www.1001TopWords.com |
10 Ways to Overcome Procrastination: The Challenge for Tomorrow!
Did you realize that as much as 47% of the time we spend on-line has nothing whatsoever to do with our work? In 1978 15% of the population stated that they do procrastinate somewhat. Only 1% admitted to chronic procrastination. In 2002 the numbers quadrupled! 60% of people stated that they experience mild to moderate procrastination in their lives and 6% stated that procrastination ruled their lives! In this era of "distraction overdose", make the decision to overcome procrastination by applying some or all of the following techniques. 1. Live by the Law of More Effort. As you accomplish an important task, you will feel a surge of energy and enthusiasm. Completing the task will trigger the release of endorphins in your brain, causing you to experience a natural high. You will actually become addicted to this feeling as you continue to complete challenging and important tasks. So, as you put forth more effort, you will want to continue to put forth more effort. 2. How's your energy? There are many things you can do to increase your energy stores, including getting 8 hours of rest each night. I know you are saying, "I'm lucky if I get 6!" With better planning & organizing, you can not only get 8 hours of sleep, but you will also have time for #3. 3. Exercise & eat right! Yes, that's right. If you take the time to exercise, you will actually have more energy and will procrastinate less. Also, avoid those simple sugars that "give you a boost". It may give you an immediate rush, but you will "dump" just shortly there after. Eat complex carbohydrates which provide a slower, steadier release of energy throughout the day. 4. Improve your goal setting techniques. Do we eat the elephant all at once? No. We do it one bite at a time. Do the same with your goals. Take your larger goals and break them down into a series of smaller, more attainable goals. Write them down, be specific and put a date on them. A goal without a date is just a dream. Make sure they are challenging and schedule your repetitive goals (ex. workouts) at the same time each day to develop a routine. 5. Make lists and work from them. No one likes to work from lists. You feel like your mother is controlling your every move. But this keeps you organized. Have a daily, weekly and monthly list of things you need to do and add to them as necessary. 6. Make your own "top ten" list. Write down ten things you want to accomplish in the next year. Write these out as if they have already happened, in the present tense. Post them where you will see them daily and while you're at it, read them out loud daily. Self-talk is very important. (That's for another top 10.) 7. Select a favorite from your list. Which item on your list will push you forward 100% in your career, personal life, etc. when completed? Come up with an action plan for achieving that goal first and write it down. 8. Find a system that works for you. There is no cookie-cutter approach to overcoming procrastination. A system that may be very successful for one person, could fail miserably for another. Try different "programs" on and be patient. You will find a system that fits you perfectly. 9. Don't give up! We can all develop the habits of focus & concentration if we commit to it by making the decision, developing the discipline and staying determined. 10. Just do it! I realize this phrase is completely over-used, but let's face it, it applies. Sometimes we just need to buckle down and complete that unbelievably miserable task that we have been dreading for so long. I guarantee you that you will have more energy when you are done. David Allen says, "Much of the stress that people feel doesn't come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they have started." About The Author Lisa James is a personal coach and founder of Code 10 Coaching. She brings a unique perspective to the coaching arena as she was in Law Enforcement for 10 years dealing with conflict resolution and crisis management. She teaches the importance of Goal Setting, Self-Talk and Personal Development in business and other aspects of our lives. Lisa has studied coaching and Self-Talk under the guidance of Shad Helmstetter and graduated from The Life Coach Institute in 2001. A believer in life-long learning, she continues to advance her expertise in coaching and personal development at The Schools of Coaching and CoachVille.
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Do You have a Dream? Do you find yourself sitting at work longing to be somewhere else and doing something you have always wanted to do? Tips To Get Motivated and Overcome Procrastination Procrastination is a complicated behavior that affects all people to some degree. Some experience only small problems with procrastination while with others, it is a major source of anxiety and stress. Lack of motivation and procrastination is related to time management. Procrastinators often fail to complete tasks even though they know what the task is and the time they have to do it. Stick With the Winners Here is an interesting quotation from Stephen Walsh. Ready, Set, Action! James 2: 17?faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. My Grandmother Never Had a Degree There were four generations sitting at the kitchen table, smacking on Mommy's delicious meal-somehow we never made it to the dining room. I smiled to myself when I thought of how fabulous this truly was--sitting here, next to my grandmother, my mother, my father, my sister, my children and my niece-celebrating Mother's Day. Mastering Emotions: Taking Your Life To The Next Level Hello, You Want Me to Do What? Most of the time whenever we need to make an important business decision we turn to what is convenient or comfortable. Why is it that we never seem to want to venture out and try new things. Is it the fact that we know what to expect when using our current vendor(s), even if they aren't the best at what they do? Playing With Mindfulness: Sneaking In The Back Door I often meet people who say things like, "I've been working on mindfulness for over twenty years." Magic In The Leadership Zone! "Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable, procures success to the weak - and esteem to all."- George Washington Motivation By Comparison Motivation by comparison is a dynamic form of motivation which can totally transform our attitude of mind. It is used much too rarely. It is so powerful it could and perhaps should be used every day as a part of a morning ritual of preparation for the day ahead. Decide Where do you want to be in a year? In five years? In ten years? Is what you're doing now -- the way you're living, your friends, your habits, your focus -- Are all of these things moving you in the direction of your goals? How does it look? Motivation: The Cure for Complacency Q. I've always tried to work hard enough to provide for my family and be content. The problem is, when I'm content, I get complacent, and everything starts to fall apart. How do I keep going and avoid getting complacent? Self-Motivation for Trainers THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SELF-MOTIVATION FOR TRAINERS: Lack of self-motivation is an unfortunate side effect of our accelerated times. Many people today are cynical and disillusioned or feel that to appear sophisticated, they must become so. They find it difficult to muster a feeling of energetic conviction toward any subject. In training, however, it is crucial to success to possess self-motivation when making presentations. Knowing this, however does not do much for the trainer who lacks inner direction. Achieving a full understanding of the anatomy of self-motivation and mastering ways of obtaining it can lead to vast improvement in training presentations. Cure Your Burnout! Do you ever get those Sunday night blues? Dreading the week ahead, feeling the daily grind just draining away all of your energy before the week even starts? Or what about those days where you just feel like you are going through the motions and not really being present in your own life? The First Step for Getting Better Results How dramatically we can change our results is largely a function of imagination. In 1960, it was a technological impossibility for man to travel into outer space. Within ten years, however, the first man stepped out onto the surface of the moon. The miraculous process of converting the dream into reality began when one voice challenged the scientific community to do whatever was necessary to see to it that America "places a man on the moon by the end of this decade." Put Some Fire in Your Desire One of the keys to success is staying motivated because it is being motivated that keeps us going out the door every day to change the world and reach our destiny! It is our desire for a better life, for change in ourselves and others, and for personal growth and fulfillment that moves our mountains! Desire! Motivation; 5 Steps to Get the Changes You Want Q: I just read your column in today's' Greensboro News and Record. For the last few years I've been struggling with change, and found your suggestions about "change tools" to be useful. I was wondering if you have a favorite "change tool", and if you would share it with us in a column? Wealth Building: Let The Wealth Building Secrets Of J. Paul Getty Inspire You To Great Achievement One of the shortcuts to creating wealth is to learn from those who have achieved great wealth. Self-Improvement-Inspiration: How to Exit Your Own Rat Race We can all get in a rut from time to time. Who hasn't had a moment in their lives where you've asked yourself the question: "Why am I doing this?" March Madness - Give Me The Ball! March madness is great to watch not because I havebasketball ability, (you can tell that by myheight), but because every year there are somegood players that become great players. Some ofthe tournament games are nail bitters and comedown to last second shots. When they do there aremaybe one or two players on the team that havethis attitude of, "just give me the ball." Theywant that pressure shot, they want to be the onemaking or breaking the teams future. Those are theplayers that go on in life to be the MichaelJordan's, Larry birds, and Magic Johnson's of thisworld. |
© Athifea Distribution LLC - 2013 |