So many people want to know how to stop procrastinating and get more done.
All the time women say to me that they feel under time pressure, yet when they have spare time they waste it watching TV or procrastinating about what they feel they ‘should’ be doing.
This way of thinking creates anxiety and causes the mind to freeze and so you remain stuck, which leads to more procrastination. It’s a vicious cycle.
So much stress comes from unclear and unwritten goals. We waste so much time and energy on those little things that bug us. Things we think about too much, talk about too much and take too much time to act on.
The truth is that most people avoid or resist the thinking and planning process because of fear. They avoid listing specific action steps towards their goal because of fear of failure. Fear of losing control is often more than we can bare. The dread of imperfection or worry over making a wrong decision is excruciating.
The good news is that there’s a way to stop procrastinating.
When we manage our commitments we feel in control of our lives, our outcomes and our future. This doesn’t change the uncertainty we all face daily, but it does show that we can do something about it. It shows that productivity is not something that defines our self-worth, it is a good habit that helps us enjoy life more.
Instead of letting things randomly pop into your head and take over your thinking with a stream of helpless ‘should have, could have, if only’, which adversely affects your mental and physical wellbeing, you can take charge of the situation and make a plan.
David Allen, author of Getting Things Done says, “the most productive people are those with the emptiest heads.” What he means by this is that these people think about something, plan it, take action and move on to the next thing. In other words, stuff gets done! They don’t waste time wishing, worrying or procrastinating.
If you want to bring order to chaos and turn your problems into projects, then you need to be in the driver’s seat and that means being a decision maker.
Here are 5 simple steps to more productivity :
- Gather everything into one collection tool ie: notepad/diary. This allows you to organise your thinking and capture what’s important without the worry of forgetting.
- Clarify a process. Is it actionable, what is the first step? If not actionable, put it in the bin or file it away.
- Put reminders on your fridge door, bathroom mirror and computer keyboard.
- Reflect and review regularly. Stay updated with your progress to retain focus and control.
- Engage others to help you with your mindset and even some of the practical tasks.
An organised system gives your brain a chance to rest, which is so important for your mental and physical wellbeing. It allows you time to contemplate, wonder and dream. These moments increase clarity of mind and allow mental agility to problem solve, to be more present and to have more time to do what you love with confidence and calm.
If you’d like me to help you get organised and stop procrastinating, then let’s have a quick chat.
