No matter how successful or disciplined you become, there’s one thing we all suffer from - and it’s the problem of “getting started.” The fancy word for it is procrastination.
Procrastination starts from laziness, to getting overwhelmed, to experiencing agony from not doing the work, to denying it needs to be done, to asking if it ever has to be done, and finally caving to the pressure of the deadline. Note the keyword: “pressure.”
If you look closely, you’ll see that everything leading to procrastination is just a cog in the machine. Anxiety is not why you’re procrastinating. Impostor Syndrome is also not why you’re ignoring a 10-minute task for one week. You’re simply lacking accountability and the pressure to deliver.
We also tend to weigh the consequences of not completing a task. If the consequence is minor, we procrastinate more. If it’s major, we procrastinate less. But some people can watch their lives crumble and still procrastinate. I hope that’s not you.
So, how do you stop procrastinating?
First rule – If it takes less than 5 minutes, do it immediately.
Second rule – If you’re not sure how complex a task is, schedule a time to plan or research it. In the process, you’ll realize it’s not what you think.
Third rule – Always find a way to be accountable. When you’re working with a team, it’s easy. But if it’s something personal, like completing a course, the best way is to join a community. Connect with people who have a finish-it mindset.
Stay focused.
Written by @thanni
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