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If you want to overcome procrastination it is important to know the common reasons we procrastinate doing things we want to do.
Procrastination is completely normal but fortunately there are ways to overcome it.
These are six of the biggest reasons I’ve found that people procrastinate and some effective ways to work through them.
1) Remind yourself why you want to do something
It is easy to procrastinate doing things we want to do if they are not seen as important as things we have to do.
Most people have been taught that if something is not necessary it is not worth doing.
In order to start doing things we want to do we have to start giving those things more priority in our lives.
Actively write down the reasons you want to do something in a journal. For instance, if you want to start going to gym, write things like, “My body will look and feel great… I will have more energy, etc.”
Or if you want to start a business, write something like, “I will have more freedom,” or “I can have more time with my children and family, etc.”
Whenever you are feeling unmotivated, open the journal to remind yourself why you want to do it in the first place.
Reminding yourself of the “why” will give you energy to push through the resistance of incorporating something new into your life.
2) Put the thing you are Procrastinating into your Schedule
If we are going to do anything consistently it needs to be put into our schedules at first. This is for the simple reason that we already have our days filled with things we are used to doing.
Things that we are used to doing are already built into our schedules and don’t require the same amount of planning.
If we are going to do something new, then it is important to plan the time we are going to do them.
Get a daily planner and start to plan the thing you are procrastinating into your shedule. This will tell your brain that it is a priority.
This can sometimes mean that another activity has to be replaced. It might mean watching an hour less of t.v. at night or getting up earlier. Without planning a new activity into your schedule, it will most likely not happen.
Pick a realistic time within the week to do the thing you want to do, and see if that helps work through the procrastination.
3) Fear of Failure can cause Procrastination
Another reason for procrastinate is a fear of failure.
We may be afraid that we won’t actually be good at the thing we want to do.
Ask yourself honestly if that is the reason you are procrastinating, and write down the answer in your journal.
The reality is no one is good at something at first. It takes time to develop skills.
If we don’t actually do the things we want to do, then there is no chance of getting good at them.
4) Feeling like we don’t know enough about the Thing we want to do
Trying to learn everything about the thing we want to do is a huge cause of procrastination.
We don’t have to know everything to get started at something.
Even just dedicating five minutes to doing the thing we want to do can help overcome that hurdle.
Start with the basics. It is better than never starting at all.
5) Feeling Selfish for Doing the Things we Want to do causes procrastination
Another reason we may be procrastinating is that we are taught to put others first.
We can sometimes feel guilty when we are doing something for ourselves rather than helping others.
There is nothing wrong with spending time doing things for ourselves simply because we want to do them.
Remember that If we don’t dedicate some time to ourselves and our own needs then we’ll have nothing to give to others.
6) Ask yourself if you really want to do the thing you are procrastinating
Ask yourself if the thing you are procrastinating doing is something you actually want to be doing.
Sometimes we don’t really want to do something but we think it is necessary to achieve a goal.
If that is the case, then getting more excited about the bigger picture can help you get through the procrastination.
Imagine what will happen when you start doing the things you are procrastinating.
Create a vision in your mind and feel the essence of achieving that goal. I discovered creative visualization when I read this book, and it was game changing.
You can also used guided meditation to create a vision of the future. I used this meditation and it helped me to overcome procrastination to create this blog.
You can read the full story here….
There are many reasons for procrastination, but that doesn’t mean that we are lazy. Be easy on yourself for not doing the things you want to do at first.
Habits take at least 30 days to form, so it actually takes a lot of energy at first to do the things we want to do.
Just remind yourself that it is normal to procrastinate and start to focus on the “why” and the “bigger picture.” This will make doing the things you are procrasting more of a priority in your life.
Need some Guidance in your journey….
I am a lifecoach specializing in happiness and life purpose.
Because I believe everyone’s needs and goals are different I offer as little or as many sessions as needed.
For a free 15 minute consultation e-mail me at aglassofcheri@gmail.com