Procrastination is one of the top reasons most people never accomplish the life they dream of. How many items on your to-do list have been sitting there for way too long? Do you have lists of things you’ll get around to later, when you have more time? Or, do you have huge, daunting tasks that you know will propel you forward toward your goals, yet you don’t know where to start, so you keep putting them off? Learn how to stop procrastination once and for all!
Most people will never know how simple it is to master their life, simply because they’ve allowed procrastination to become a habit. Don’t let things like a phone call, a visit from an office mate, or Facebook stop you from getting things done. Don’t let the heaps of irrelevant tasks you’ve created for yourself stand in the way of life’s really important to-do’s.
It’s the important tasks that separate an average life from a life of excellence. You can become swift and focused! You can break the habit of procrastination today!
How to Break the Habit & Stop Procrastination
Make the following tips HABITS, and procrastination will be a thing of the past!
1. Set Deadlines. Set a deadline for any and every important task. Then, put it on your calendar and to-do list. Break large tasks down into bite-sized pieces to make them less overwhelming and help you get the ball rolling. Set a deadline for each bite-sized task as well.
2. Hold Yourself Accountable. Create accountability to finish a task by telling others your deadline for completing it. Making a promise to someone else makes you more likely to follow through.
3. Reward Yourself. Decide on a reward for completing your important tasks. Don’t stop working on a task until it’s complete, and when it is, reward yourself by getting up and taking a quick walk, grabbing a cup of coffee, etc.
4. No Excuses! Don’t make excuses for unproductive behavior or rationalize it – just get it done!
5. Take Responsibility. Take full responsibility for completing a task on time.
6. Be “Now-Minded.” Take care of important tasks immediately. If you know it needs done, get started on it. Don’t give yourself time to think of an excuse for why you need get back to it later.
7. Stay on Track. Once you’ve started an important task, and your mind starts to wander, check in with yourself. Ask yourself, “Is this the most productive use of my time?”
THANKS so much for this post I was trying to not do my workout but now I have to!
Thank you Chalene! I so needed that today since I was kicking myself for procrastinating on my new business venture. Mostly due to fear, but fear leads to procrastination which leads to no action!
God bless u girl for being a selfless women and helping so many of us in need of modivation,U tottaly rock!!!
I am also one of those people who hates doing the hard stuff first:-(. From time to time I start of in the right direction but then I fall back to my old behaviour of doing the fun stuff first. I like to start my day with fun things and not the things that I find hard to do and am reluctant to do.
Great simple 7 steps here……Your programs are JUST fantastic. You music is incredible. You motivational messages through the videos are phenomenal. Love when you talk to the audience at the right moments.
I use your motivational videos and play them first (commercials), and then start with the program.
On my life-size video screen of 140 inches, it is just as if you are in the room talking to me (and sometimes my wife is doing the exercises with me). All my neighbors know that Chalene is the girl I listen to when it comes to exercises!
Thank you for motivating me, and helping me lose 41.6 lbs.
Kenny