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| How to Stop Procrastination |
Do you find it difficult to move from thinking to executing or simply lacks the motivation to go in a dynamic territory of action? You are not alone as psychological studies suggest that almost everyone procrastinates, meaning the delay or postpone something. However, the intensity of procrastination varies from person to person and if you are on the extreme side then you need to reorient and bring an action in life.
Everyone should spend time thinking, as this helps one in taking decisions. But, the gap between thinking and execution should not belong. If you are investing too much time in thinking and cannot manage time for action then you can do the following things to motivate yourself for action.
First and foremost, build the habit of sharing your ideas with a friend or your loved one. The core idea is to have virtual accountability. Once you share your ideas with someone, s/he creates a sense of accountability as you will feel obliged to update them about the progress you made toward your goals. The best part is that whenever you feel low or demotivated then they will there to support you and keep you on track.
You have to accept that your performance isn’t a sign of self-worth. Hurdles and momentary setbacks are bound to happen in your journey, so don’t judge yourself as this will force you to delay action.
After a point, analysis is paralysis. If things aren’t happening according to plan, then just be in the game and don’t quite as situations evolve.
I have seen several people who just don’t act only because of the fear of failure. It is always better to try and fail than not to try at all. If you are mentally prepared to face the possible setback then it would be easier to overcome the challenge. Visualizing progress is the key with openness to accept momentary setbacks. If you could build the habit of calculating risks and act accordingly then nothing could stop you from achieving your goals.
The gap between thinking and action defines your overall personality, meaning you have to first understand what kind of procrastinator you are. Like, if you are a passive procrastinator you might get easily distracted by small things like social media or room cleaning and you will prefer paying more attention to non-essential things than focusing on priorities. On the other hand, if you are an active procrastinator then you might perform better under pressure. The adrenaline rush of a deadline creates some sense of discipline and focus, which results in a better outcome.
The simplest possible thing to avoid procrastination is to remove distractions. Just do it, and will instantly jump in your productivity. In simple words, if you want to reduce weight just stop stocking junk foods in your fridge, as this is going to be a big distracter towards your waistline reduction goal.
We are conditioned to think big and act small. So, if your goal is big then it is better to split the big picture into small actionable items and you will feel the default readiness to execute them one-by-one. If you wish to start a business then make a flow-chart of your execution plan with a progress timeline. If your thinking is organized, then you won’t ever feel the urge to postpone action. Be it manufacturing, marketing, or sales, you need to have a flow for action to begin. Looks gigantic on day one, but when you break it down in small chunks you won’t get overwhelmed.
Once the issue of size is resolved, the next thing to do is to put your plan into a timeline. So, when you keep a deadline with some reward and punishment then you will be in action mode more passionately. This is how our brain works, build a habit of being in time, and pair it with reward.
The mind looks for triggers to be in action, so create a constructive ecosystem that could keep you motivated to be in action. Keep your workspace vibrant with the least possible distraction so that you could get maximum results in minimum possible time. It is not just about being in action, but to be in action purposefully with a defined set of outcomes in mind. So, build habits that make you feel proud and set small goals like spending 30 minutes every day to outline your business plan even if you do this for 5 days it will become a habit. Ultimately, you will start feeling comfortable doing planning and execution with more dedication and time. The step by step accomplishments acts like a booster dose to achieve higher and bigger.
Depending on your personality and situation, you can choose to execute simpler tasks first and complex tasks later, or vice versa. But, you must execute all in a defined time. If you are apprehensive about the outcome of any action, then it is better to remove confusion first, because if your mind is in fear you will feel the urge to procrastinate more intensely.
Can you imagine, the iconic was Leonardo da Vinci was a big procrastinator as he took 16 years to complete the painting of Mona Lisa that too when people put him under the pressure of bankruptcy to complete commissioned work. The best possible way to stop procrastinating is to see life in context and start enjoying every moment.
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