Getting yourself to take action when you don’t feel like it is crucial to your success. We all procrastinate on some level and we need tools to overcome it.
Here are some tools we can use to overcome procrastination:
Procrastination is the putting off or delaying or deferring an action to a later time. Overcoming procrastination is really about getting yourself to take action. Here are 2 tools to do just that:
1. Complete the most dreaded task first.
How do you swallow a frog? Don’t stare at it too long. Do the thing you don’t want to do first. Get it out of the way. Do you need to talk with a disgruntled customer or confront a family member? Do you need to make sales calls or give a presentation? Do you need to exercise, for instance because your physician told you that you need to, do it first thing in the morning.
2. Think of the consequences of not taking action.
What happens if you don’t take action? Will get fired from your job? Will you let down your customer or family if you don’t take action? Will you not have enough money to retire or will you not be able to go on vacation. What will you lose if you don’t take action? People are more likely to be motivated by fear of loss than by what they will gain.
3. Eliminate distractions.
Turn the TV off and social media. Unplug. Shut the door in your room or office. Find a place that can guard you from the unlimited distractions that will inevitably call for your attention. Don’t answer the phone. Don’t reply to the email. There are so many distractions in the world. Too many things are begging for our attention at every turn. Focus on your attention instead on your goals and priorities you have established.
Procrastination can be a strong force, but you can overcome it. Try a few of these tools to get you into action!
Best of success to you!
