“Most of us go through life as failures, because we are waiting for the ‘time to be right’ to start doing something worthwhile. Do not wait. The time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.” – Napoleon Hill, “Think and Grow Rich”
Why do we procrastinate? We can blame it on many things – the lure of social media, the need to get the house cleaned, all the “busy work” that stuffs our day to overflowing and many, many other excuses. But these reasons are just that – excuses – that keep us from doing our best work and achieving our highest potential.
Solutions for procrastination
Here are some of the big reasons why we put things off and what we can do about them:
- Fear of failure. Of all the things we fear – change, being “wrong,” ridicule, rejection, the unknown – fear of failure is the most prevalent. Fear leads to procrastination.
? Solution: For a nice little ego boost, recall all the times you were successful, especially on those occasions when you took a risk. Did all the horrible things you feared then actually come true? Focus on how good you’ll feel when you’re done. Reframe “failure” as “feedback” to take the emotional heat out of it.
- No priorities. Many people who procrastinate don’t have a task list and 80% of those who do, do not prioritize them.
? Solution: Create a to-do list with a twist – include only those things you’ve been avoiding, and set deadlines for them to be completed.
- Risk-averse. What – take a chance? Me?? I’m timid!
? Solution: Start small. If you avoid networking, for example, invite three or four people out for coffee…just to chat. The next time you dine out, pick something you’ve never had before. The next time you automatically reach for “no,” pick “yes” instead and see where that takes you.
- Complexity. Sometimes we are faced with decisions that are so huge we are overwhelmed into inactivity. Remember that no decision is also a decision, and one that leaves you in perpetual catch-up mode.
? Solution: Break it down. For example, if you want to make $250,000 this year, how does that compute by the quarter? By the month and week? What do you need to do to achieve those smaller pieces? Come up with a plan and write it down. Begin right away, even if you’re “not ready” or the time “isn’t right.” Begin.
- Lack of control and focus. These come as a matched set. There are so many things that vie for our attention that we need to control our environment – and ourselves – in order to get focused.
? Solution: Reduce the opportunity for distractions. Shut down your email program. Close every open Internet browser window except the one you need to finish your task. Mute your phone. Close the door. Put on headphones, if you work in a busy (and noisy) office. Focus on your task till it’s complete, and then give yourself a nice little reward. For example, if you’re motivated by money, put a few bucks into a jar so you can treat yourself to something later.
- Lack of accountability. It’s so easy to avoid things when no one else knows you’re doing it. This can be a real procrastination pit for solopreneurs who work from home.
? Solution: Here’s a great place to bang the drum for coaches – the ultimate in accountability partners – but even just going public with your project will help. Call a friend, post it on Facebook, schedule that class you’ve been meaning to create and announce it to the world. If that doesn’t get you off your butt, I don’t know what will.
- Fatigue. I’m not talking just about physical fatigue, but mental and emotional as well. All of these aspects can cause you to put things off. Fortunately, some of the solutions apply to all types of fatigue.
? Solution: Step away. Take a break. Go outside and count the leaves on the trees. Go for a drive. Grab a quick snooze. Take a supplement that will boost your energy (MitoTrax is the go-to for an energy boost). Take a vacation, for God’s sake! You will come back – even after a short break – more energized, enthusiastic and focused. But keep in mind that chronic fatigue could be caused by any one of 79 medical conditions, according to WebMD, so be sure to consult a physician if fatigue of any type prevents you from enjoying the activities of daily living.
- No freaking idea where to start. Same solution applies for dealing with complex issues. Writers often experience this (I call it the White Paper Syndrome, from Ye Good Olde Days when people actually wrote on real paper).
? Solution: Begin. Start somewhere. It doesn’t matter where. Just start. Even if your task requires a specific sequential path – A to B to C and so on – pick some part and begin. You can always come back to polish, rearrange, refit and so on. Which leads me to one of the biggest causes of procrastination of all:
- Perfectionism. As Hill noted in the quote above, there is no time that will ever be perfect. Conditions will never be perfect. Your skills will never be perfect.
? Solution: Forgive yourself for being imperfect. Let go of caring about how others perceive you. Don’t compare yourself to others. Learn from your mistakes. Understand there are many paths to the goal, not just one. Even if you fail, it is rarely fatal (except in the case of a non-functioning parachute) and it’s an excellent learning tool. It’s better to fail fast, learn what didn’t work, fix it (or abandon it) and move on than it is to dither around until the opportunity has passed. And who knows? You may not fail at all. But if you do, it is much better to find out now than later.
Procrastination keeps us stuck. And mediocre. Is that what you want for yourself?
What tips do you have for overcoming procrastination? Please share your comments.