4 Secret Ways to Stop Procrastinating

Ever wonder how to stop procrastinating?

I was recently talking with a friend who said, "You know, Ineed to have guests over to my house more often." "Why isthat?" I asked. "Because that seems to be the only time Ireally clean my house," she responded.

Isn't that the truth! Deadlines and commitments have awonderful way of forcing us to get things done which haveto be done. It is easy to procrastinate about doingsomething when there is no one to hold you accountable.

Think about it!

You may be the worst procrastinator on earth about certainthings like housework or dreaded work projects but chancesare you file your tax return on time ever year.

This is because the federal government has placed adeadline on filing tax returns and they hold us accountableif they are not done.

If you want to stop procrastinating in your life trysetting yourself deadlines for projects you have beenputting off and finding ways to hold yourself accountablefor meeting these deadlines.

Here are some ideas of how you can use this strategy tostop procrastinating at home and in your work.

1. Write it Down.

The act of simply deciding when you plan to complete a taskand writing it down on your calendar can be very effectivein creating a sense of a deadline.

2. Schedule something that forces you to take action.

For example, invite guests over to your house. If you havebeen putting off cleaning the house this will force you toclean and put things in order.

Another example, might be if you have been putting offvisiting someone you know you should visit then give thatperson a call and let them know you will be visiting on aparticular day.

Once you have made this commitment it will likely be moredifficult to not follow through. Simply by putting thisperson on notice of a visit will create a deadline withaccountability.

3. Put someone on notice that a project will be completedon a particular date.

If there is a project at work that you have beenprocrastinating about. Send your boss a note telling him orher that they can expect the project on a certain date.

This will create a deadline for you and your boss willlikely hold you accountable by asking for the project if infact it is not delivered by the date you promised it.

4. Leave yourself no way out.

Leaving yourself no way out is in a sense burning thebridge behind you so that you have no choice but tocomplete a task which you have been putting off.

If for instance, you need to buy a new vacuum because theold one has had it. You have the money saved for the newone but you have just been putting off going shopping forone.

Burn the bridges behind you. Give your old appliance away to a local thrift shop. Then you have no choice but to buy that new one.

You can put a stop to procrastination by simply setting yourself deadlines and holding yourself or havingsomeone else hold you accountable.

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report that reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting motivation. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm