End Procrastination Before Opportunity Passes You Buy

“Hmm, maybe tomorrow I’ll do it.”  Sound familiar? The big “P” strikes again.  Fighting off procrastination is a challenge.  You may be drawn to delaying the tasks at hand, feeling that there’s enough time to get it done which is often misleading.  

Unfortunately, procrastination is at the root of many unachieved dreams. It stands in the way of getting what you want because the necessary tasks get put off time and again.

You can work at ending procrastination once and for all by slowly taking steps towards a renewed approach such as:

1. Prioritize opportunities. If something isn’t significant to you, you’ll probably spend very little time trying to achieve it. That reality is the basis of your priority list. The achievements that really matter most belong at the top. Everything else can fall whenever. And that might even mean falling off the list!

First, identify those activities that give you the most inner joy and happiness? Never mind what popular opinion thinks.  Then prioritize. Finally, once your list is in place, start at the very top. The most crucial thing deserves the most attention. You’re guaranteed ultimate satisfaction once you achieve it!

2. Break down tasks into achievable bits.  It’s easy to put things off because they seem too overwhelming. Your natural instinct may be to shy away from things that are too complex. You can fix this by breaking down your tasks. This makes the prize seem more attainable.  If you struggle with knowing the steps to be taken, seek support from an ally. Someone who can assist you in talking it through.

Set very small, and achievable tasks. You may even want to set aside time each day to work on them.  Once you’ve checked something off your list, you’ll be one step closer to the prize. The feeling of progress is energizing and builds momentum for the next activity.

3. Renew your commitment each day. To stay on track, it’s vital that you maintain your commitment to the goal. Do this by renewing your commitment each day.

When you wake up, remind yourself of your purpose. Take a look at what you’re motivated to achieve. The feeling of excitement about achieving the desired goal is there, you just need to reengage it regularly.  If the spark is fading, perhaps it wasn’t as important as you thought it was.

“Procrastination usually results in sorrowful regret. Today’s duties put off until tomorrow give us a double burden to bear; the best way is to do them in their proper time.” ~ Ida Scott Taylor

4. Reward yourself for each achievement. Keep yourself engaged and focused on the goal by rewarding yourself along the way.  Take time to celebrate the steps that are leading you toward success. As you achieve each small task, celebrate the progress you’ve made by: 

Making a significant effort to celebrate what you’ve accomplished. A half-hearted attempt isn’t really enough. To maintain commitment, you have to reward yourself well every step of the way.

Being kind to yourself.  It is the best way to stay motivated. When you know there’s a reward at the end, you’ll likely commit every ounce of effort necessary.

Treat yourself to something you’ve always wanted. Maybe in the past, you avoided spending on it because it “wasn’t worth it.” But now you have every reason to go get it!

There are more than enough reasons for you to go after meaningful goals. If you’re honest with yourself, you can easily list them all on a piece of paper. Focus on doing something to move toward your goal today. Leave tomorrow for a celebration of today’s success!