– written 16 October –
Or playing chicken with yourself!
Procrastination is a common problem that can cause various issues, like missed opportunities and increased stress. It is a self-defeating behavior pattern marked by short-term benefits and long-term costs. Many of us know it as putting off things that we need to get done, no matter the level of difficulty behind the task. During our more productive moments, when we temporarily figure out how to stop procrastinating, we feel satisfied and accomplished. However, procrastination can be a challenge we have all faced at one point or another.
If you’re struggling with procrastination, here are some tips and techniques that can help you overcome it:
- Start small: Starting with small tasks can help you build momentum and gain confidence.
- Make a plan: Creating a plan can help you stay organized and focused on your goals.
- Finish things: Completing tasks can give you a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to keep going.
- Deal with distractions: Eliminating distractions can help you stay focused on the task at hand.
- Be kind to yourself: Being kind to yourself can help you build self-compassion and reduce stress.
- Break tasks into manageable steps: Breaking tasks into smaller pieces can make them feel more manageable and less overwhelming.
- Commit to a tiny first step: Starting with a tiny first step can help you overcome the initial resistance to getting started.
- Give yourself permission to make mistakes: Accepting that your work won’t be perfect can help you overcome the fear of failure.
- Make it easier to take action: Preparing everything you need in advance can make it easier to get started.
- Make tasks more enjoyable: Listening to music or finding other ways to make tasks more enjoyable can help you stay motivated.
- Make it harder to procrastinate: Removing potential distractions can help you stay focused on the task at hand.
- Delay before indulging the impulse to procrastinate: Counting to 10 or taking a deep breath before giving in to the impulse to procrastinate can help you regain control.
In summary, procrastination is a self-defeating behavior pattern that can cause various issues. However, there are several tips and techniques that can help you overcome it, such as starting small, making a plan, finishing things, dealing with distractions, being kind to yourself, breaking tasks into manageable steps, committing to a tiny first step, giving yourself permission to make mistakes, making it easier to take action, making tasks more enjoyable, making it harder to procrastinate, and delaying before indulging the impulse to procrastinate.
Citations:
[1] https://www.mindtools.com/a5plzk8/how-to-stop-procrastinating
[2] https://mcgraw.princeton.edu/undergraduates/resources/resource-library/understanding-and-overcoming-procrastination
[3] https://www.boisestate.edu/coen-mbe/2021/04/20/5-ways-to-stop-procrastinating/
[4] https://solvingprocrastination.com/how-to-stop-procrastinating/
[5] https://hbr.org/2017/10/5-research-based-strategies-for-overcoming-procrastination
[6] https://jamesclear.com/procrastination
Amor Fati is a mindset that you take on for making the best out of anything that happens. Treating each and every moment – no matter how challenging – as something to be embraced, not avoided. To not only be okay with it, but love it and be better for it. So that like oxygen to a fire, obstacles and adversity become fuel for your potential.
Ryan Holiday
Roisin Markham 
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