Has this ever happened with you that you let a project drag on for months when it could have been done within weeks?
Well, Procrastination is a behavioral pattern and we all do it. Even those who are visionary, perfectionists and organized.
“There is so much that I can do you know Bharti, but I don’t know why I am not doing it. My vision is clear and I know what I want but it seems like, climbing a huge mountain. It is difficult and hard. I don’t know whether I will be able to do it. I want everything to be perfectly done. I don’t want to do it just like that.” said one of the participants who are an entrepreneur.
Lack of motivation, inner drive to even get started becomes one of the obstacles to reach our goals and that leads us to procrastinate on taking actions. It becomes a significant problem when we keep on repeatedly procrastinate or delay our actions. This may be because we put things off until “someday.” “Someday” doesn’t appear on the calendar, our good intentions never turn into action unless we create deadlines.
I have been interacting and coaching hundreds of entrepreneurs and business owners on breakthrough from procrastination. The following ways can help to decrease the tendency to procrastinate and take actions to achieve your goals.
Break Goals into Manageable Chunks
When you decide on a goal, you focus on the big picture. Only focusing on the big picture can be overwhelming which can led you to put things off until later. Wishing you could quit your day job to launch a startup, or hoping you could lose 25 kilos or write a book, fall into the “someday” category. However, if you break down your goal into smaller, more manageable tasks, then you can start working on the steps to complete the goals. Start a book with writing 100 words a day; go for a walk for 10 minutes to start losing weight. Start small but be consistent and achieve your goals.
Start Easy
Many people struggle where to start from. Starting on a task or a significant project is hard, but if you get over that initial hump you’ll gain some momentum, you are encouraged to do more. Your brain will gradually want to feel that energy, that momentum again and again. Start with the first step which is easy, doable action.
I always say that if you have an unfinished task or some incomplete work, your brain needs energy to remember that unfinished work. Your energy gets locked. You feel mentally occupied all the time. This is due to what is known as the Zeigarnik effect, a psychological phenomenon that says unfinished tasks are more likely to get stuck in your memory. This phenomenon is also why your to-do list continues to pop into your head until you write it down. By completing the task, you are releasing the locked energy and hence we feel relieved or relaxed after it’s complete.
Be Mindful
Fear of failure and perfectionism are at the root of procrastination. To beat this, science suggests you start by listening to your inner monologue and flag the thinking that is less than favorable. If you catch yourself saying things like, “This will be a disaster,” or “I need this project to be perfect” start calming your anxiety with a deceptively simple sounding intervention. It could be sound of a snap or tap of the table. This can also be accomplished by shaking your head while you are thinking those thoughts. While it may sound simple, recent studies say that it can help deal with the inner monologue. Be mindful of your thoughts.
Procrastination is the number one killer of productivity. To increase your productivity and get more things done, try these simple ways to beat procrastination, and see how it can change your life.
Do share your thoughts and questions with me. Type your comments below. I will be happy and encouraged to write more on how you can breakthrough from procrastination.
