Procrastination is the thief of dreams

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Liesl Parsons — 5 Comments ↓

 Procrastination

 

 “After all…Tomorrow is another day.”

                                                                                              Scarlett O’Hara

                       

If you’ve found yourself putting off important tasks over and over again, you’re not alone. In fact, many people procrastinate to some degree – but some are so chronically affected by procrastination that it stops them fulfilling their potential and reaching their goals.
The key to controlling this destructive habit is to recognise when you start procrastinating, understand why it happens and take active steps to manage your time and outcomes better.

What is Procrastination?

In a nutshell, you procrastinate when you put off things that you should be focusing on right now, usually in favor of doing something that is more enjoyable or that you’re more comfortable doing.According to psychologist Professor Clarry Lay, a prominent writer on procrastination, procrastination occurs when there’s “a temporal gap between intended behavior and enacted behavior.” That is, procrastination is occurring when there’s a significant time period between when people intend to do a job, and when they actually do it.

Here are ten ways to overcome procrastination

1.   Write down a list of all the projects you have put off.

2.  Prioritise them by date you need to have them completed.

3.  Decide what needs to be done first and DO it!

4.  Divide a big project into manageable parts and tackle one a day.

5.  Get a timer and set it for 15 minutes. Focus on that one part without allowing yourself to get distracted.

6.  Get someone to help you get started.

7.  Find an accountability partner and report your progress.

8.  Make a game out of it and have fun!

9.  Celebrate progress and keep going.

10.  Set a fake deadline before the real one.

 

My best advice would be to get stuck in and do whatever it is you’ve been putting off doing.  In my case it would be a pile of paperwork that needs to be filed for our tax return.  Going to get it done now!

If you have some more tips to overcome procrastination, please share in the comments below.

 

Have a good day!

Liesl

 

15 Minutes

 

 

 

 

 

Liesl Parsons

Hi and welcome to my blog! I am a qualified interior designer, but since having children and settling in a rural community I had to re-invent my career. I am now the owner of two successful online businesses and I also partner with my husband in our family business. I do this all in my own time, mostly from my home office. I am the mother of three very bussy boys and working from home is the only option for me. It allows me to be part of my children's lives, while contributing financially in our household. In my blog I want to share a bit of myself, my businesses and life in general with you. Hope you enjoy!

Latest posts by Liesl Parsons (Posts)

Tagged with: , , ,
  • folksey

    What a great timely article. I love fake deadlines. I always give my husband false deadlines for things and it works. I might try it with myself.:)

  • Great tips Liesl – I think my favourite is number 3 – Decide and Do It – My son taught me this with some of his sayings – “Cowboy up”  and “Get ‘er done”

  • Nice post, Liesl. Great tips to avoid procrastination! Thank you.

  • pammckeen

    Thanks for the tips Liesl. I pick # 7. A good accountability partner will help you stay on track. Sometimes we won’t do for ourselves what we will do it for others. Using an accountability partner can be helpful not only in your business but other areas of your life as well.

  • Hi Liesl,
    Congratulation for your 2 online businesses!
    Procrastination has many faces and many layers, what has worked for me is to eat the frog now as Brian Tracy suggests starting the day with the most challenging task.
    After accomplishing it or at least a piece of it the level of energy and self esteem is such that all the rest is easy and fun!
    Thank you for sharing your tips with us.
    Best wishes



OPT IN AND MAKE MONEY: