Stop Procrastinating in 4 Easy Steps and Increase Your Productivity and Overall Success
If you missed the recent Tele-seminar Event that was about Stopping Procrastinating in 4 Easy Steps, download your copy today. If you have a tendency to procrastinate on things more than you would like so you can increase your productivity and be even more successful, download your audio copy by going to http://www.accountabilitycoach.com/coaching-store/audio-store/.
Here is a BONUS! Below are Sam Silverstein’s Four Steps to Stop Procrastination so You Can Get More Done.
We all procrastinate at some point in time. We have deadlines and yet we wait to the last minute to finish a project. We want to be done by Friday but the task lingers on to the next week. It seems like sometimes the only time we get verything done by a specific deadline is when we are leaving on vacation.
We procrastinate and put off the inevitable even when we know we should start and finish the job. Here are Sam Silverstein’s four steps that will help you eliminate procrastination in your personal and professional life.
1. Clearly Define What Needs To Be Done
When you have a clear definition of what needs to be accomplished it makes it easier to begin the project. Many times we put off starting a project because we do not have a full understanding of the scope of the project or the expectations of what we need to produce. The more specific you can be in describing what needs to be done the less likely you will be in making excuses for not beginning the project. The same concept applies when delegating a task to a team member. Be sure to clearly define the expectations.
2. Know WHY You Are Doing Something
Everything comes down to “why.” It’s the “why” that drives your actions and determines the decisions we all make. The more important the “why” the more likely we are to want to begin the project. Take the time to think about why you are doing something, what completing the project means to you and exactly what you stand to gain when you finish. This information will motivate you to move forward.
3. Review the Consequences of Lack of Performance
What happens if you don’t meet you deadline or you put the project off so long it is impossible to have enough time to do a great job? If the consequences are great enough, chances are you will want to get started sooner. The greater the consequences of failure the higher the likelihood that you will push yourself to move forward.
4. Reward Yourself For Meeting or Exceeding Deadlines
Hey, we all like a present from time to time. Set up check-points and deadlines for your projects. Give yourself small rewards each time you meet a check-point and then something larger when you hit your overall deadline. Some projects can seem overwhelming but when you break them into smaller, achievable elements you will feel comfortable beginning and ultimately finishing the project.
Eliminating procrastinating is a trait of highly accountable people and leads to greater results in your personal life and higher productivity in your professional life. Great leaders are accountable leaders and eliminate procrastination.
Download your copy of Stop Procrastinating in 4 Easy Steps and Increase Your Productivity and Overall Success by going to http://www.accountabilitycoach.com/coaching-store/audio-store/.
Stop Procrastinating in 4 Easy Steps – Article posted on LifeSpace
Great news! You can view one of my articles on LifeSpace. Here’s the link: http://www.lifespace.com/Publication.aspx?ID=751470
Enjoy learning how you can stop procrastinating in 4 easy steps.
If you are a procrastinator, stop it! Enjoy the video I posted. Click here or cut and paste into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI_usPXBZqM
Review the other videos on this youtube.com channel. Subscribe and get notifications when a new video is posted. Enjoy!
Stop Procrastinating in 4 Easy Steps – Article posted on LifeSpace
Great news! You can view one of my articles on LifeSpace. Here’s the link: http://www.lifespace.com/Publication.aspx?ID=751470
Enjoy learning how you can stop procrastinating in 4 easy steps.
If you are a procrastinator, stop it! Enjoy the video I posted. Click here or cut and paste into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI_usPXBZqM
Review the other videos on this youtube.com channel. Subscribe and get notifications when a new video is posted. Enjoy!
New Video posted on Stop Procrastinating in 4 Easy Steps
Enjoy the new video that I just posted. Click here or cut and paste into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtI1Y_0mN08
Review the other videos on this youtube.com channel. Subscribe and get notifications when a new video is posted.
Aim for what you want each and every day!
Anne
The Accountability Coach™
Author of Excuses Don’t Count; Results Rule and Live Life with No Regrets. Get your copies today.
Stop letting procrastination be your excuse
Let’s establish that no one is perfect and no one is completely procrastination-free, every moment of every day. However, you can spot a habitual procrastinator anywhere. Here are some common signs[1]:
- Procrastinators are often overly optimistic about completing complex tasks in little time
- Thinks and says they work best under pressure
- Easily distracted and loses focus when there is no urgency
- Delayed start (because they have a false sense that everything is under control, so there’s no need to jump into it immediately)
- When no progress has been made, they offer reassurance that everything is under control
- Action driven by panic (the realization that everything is not under control)
- Scrambles last minute, working hours on end to complete a project minutes before the deadline.
The key is to discover the root cause of your procrastination, so you can correct it. Most procrastination is commonly rooted in the following issues[2]:
Low self-confidence: When you’re feeling insecure about your ability to complete a task, (forget about completing it well), you probably delay it to avoid feeling “stupid.” Truth be told, you have more than enough smarts to figure it out. The good news is that the more times you tackle a task head on – and are successful – the easier it is to stop procrastinating.
Perfectionist: You’re a perfectionist and nothing less than stellar is acceptable. Give yourself a break and let go of trying to be perfect. Given your high standards your best is probably far above par. Somewhere along the line, you tied perfectionism to acceptance (or love) and love should never be dependent upon performance…explore that issue.
Rebellion: Procrastination may be your way of expressing your rebellion. A sort of “You can’t tell me what to do, I’ll do it when I’m good and ready.” This probably didn’t work when you tried to use it with your parents (or it did work and that’s why you use it as an adult), but it definitely will NOT work with your boss. If you’re an entrepreneur – well, you’re just shooting your own foot.
Manipulation: This is a common characteristic of an insecure coworker or manager. “They can’t start without me. This project is nothing without my talent.” This takes some personal growth to overcome and the realization that discounting the ability of others does not increase your own. If you’re feeling insecure, go back to school or take additional training. When you expand your skill set, you can stop feeling insecure about your value.
Coping with Pressure: Procrastination may be a coping skill to dealing with feeling overwhelmed. They delay until they have the mental stability to perform the task or wait until the very last minute to start. While this may certainly be the case some days, the important thing to remember is not to make a habit of it. Delegate tasks temporarily or permanently to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Will you choose to begin reducing procrastinating in your life so you can enjoy even greater successes or will you continue to let procrastination hold you back from reaching your true potential? What has to happen next for you to stop letting procrastination be your excuse? It’s easy to make excuses and it’s even easier to use those excuses to procrastinate. With a little insight into why procrastination occurs, you may be able to reduce or completely eliminate it from your personal and professional life.
[1] California Polytechnic University. “Procrastination.” CalPoly Student Academic Services. http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/procrastination.html (accessed October 1, 2009).
[2] California Polytechnic University. “Procrastination.” CalPoly Student Academic Services. http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/procrastination.html (accessed October 1, 2009).
Are You a Procrastinator? Stop it!
There’s nothing wrong with taking a break, but you know procrastination when you see it. Here’s how to recognize the signs of procrastination and stop the cycle of excuses and delays so you can achieve more success in life and in business.
If you have ever been a leader, manager, or business owner with employees, you’ve experienced what it’s like delegating an important task under deadline. From experience, you’ve probably learned who you can trust to complete the task well, and on time, when others fall short.
Have you ever delegated a time-sensitive task to an employee only to find them making excuses, waiting until the last minute, or wasting time when they should be working on your project?
It probably got you fired up.
So here’s a question for you: If you don’t tolerate procrastination from others, why would you ever tolerate procrastination from yourself?
4 Tips For Overcoming Procrastination
It’s time for you to go on the defensive and tackle this self-defeating habit.
Tip1: Start on the most basic level by treating your body and mind to a system of reward and punishment. When you complete a goal as stated reward yourself generously. When you procrastinate, you get nothing. Not only does this train your mind to work harder, it also provides motivation for when you work—to get to the finish line and claim your reward!
Tip 2: Another tip that might prove helpful is to try and break down large projects. Some people’s natural inclination is to avoid large projects; they seem very daunting at first glance. However, once you break large projects into smaller pieces, it is easier to get started and manage. Take one day’s worth of activity and break it apart into smaller goals.
Tip 3: It will also help to prioritize your assignments. Make a list of all your things-to-do and put them in order of importance. The activities that have the highest probability of helping you achieve your goals would be ranked as the most important. Now as you finish each task you can cross off items as you complete them. This will help you organize your workload.
Tip 4: Don’t underestimate the advantages that enlisting a friend or acquaintance might bring. When you get someone else involved, you are essentially tag teaming your way to success. Two heads are always better than one, especially when you are accountable to that other person. Fighting such a battle on your own can be difficult, but when you bring in someone else to help fend off the threat of procrastination, your odds are improved.
Remember that procrastination never pays off for anyone, whereas when you take certain action—even if it’s unsuccessful—you can always learn from the outcome. Procrastinators are simply everyday people with big dreams who need a little push in the right direction. Work with someone that you can rely on to help you overcome procrastination and achieve all your goals and ultimately enjoy what is important to you.
For help with this concept, choose from the many high-value and high-content tele-seminars for only $27 USD that can be found by going to: AccountabilityCoach.com/coaching-store/audio-store/
The War of Art Book Excerpt
One of my clients gave me a book, The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield. I found a great passage on page 22 of this book that I thought you would enjoy and get value from reading.
“The most pernicious aspect of procrastination is that it can become a habit. We don’t just put off our lives today; we put them off till our deathbed. Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny. This second, we can turn the tables of Resistance.”
Procrastination has become and is a ‘habit’ for many of us. It is a habit that typically doesn’t serve us well. It is a habit that can and probably should be changed to something that positively helps us fulfill what is truly important to us in life. Think about you and if you procrastinate and if you want to change this habit for something better.
Why Do People Procrastinate?
There are also two types of procrastinators to consider.
1. The first can be called a relaxed procrastinator. This person tends to view their responsibilities (or perhaps their opportunities) in a negative light. They then try and avoid these responsibilities by redirecting their energy into other tasks—usually mundane tasks that offer nothing else but a quick distraction from the more important goal. You could say that this type of procrastination is a form of denial. The person may not even want help from others because they are only craving instant gratification. This is the type of person that may dream of better things but decide in the end that it’s not worth pursuing because they don’t want to do the real work. It is much easier to do less or just a little than all the work the goals require to achieve it. It is easier to do the easy things first and put the harder, but more impactful things off until some other time.
2. The second type of procrastinating personality is known a “tense-afraid” type. This person is not motivated by instant gratification or laziness; rather they seek to avoid anxiety. They are easily overwhelmed by responsibility and pressure. It doesn’t help that they tend to have no concept of time, can struggle with self-esteem, and are unsure about their long-term goals. When a person is unsure about their long-term goals, then setting short ones and following through on them can be twice as difficult. The goals they do come up with are often highly unrealistic and the result is just more stress—the normal anxieties associated with life, plus the anxiety that comes from putting off important issues.
If you have a problem with procrastination, then first try analyzing your present circumstances. Determine first, if you are happy with the ways things are progressing. If not, then agree that it is time to make some changes. Reevaluate the goals you have and start setting more goals. Then create a progressive plan that gets you to where you want to be (personally and professionally) and within a timeframe that is doable.
For help with this concept, choose from the many high-value and high-content tele-seminars for only $27 USD that can be found by going to: AccountabilityCoach.com/coaching-store/audio-store/
Have you ever procrastinated on something before?
Have you ever wondered why you procrastinate on some things and not others? For those of you who are familiar with procrastination, the issue is how can you stop procrastinating and start taking action? Before you read over some common tips, first try and analyze your own circumstances. Remember that most cases of procrastination are caused by some primary motivations.
First, the person may be carrying self-limiting beliefs. When a person has a self-limiting belief he or she will make excuses on why the idea for change wouldn’t work and why it’s not even worth trying. You might say that procrastination is the last resort to avoid taking action. Stop procrastinating and start taking action so you can achieve your goals and experience the kind of life you truly want.
For help with this concept, choose from the many high-value and high-content tele-seminars for only $27 USD that can be found by going to: AccountabilityCoach.com/coaching-store/audio-store/
