If I had to pick the most common phrase among all my clients, it is something along the lines of “I am the queen of procrastination”, especially when it comes to things they want to accomplish but that might require the rest of the household to adjust. One look at my bookshelves and you’ll quickly realize that I’ve been there too. My shelves are FULL of books that I have read with the hope that it held the clues to get me to take action consistently.
Eat that Frog
The 5 Second Rule
The Miracle Morning
The Miracle Equation
The 5AM Club
The Compound Effect
The 12 Week Year
The Four Hour Work Week
Atomic Habits
The Slight Edge
I could go on and on because there are more. It wasn’t a waste, some of them did give me tidbits of advice that I took to heart and used to progress. But, I kept telling myself that procrastination was in my blood and such an embedded part of who I am that I may never work my way out of it.
So how did I finally shift my focus?
I still procrastinate from time to time, but do it with awareness these days. Instead of realizing two months later that I’ve put something off, I am acutely aware in the moment when I’m putting things off.
First, I don’t leave my time to chance and wait for motivation to strike. I either decide ahead of time what I’m going to do with my time and put it on my calendar or if I have a block of time open and a list to get through, I set intentions for what I plan to accomplish. Then I follow my calendar like it’s my job.
Second, if I find myself off track, I stop for a moment to determine why. I tend to avoid things most when I am uncomfortable or if I perceive it to take a lot of energy. Knowing that, I can quickly adjust and pull myself back in.
Third, if I find myself chronically struggling to get things done, I take a look inside my brain to figure out what is going on. For me, chronic struggles are typically caused by the thoughts “I should” or “I need to” which leave me feeling resentment and who wants to feel that?! So, I definitely don’t take action from that space without a huge internal battle. To avoid the battle, I step back and remind myself I have a choice to do or not do anything. By recommitting to my decision to take action and reminding myself why, I can move forward from a much more empowered state to tackle whatever it is I want.
Finally, it’s important to note that contrary to popular belief, procrastination is NOT a permanent character flaw that defines us. Procrastination is simply the act of delaying action or putting something off. It’s what we do, not who we are.
Are you stuck in procrastination? Schedule your free consultation and let’s get you unstuck today!