"Don't do it" - effective way to kill procrastination

[Niki]

Hey guys, I just found an effective way to kill procrastination. (works for me )

The last couple of weeks I have been procrastinating so bad, I even procrastinated toilet stops. Doing "other" things always seemed more important then doing what was right to do. Nomatter how hard I focused on things I needed to do, no matter how many tasks I started, no matter how many goals I had set, I didn't finished 1 thing.

Then my computer broke down. I was at home for 2 days, without a computer, and little internet access(cellphone web access is toooo expensive).

Something amazing happened, I started doing things! I drawed a design for my website, made a database scheme, I have read chapters from a few books I always needed to read, I came up with marketing ideas, moneytizing ideas, for my site and worked them out on paper etc.

When my computer was fixed, there was like 1 more day of productivity and then it went down hill. Productivity == 0;

I realized there must be something in my mindset that was holding me back of doing things. I realized I was doing the "other" stuff instead of the real things that needed to happen. What did I do? Nothing but surfing the net, watching the same sites, over and over again. Checking email every 5 minutes, like an addict. looking up "information" about "important" things all the time.

Now I have managed to make a deal with myself.

No useless internet before the Evening Dinner. And with useless I mean really useless.

I may check my mails a few times, look up things about PHP wich I'm learning and thats about it for now.

Whats the result? Productivity == 100

So to kill procrastination, You need to stop doing what you don't need to do(Don't do it), and then start doing what you do need to do!

sounds easy, and I realized this a bit before. But once applied it is a real procrastination killer!

Figure out what is holding you back, and ELIMINATE it until it isn't holding you back anymore!

Peace and Don't do it!

[z1freeride]

Good observation Niki. I actually use this site a lot for procrastination! Kind of ironic, eh? I've been thinking about the activities we do to procrastinate from the activities that we need to do...

It seems like the activity that we should be doing has one of these attributes: difficult, time-consuming, other resources required (involving other people), etc.

And the procrastination activities are always so easy to fulfill. It's so easy to accomplish watching a tv show for an hour.

If this is the case, then what if we broke down those difficult, time-consuming activities into mini activities that are easy? For example, I always procrastinate writing research papers for school. I don't think I would procrastinate writing a title for the paper or reading a few pages of research each day. It's the idea of having to do such a huge project at once that usually leads to anxiety and thus procrastination. This is something that I've learned recently and I'm trying to apply... it does take some work initially breaking down the project/goal though.

[Niki]

Hey z1freeride.

That's true, and what I noticed is that, if I stop activities I don't need to do, I automaticly start doing the "good stuff" nomatter how large the chunks are.

Yesterday, I did 100 pages of a PHP book that is in total of 1000 pages. If I can do this for 10 days, the book is finished. These 100 pages are large chunks, but that doesn't seem to hold me back from doing it. I started this book a few times before, but always had something "better" to do after 3 or 4 pages. Now I just fly trough it. When you don't have anything else to do, you don't have the feeling you are doing hard, sweaty long work! You just do it.

Once you have made that decision: for example "No internet before the evening dinner". and if there is nothing else that can rob you from your time(other procrastination habbits), then there is nothing that can hold you back from doing a really large task at once.

I even felt uncomfortable when stopping with the book after 100 pages, but I was too tired to keep on learning.

[Alex2007]

Sometimes you can not oppose the stream of thought that tells you to do something else. It is good though to set priorities.

[kpugh]

My problem - perfectionism runs deep and strong, and my fear of failure tends to keep me thinking about what I'm going to do...instead of doing it. This is something I've been working on for a while, and I don't feel like I've made much progress with it beyond recognizing it and acknowledging that I'm stuck in this self-defeating behavior. When I allow myself to succeed, that's when I reach or exceed my own expectations. But more often, I seem to hold myself back.

[Niki]

Originally Posted by kpugh

My problem - perfectionism runs deep and strong, and my fear of failure tends to keep me thinking about what I'm going to do...instead of doing it. This is something I've been working on for a while, and I don't feel like I've made much progress with it beyond recognizing it and acknowledging that I'm stuck in this self-defeating behavior. When I allow myself to succeed, that's when I reach or exceed my own expectations. But more often, I seem to hold myself back.

Hey,

when you say "when I allow myself" what exactly do you mean ? and what are you doing instead of succeeding?

[kpugh]

Good question, what do I mean by "when I allow myself". I think I'm talking about how sometimes I'm able to let go of my fear of failure and just go DO something. There are these times that I'm OK with not being perfect and I don't care who sees it. But I often find myself there before realizing it, and I don't know what I did (or didn't do) that got me over that hurdle.

The positive edge of this "perfection hesitation" is that I typically come off fairly polished and put together. It's because I've mulled something over for quite a while before I say it, or do it. The drawback, however, is that I've often missed the opportunity to have the right timing, or I've kept others waiting too long.

It's strange though - when I'm one on one, part of a team, or doing a public presentation or something, I never have this struggle. I'm just in the moment and DOING. It's when I'm alone, thinking, planning, etc...I get stuck in THAT instead of DOING.

[Peter Tosh]

funny i read this becuase i'm on my spring break this week from college and on monday it starts my midterm examinations. i havn't opened one book as of yet hahaha. i guess tomorrow its cram time. But the idea of no useless internet time is a good idea. real good idea i think i may take that up and give it a shot

[nextlevelandbeyond]

Hello All,

I just heard a great tidbit on procrastination. I don't want to do the speaker and injustice by quoting her incorrectly, but it was something like, when writing down the things you want to get done during the day right down the things that you don't want to do or tend to procrastinate on... such as mopping the floors. That way you are commited to not doing them on that day so it is no longer procrastination. I thought that was great!

It was broadcast on the internet. I will find it and edit it down and post it so you can hear it directly from her. I actually put it to use and it really helped me focus on what I needed to get done versus nagging myself on what I was not getting done.

[Erock]

I really appreciate this thread Nikki. You know, as great as the computer is, it causes about (actually there is no about about it) 100% of my procrastination and general lack of productivity issues. It really is as bad as TV, even if it may seem superficially better. I could be on the internet/computer for days. Especially when I'm tired, man that's the worst.

This may seem kind of weird, but I really think it's more the monitor then it is the computer itself. It's like this beautiful bright memorizing reality consumer, and it doesn't help that I just bought a 22" wide screen monster. Anyways, I really appreciate you bringing this to light for me.

Erock

[Power]

If you ever noticed, we can find every excuses not to start anything and procrastinate.

It's raining so I'll do it tomorrow.
I don't have enough time.
I need a certain tool.
It's the holiday.
It's hot.
I don't know it.
I can't do it.
I'm waiting for someone.
I'm waiting for something.
My eyebrow hurts

Talk about focusing on the wrong things in life. The next time we starts to put off things and procrastinate, let's be aware of our thoughts. Let us shift our thoughts rather negative and let us shift it to positive ones.

The next time you find yourself procrastinating, try coming up with positive excuses instead. Here are some examples:
(Don't want to exercise)
-I will feel good because I'll look sexy
-Hot men/women will be attracted to me because I look good
-I won't get sick easily
-I will lose weight
-I'll be able to play and catch up with my kids
-I can spend quality time with my love ones when I fit.
-I can eat whatever I want because my metabolism is high because of exercise. Hmmm, chocolate cake!!!!

Think of the benefits by doing it:
-I will gain more money
-I will gain more respect
-I will gain more happiness
-I will gain more peace
-I will feel good
-I will experience ........
-I'll get to spend quality time with........

Think about carefully the last time you procrastinated.... what were you thinking? were you thinking of the pain and the excuses? were negative emotions running through you during the time you were procrastinating; fear, pain, lack of energy, unmotivated, laziness, bored, uninterested?

Remember when you signed up for that MLM program?... why?... because they focused on the benefits and not on the negative aspect of things. They focused on Financial freedom, more time for yourself and family, Holidays, Expensive cars, smiling faces, celebrations, etc... All this emotions and positive energy got you up and you took actions to start that MLM program. It was like a knee-jerk reaction on your part without any effort.

You got 2 options.
option#1 = make negative excuses to not take actions

or

options#2 = make positive excuses and reap what you sow from today's actions you have planted

[Niki]

Some very cool posts here! I like that!

@Power. What you write there is powerfull! Thanks!

[TomSprewer]

I try to live and breathe with the 'Nike' logo... Just do it.
If you hesitate for one second, it's a lost second.

If you feel you need to go it, go for something, then start it right now. I lost 8 years of my life in a job I hated... Figure if I had only lost 4

[gnitratser]

Yes, doing things for comfort-only & knowing that you can do something easier instead of your projects is bad for you.

All the wonderful effects of fasting for instance can be totally lost because you fall into some habitual comfort-only activity. Your awareness can be consumed by it, & I recommend to take a day or 2 of much meditation, & only keep doing the important stuff.

& I have tried it even further by meditating for 2 days, & I was suprised & felt very uncomfortable (fear & worry) with how much I had been procrastinating because of falling into useless habits!