What are Your "Secrets" to Blasting Through Procrastination?

[Tom Johns]

I was talking with an Internet friend yesterday and the subject of Procrastination came up. It’s something we've both struggled with in the past, and it still pops up from time to time. We brainstormed on the “Secrets” to blasting through Procrastination, and taking action.

His system is to:

1) Realize that Procrastination is “Putting off something we don’t want to do but should.
2) Every day, do at least one thing we don’t want to do but should.

Mine is to:

DECIDE--Often, we lose focus of our goals. We Procrastinate because we aren’t sure what we should do. The “Secret” is to Decide what we want from life, Decide what we’ll do to get it, and Decide to take action and Follow Through.

Do YOU have a secret to blasting through Procrastination? If so, please share.

Thanks!
Tom Johns

[Akashic_Librarian]

My secret is knowing that whatever my head is saying about how bad/boring/painful something will be...its a total lie!

And it works

[Shamou]

To end procrastination you simply change the "I should do... this that or something else..." into a "I must do that etc..."

The simple act of changing a "should" into a "must" will do wonders for procrastination..

.

[Iff]

And as soon as you go from "must do" to "want to do", procrastination will disappear even faster.

[John Wesley]

In my experience there isn't any secret it. It all comes down to resolve that can be summed up in this statement:

Just. Effing. Do it.

[Kaspian]

If I catch myself procrastinating on something, I remind myself that I'll feel much better without it hanging over my head, and just get it done.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Iff

And as soon as you go from "must do" to "want to do", procrastination will disappear even faster.

Thank you for helping me to improve on my technique... a small distinction can make a huge difference...

.

[Sam988]

Congrats Shamou... 1000 posts

[Swede]

Are you drawn towards something? Then I think the previously mentioned "I want to do it"-approach, is the best. Or you could even replace it with: I LOVE TO DO IT!

Are you drawn away from something? For instance: a job you just can't stand. In cases like that I use to ask myself: What will happen if I don't take action? Often the answer is that it will be an unbearable situation in the long run. And that gives me an extreme drive to change my situation.

[Alchemiss]

Routine. Then I won't put it off or have to re-decide.

Break tasks into smaller pieces if routine failed me.

"Shoulds" do create resistance in me so ditto what others have said about that.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Sam988

Congrats Shamou... 1000 posts

Thank you Sam...

.

[Parthon]

Expanding on what Swede said:

I've found that when there is something you are procrastinating over you are held back by something about the task that you don't want to confront, either a fear of what it will cost you, or a fear of what you will have to do if you succeed.

Often the cost is nothing major either, just some time or perhaps a little effort, but your mind concentrating on the timeor effort blows it out of proportion and makes it seem ten times as large as it actually is.

The tactic I have often used, when the "just do it" one hasn't working, is concentrating on just the positive aspect. Putting all of my thoughts and energy into the positive outcome I will receive from doing the task until it is so powerful and energetic that I can't stop myself from doing it. It also makes the task enjoyable, and it goes by in a flash. I've found that this works best on largish tasks that take a lot of energy to get rolling, those which seem too large to start. Focusing on the positive helps me overcome the initial inertia needed to get momentum started.

On the flipside though, I don't resist the negative aspect of the task. This just makes it harder by creating a barrier of hidden downsides that do nothing except blindside me and slow me down. Accepting the negativeas it is but focusing on just the positive is what works best.

Definately something to try.

[Ilya]

I've found that my pattern of procrastination was to remember about some action, then check if I can do it later and then start doing something more pleasant.

So to break this pattern, I like to fight procrastination the "Aikido way".
If I start putting something off, I ask my self "Should I start doing it NOW?" And the inner voice usually says "Nope."

But I don't go doing other things. Instead I just wait several seconds and ask again... and again... and again... This focuses my attention on the task while avoiding stress and brings out the obstacles. Sometimes I realize (much like in GTD) that I have to do some preparations before I can even start the problem task. Then I focus on this prerequisite problem instead.

If nothing like that comes up, then after some very short time, the inner voice says "Well, why not?" And then I set in motion.

This mind trick works both as a way to focus on tast at hand, and as a check if the procrastination is a sign of actual problem that needs to be solved.

[Sunnybayes]

Hey guys those are some good methods, I like how you explain the positive aspect, and how to break the mental patterns to shift your focus.

[Ree]

My solution to procrastination is LISTS. It feels soooooo good to scratch something off your list!

Another personal rule of mine is that whenever possible, I tackle my most unpleasant or dreaded project first and get it out of the way. My mom taught me that rule 40 years ago regarding homework assignments. Do the hardest one first and then breeze through the rest!

[The David]

Just do it!

Okay, so that's a pretty shallow response. But remember, that's what it all comes down to. If you don't at some point learn to 'just do it,' then all the anti-procrastination techniques will become another form of procrastination.

But some things that make it easier for me are:

1. Starting a task with no intention of finishing it. Sometimes just starting the dreaded thing makes me realize how easy it really is. If it turns out that it really is hard, then I might try something else.

2. Scheduling. This doesn't always work, but devoting a specific hour to a task makes it kind of like a job, or a class. I have to do it during that one hour, but as soon as the hour is up, then I'm free to go, and I don't have to think about it anymore.

3. Cultivating interest in the task. When I'm at my job, I don't really want to be there, but I find ways to make it interesting. I remind myself that I'm getting paid, that I'm becoming a better worker, that I'm getting closer to the end of the day...whatever helps me at the moment. Even if it's a crappy job. For homework, I try to think things like: This is an opportunity to get a better grade, to learn about a useful subject, blah blah blah.

4. Realizing that procrastination time is not as enjoyable as actual free time. It's easier than doing the task, but it is not as enriching as having the task behind you. It is usually spent websurfing, daydreaming, or studying the texture of the carpet. Is it really so bad that you have to put yourself through all this?

As a strange acquaintance of mine used to say: "Procrastination, is like..."

Well, nevermind that one.