sticks to deadlines anyway this just sets you up for more feelings of failure. Think about it. If you stuck to firm deadlines and got everything done you wouldn't be a procrastinator in the first place. Empower yourself to find your own rhythm and way of doing.
Ask for support but also think outside the box. You would be truly amazed how many people such as family, friends, church communities and others are willing to help you. For example: If you need help cleaning out a large area of your home, contact your local high school or chamber of commerce to see if there are any volunteer groups who can help you out. Post a free ad on your local community section of Craigslist. Ask paid service providers for discounts if you and other neighbors procure services from the same company. There are many services that might be able to reduce or solve the magnitude of your problem.
Move on and honor all that you are doing. Once you have made a decision to forge ahead, don't forget to forgive yourself for procrastinating while you are fighting against procrastination. If you have chosen to do something about your procrastination tendencies don't waste time and energy holding yourself prisoner over your reactions and feelings about your past-self being unproductive. Whereas these feelings have a place in our life, this isn't one of them. Guilt and shame over the "I should haves" are wholly counter-productive to moving forward and overcoming the problem. Instead, express gratitude for yourself for every little peck you have made. Do this as you go, not just at the end at completion.
The Power of the Future-Self Although "Future Self" is by no means a new concept, here’s a little story to give you some reference: A family was preparing to depart for their annual summer vacation trip, loading up the car with luggage and necessities. Feeling like mom was taking too long the teenage daughter went back into the house to search for her mother only to discover that she was in her parents’ bedroom neatly making the bed with fresh linens. “Mom! Why are you making the bed now? We’re leaving! We’ll be gone for two weeks,” the daughter said in exasperation, her eyes rolling, anxious to be on their way. “Well honey, it’s a gift to my future self,” said the mother in explanation. The daughter cocked her head and looked puzzled. The mother chuckled, explaining as she flipped the bedspread back over the fresh sheets and smoothed the wrinkles. “You see, when we return from vacation after a long drive home I’m sure that we’ll be very tired and one of the last things I’ll want to do is have to make this bed. Your father and I will be able to go straight to bed without effort, should we want to. My future self will thank me for making the bed. It’s really a gift to her.” This simple story shows how we can be good to ourselves, even in the future. It’s simply taking action now to ensure a happier future. We all know that things happen unexpectedly and we can’t always take care of ourselves in the ways that we should. Taking simple steps now to improve our relationship with the future-self can have many benefits. Think of it like this: you’re banking good deeds now for your future self. It also follows with the old saying that many of our elderly relatives like to often quote: Don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do today. We already do little things to make life easier in the future. We clean our houses, we wash dishes, we prepare food the day before—all in an effort to make the next day easier. Remember how awesome that feeling is, to know you have already done something for yourself to make life easier in the future. When it comes to focusing on a having a happier and satisfying life we should be factoring in the future-self. Combine the tips for fighting procrastination with practicing the Future Self concepts and you are already headed for amazing results in moving forward. As a short exercise try this: Think of the different ways you already gift the future-self. Think of new ways you could gift your future-self. Remember, YOU are are worth the time and effort to overcome procrastination. and move forward into life with more flow and ease. Be gentle with yourself and be loving to yourself because there is no one like you in this world. Much love, Gretchen
Comments