By: Nellie Akalp
“If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it.”
Olin Miller
Putting things off for another day is something we all do quite well. Come April fifteenth, we rush to the post office to make sure our tax returns postmark on time. We may wait until we have a cavity before seeing the dentist, and we delay cleaning the house until guests visit.
These examples seem harmless enough, but what about when we procrastinate on bigger things? Maybe your dream is to start a business; you’ve talked about it for years without taking that first step. Maybe you have a great idea for a new website, but have yet to act on it. If you find yourself putting off a career change, life dream, or major project, here are a few tips to help you battle procrastination traps.
How to Overcome Procrastination
1. Get to the Root of your Procrastination
Not all procrastination is the same. In order to face your procrastination head on, you need to figure out the root cause. Is it a result of having too much to do or not knowing where to start? Do you have unreasonable expectations or worried about how things will turn out once you get started? Procrastinating is rarely about “being lazy;” there is usually a very real cause behind it.
2. Give up on Perfection
If you have perfectionist tendencies, you may fear not doing the best job possible, which can lead to procrastination. We fear that we’re not going to be good enough, so we want to make everything perfect first. To make anything happen, you can’t wait for perfect (perfection is unattainable, anyway). So, take a deep breath and just go. So what if you’re wrong? So what if there are little glitches here and there? Just go with what you have and build on what you learn.
3. Don’t Worry about Failing
Does the thought of failing make you feel anxious? People who fear failure learn it’s easier to slide along with the status quo than to take that important first step. If this sounds familiar, take some deep breaths, then take those negative thoughts of failure and refocus them into positive thoughts. Most importantly, think for a moment about all of the opportunities and possibilities you leave behind by not trying. Consider what you’ll be missing. By never trying, you’ve failed right from the start.
4. Break it Down into Little Steps
Large goals like starting a business or launching a website can’t be accomplished at once. Success depends on your ability to break a daunting project into a series of smaller steps, ones that you can act on. If you find yourself struggling to get started on a project, break it down into the smallest tasks possible. Then, get started on each of these tiny tasks one by one. With each small task you complete, you’ll gain momentum and a psychological boost.
5. Log off for Productivity Hours
There are a million and one things competing for our attention these days. Digital distractions can be a major time drain and lead to procrastination. If you’ve been putting something off because it requires undivided focus, dedicate chunks of the day when you unplug from the phone, email, Facebook, and Twitter to get some work done.
6. Let Yourself Goof Off
Being “all work and no play” isn’t effective (or fun) for anyone. One of the best ways to battle procrastination is to allow yourself time off. The key is to make your free time count. Have you ever denied yourself a trip to the gym or lunch with a friend because you’re too busy? Chances are that on that very same day, you spent well over an hour watching TV, looking at Facebook, or organizing your medicine cabinet. Busy work isn’t accomplishing anything and won’t recharge your batteries. Reward yourself by doing something you truly enjoy. You’ll not only end up being happier, but will get motivated to get something done as well.
Are you a procrastinator? Maybe a recovering one? Share your advice and struggles. Together we can motivate each other!
GalTime.com is an online magazine with one simple mission: to empower and entertain women. GalTime is founded on the belief that every article and video we publish should help women lead happier, healthier, more informed lives. GALTime content is derived from a large network of contributors who are a unique combination of highly respected and often award-winning experts in their own fields, and well-established bloggers who have created powerful social and viral networks.
