I need more tips on battling procrastination

Even when we know we need to get a move on and get things done, and even when we make the time in our weekly overstressed timetable – we can still feel stuck. It’s so annoying. So following on from last week here are some more strategies that might help you become “unstuck”.

Commit to the tasks ahead
People often create undue pressure for themselves by constantly going over and over a range of things they have to do and haven’t done. They punish themselves and feel anxious about their unmet commitments. Some people even have a wide range of folders, files and notes, piled high as a visual reminder of the many things they must get done. These constant visual images and repeated thoughts can become counterproductive – they create stress and add to the anxiety rather than helping get the tasks done.

An effective, proven method to combat this syndrome is to make one list of the tasks to be done. These can be the calls to be made, payments or tax to dos, reports to be written, items to be completed and appointments to be arranged. Once you have a list, it is easy and satisfying to cross off each task as you perform it.

Take a small lined notebook and pen with you wherever you go – or use your mobile phone task list. Invariably an issue will come up that requires a new item to be added to the list. The list lets you manage and not worry that you might have forgotten something. You know all the things you have to do. Review the list morning and night to remind yourself of these things- so you can plan the next day/hours. Power yourself with these mindset scripts:

I know what I have to do.
I have a good list I will stick to.
I get things done.
I am reliable.

People always trust a person more when they know they are reliable and will do what they say and deliver when they promise. And you can be pleased you have achieved your objectives for the day or week.

Clarify the problem
Analysing and clarifying our concerns and our blocks is often the best thing to do, and quickly. Talking through a problem often helps clarify the issues and suddenly we see things more clearly. But we often feel unable to analyse our own malaise.

It may open up emotional areas or bring fears to the surface – but this is the very thing we may need to do. Bring them to the surface then deal with them! You might think, if I delve into this problem, it will all be too hard, or, there’s no point in opening a can of worms… I’ve tried to look at this before, and there’s no point.

Try to focus on your negativity. Work out what you can do to turn it around, to get over the hurdle. Decide what to fix it and get it done. Don’t let it linger. Work out the problem, maybe there’s another person involved, maybe it’s a career change, maybe it’s simply a fear of not doing something well enough. Work out what steps you need to take to resolve the clash or lack of communication with another person, or sort out your own plan and move forward. Because staying stuck only makes you feel worse.

The easiest way to get started on clarifying a problem is to recognise your negative scripts and know your personal blocks. Many successful people will immediately be able to tell you about their blocks and negatives – their procrastination, lateness, indecision. More importantly, they will tell you how they overcome them.

Break the stumbling block into achievable tasks
Indecisiveness is more paralysing than deciding to do something quite difficult.

One of the best ways to overcome a block is to break the problem down into manageable chunks of achievable tasks, then start tackling and completing these tasks one by one or step by step. These small wins provide the motivation to continue on and conquer the block.

Watch yourself dithering and remind yourself to “Get on with it or get out of it”. Make a decision and just get on with it. So find something that is small and achievable within the big picture. Once you start working it gets easier to keep going. Once you do that first step you will enjoy the pleasure of having accomplished something, and you will be ready – and willing – for the next task.

Just get on with it
We all know we can get distracted when we have a hard task ahead – sometimes any task ahead! We kid ourselves with scripts such as:

It won’t matter if I leave it a bit longer.
There’s plenty of time.
I can do this later.

We even kid ourselves about the importance of the task, and delude ourselves by altering priorities. Sometimes the diversions themselves take on the utmost importance, particularly if we get bored with our main task.

So here just repeatedly tell yourself to “just get on with it”. We must keep reminding ourselves of the importance of the big picture, the benefit ahead, and especially how good we will feel when we achieve success. And the importance of just doing it.

So when you feel that inertia taking hold, maybe a little bit paralysed and suddenly doing nothing about it, just use whatever techniques you can to get yourself out of it. Go back and remind yourself of your goals. Once you get started, just get on with it and stick to it until you complete one powerful milestone.

REMIND YOURSELF: If you want to achieve those goals you’ve set for myself, you’re not going to do it sitting around twiddling your thumbs procrastinating. You do go through those stages where you get call reluctance, writing blocks, procrastination inertia – but you can fight it!

See:

Eve Ash, motivational psychologist is co-author of Rewrite Your Life! (Penguin 2003) and has written and produced many best selling DVDs and books on the subject of motivation, success, goal setting and successful thinking habits.