Soo …. Did You Do it?!?
Yea … we’ve been on this procrastination track …
We’ve talked about what procrastination is … how it hinders you …
We’ve done the work to discover the type of procrastinator that you are …
We talked about tips on breaking free from procrastination ...
& we’re about to come back to it again … so, don’t think you off the hook!
It’s been a few weeks …
Have you taken action?
Have you got the thing done?
Let’s be Real ...
Most people who set goals don’t stick to them!
In actuality, less than 10% will.
So, are you in the 90% that has given up on the goals and reverted back to those procrastinating ways … or are you in the 10% that is getting stuff done?!?
We've been on this series about procrastination and eliminating excuses … Yep, we're going to keep going on that.
Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda
Now, what’s the difference between need to, have to, want to, and should do?
Using phrases like these keeps you from being definitive about what it is that needs to get done. These phrases keep you in a position to where you can come up with some excuse about why it's not done.
You're in charge of your life…
You're in charge of eliminating the excuses that are keeping you from going after the life you want ...
& you’re in charge of doing the things needed to live the life of your dreams …
So, eliminate the excuses - The time is now, so let's begin!
Let’s start with rephrasing your internal dialog. Say what you “will do” … The phrase "need to" or “have to” often implies that you have no choice in what you do. This can make you feel disempowered and might even make it feel more like a chore. However, saying what you "will do," implies that you own it and are more in control of your tasks.
Create your non negotiables! If you're really going to eliminate excuses, there has to be things that are non-negotiable for you, things that you “have to” do … But, that you “will do” … no matter what!
By creating these non-negotiables, it will help you to eliminate the excuses that are really keeping you from getting work done, because you know that no matter what this has to get done.
Think about what will happen if you keep avoiding doing the work.
What will happen if you don't complete the work?
How might it affect your goals … whether that be life, business, personal, or even professional?
You know your goals … You know what you want … You have to (and will) do the work necessary to reach them, if they’re really as important to you as you say that they are!
Downsize and Minimize
The distractions … Minimize and then work to eliminate them!
The more things and times that you allow to distract you … The harder it will be to actually get the work done!
Yea yea yea … You are multitasking.
There are times that you are actually multitasking …
Then, there are times when you think that you are multitasking … …
Multitasking is very much a Catch22.
There are times when you can actually multitask - Like listening to podcasts or watching tv while working out.
There are times when you think you’re actually multitasking - Like trying to write a blog while watching a tv show that you’re actually interested in and haven’t seen before.
If you just eliminate the distractions, then you can easily and quickly get the tasks out of the way, so that you can get back to your day and to your life, and do the things that you found so important when you were procrastinating and multitasking.
Stop looking at the short-term gain … Always think long-term and of the end game!
The short term benefits of procrastination rarely, if ever, outweigh the long term benefits of actually getting work done!
Get Organized!
Are there ever times you feel that you’re spinning your wheels and just can’t seem to focus so that you can’t actually get work done?
Are you unorganized?!?
I know for me, there are times when my creative juices just can’t get flowing because my desk is a mess oe I have a lot of things on my mind that I want to do or work on.
So then, I take some time to get myself together. I clean up my desk, I write a to do list, I do a brain dump. I do what I have to do to get myself together so that I’m in the right headspace to finally get stuff done!
Here’s some quick strategies, tips, and tools to help you get organized and back to getting stuff done:
Keep a To Do List - I just told you how making a to-do list helps me when I just can’t get focused to get the work done that I need to get done. Having, keeping, and making a to do list will keep you from "conveniently" or even accidentally forgetting about the tasks that you actually need to be doing and focusing on.
Prioritize Your To Do List - Just because something is on your to do list doesn’t mean that it has to be accomplished at this moment. Organize and prioritize your to do list by what needs to get done today, this week, etc. There was a time when I was doing handwritten to do lists, that I would use colored red, yellow, and green stickers to prioritize the to do list thinking of it like a stop light. Whichever method you choose, it will help you to quickly identify the activities that you should focus on, as well as the ones you can ignore for now.
Make and Stick to a Schedule - If you’re a regular person, then I’m sure that you have likely a lot going on (life, work, business, etc.) which means you need a schedule! You need to make and stick to a schedule so that you know what you are focusing on and when, and you are taking control of your life to get the things done that need to get done, when they need to get done, while not neglecting the other areas and aspects of your life.
Break it Down - Overwhelm often sets in when it comes to getting things done because you just don’t know where to start because you’re so focused on the end goal. Break it down into smaller more manageable chunks so that you can keep the project organized into smaller tasks that you can then focus on.
Pause. Think. Act.
If you really want to create change and stop the constant procrastinating do 3 things: Pause. Think. Act.
Pause: Yea yea, I know … There’s so much stuff to do that you don’t have time to pause. But, I mean, you’ve been procrastinating all this time … So why don’t you have time to pause?
Oh ok … then let’s proceed. This pause is an intentional pause - for you to think about what’s really going on.
Using the tips we talked about in the other blogs, as well as in this blog, I want you pause and reflect on why you’re really procrastinating. Like I’ve told you before, you have to dig deep!
Thinking about what you really need and want will help you to get out of this procrastination bug because if you dig deep enough, find that big enough why, then you’ll do whatever it takes to get stuff done … Whether that means going to bed early, getting up early, or saying no to hanging with friends, you will put in the work to get the work done needed to get you to where you want to go.
Think: During the pause, you’re reflecting. You should just keep asking yourself why, to help you determine where to focus next.
You’re thinking about what you envision your life to be … Which is anything that you imagine and are willing to put the work in to get to!
While you’re thinking, get creative! Come up with ideas and possibilities, so that you can start to create solutions!
Act: We all know that actions speak louder than words … So, now it’s time to stop thinking about it, stop talking about it, and start to go do it.
It … Ya know, stop the procrastinating and do “it” … Whatever the it is!
Let’s execute … let’s get things done!
Failing to plan is planning to fail. This is why you’ve done this pause and think, so that you can create the plan so that you can now go act.
Decide what will be the first task, when you’ll do it, and then go do it!
Now, when I say “when” will you do it, it needs to be pretty soon …
I mean you’ve procrastinated long enough already …
The Wrap Up
So yea … I’ve told you about procrastination and how to eliminate it … I gave you a few weeks to work on it on your own and then came back to this to make sure that you got it done.
But yet, you still haven’t …. So obviously going at it alone isn’t for you.
Yea, I said it … What are you going to do about it now?!?
Let me make a suggestion for you … Get the help you need and reach out!
Let’s hop on a call and see if I’m that person for you …
You keep reading these blogs so obviously something is connecting with you … so I’m probably it!
But, we can hop on a free call to find out for sure …
And, during the call, you can even learn some tips that will be beneficial and specific to you going forward, even if you decide not to work with me!
I mean, what do you have to lose …
You’ve already wasted time … a lot of time … What’s another 15 minutes that can actually help to change your life?!?
Sounds like a no brainer to me … so, I’ll talk to you soon, right?
I hope so …
-Coach Lee
Your Productivity & Accountability Coach