How To Stop Procrastinating

Everyone has put off a task at some point in their life. Have you ever wondered why you procrastinate? If you struggle with putting things off, try any of these tips to get you on track: 1. Stop thinking negative. Many people make a huge deal out of the “what if’s” and then you end up talking yourself out of doing what needs to be done. 2. Concentrate on your “why.” Try to always focus on why you are doing what you are doing, this will always help you stay on track. 3. Start writing in your planner. You need to make sure you are creating a schedule or timetable for the things that need to be done. This will keep you on schedule. Be sure to create a hard start time and end time. 4. Be realistic. As you begin to create your schedule, creating realistic goals, will ensure you set yourself up for success. Some projects can take longer than others, so you will want to allow for the extra time. 5. Get rid of your excuses. Do any of these sound familiar? “I need to be in the mood”, “I will wait until I have time”, “I work better under pressure”, “I need X to happen before I can get started.” 6. Get an accountability partner. This person will help you stay on track, by following up with you on a weekly basis to make sure you aren’t letting anything fall through the cracks. 7. Forgive yourself. Stop beating yourself up about the past. Thoughts such as “I should have started earlier” or “I always procrastinate; I am such a loser” will only make matters worse. Research shows that forgiving yourself for past procrastination will help stay focused on what you need to do. 8. Stop thinking you have to be perfect. Perfectionism is an all-or-nothing mentality: Something is either perfect, or it’s a failure. People with perfectionistic tendencies tend to wait until things are perfect in order to move forward, so, if it's not perfect, you can’t be finished. Or if it is not the perfect time, you believe you can't start. This all-or-nothing mentality can hold you back from starting or completing tasks. Instead, focus on being better than perfect. This means to still strive for excellence, creating excellence, or setting yourself up with excellent conditions, but at the same time, you focus on getting the job done. Finished is better than perfect. Closing: It’s time for you to make “someday” today.