Stop Procrastinating Now

If you know you have the condition of procrastination, you have made a start toward finding a way to cure it. There are many ways to deal with procrastination. It just takes acceptance of the fact you are a procrastinator that will get you started. After all, you can’t cure something that you don’t admit you have.
After you have accepted the fact you are a procrastinator, there are ways you can deal with procrastination. These ways include:

• Take stock of the way you make decisions. If you take too much time making decisions because you are afraid to try, wanting it to be perfect, perhaps you need to look deep inside yourself to see why you feel that way. You may want to take on the assignment, but take it one step at a time instead of looking at the whole assignment at once. This way you won’t get bogged down or overwhelmed with what you are facing. The procrastinators who tried this claimed it worked.

• When you do a project, break it down into manageable steps, have a specific time frame set for each part and focus on completing that part for that time allotted. Make sure this allotted time is within your scope or abilities to get it done. You wouldn’t want to underestimate the time and find you are under pressure to get it done.

• Try to plan your activities throughout the day so you can give yourself time for relaxation. This is important. Because if you work too much, you will burn yourself out. Not only that but if you reward yourself with relaxation time, you are in fact giving yourself credit for some desired time out. This will help prevent you from having resentment over the chore you have to undertake.

• Any time you take on a task, monitor your steps closely. Take small steps and watch for any distractions that can occur. When a problem occurs, or you have a feeling about something, handle it immediately. Don’t put it off. Your feelings may be founded or may not be. The important point is to face your fears head on and understand why they happen. Then take the proper steps to correct them.

• If you are a perfectionist, try to remember that nothing is perfect, no matter what. Therefore, go into a task with one goal in mind – to do your best. Do not put a lot of expectations on yourself except to complete the task at hand in the time frame you set for yourself. This will help you to overcome the condition of
perfectionism.

Besides the above methods, you also have to take other steps so you can overcome certain characteristics that prevent you from living a fruitful life. One point of reference is to look at fear and understand why you have it. You have to understand the fear, identify what it is, and learn how to overcome it. The best way to describe this is with an example. Let’s say you were looking for a job and you keep getting rejected over and over. Because of this you decide not to pursue finding another job. Why did you decide to stop searching just because you were rejected? Perhaps the reason you were rejected was because you kept going after jobs that did not fit your skills or qualifications. Perhaps you did not perform the interview properly. Maybe your resume wasn’t written correctly. There are so many variables to consider. The one thing you have to realize is that rejection does not mean you have to take it as an absolute. Rejection does not mean anything personal. If you are not sure, you need to speak to a counselor who can examine your resume and provide a critique on your job search and interview skills, to determine where you are lacking.
By seeking a counsellor, you stand a better chance of getting good results with your job search.

If you have problems with meeting appointments on time, try to plan your day earlier. Get up sooner in the morning so you have plenty of time to prepare. Then leave at least an hour before your scheduled time, this way you can overcome any obstacles that may come your way as you seek to get to your destination. It is also good to get a calendar so you can mark your appointment down. This way you can see your appointments at a glance. It would be good to have an appointment book to take with you when you leave home so you can keep track of your appointments. Having reminders in front of you all the time will help you in your efforts to improve making appointments on time.

When you make plans, only plan at least a week ahead of time. Do not go beyond that, otherwise you may overburden yourself and start panicking. After you have completed one week, plan for the next week. Keep doing this each week for as long as you need to.

And when it comes to doing any task, do not take on the whole thing at once. Instead, break the task down into meaningful chunks. This way you won’t get overwhelmed with so much to do at the same time. You will only have the small part to look at and this will help you get the job done faster and easier. When you have completed the first task, proceed to the next task. Keep doing this each and every time you complete the task and you will find the whole project will get completed without your backing out of it. You’ll be amazed at what you did when you look back and see what you accomplished. Remember to break down each task into smaller bits until you become comfortable enough that you can do a task without breaking it down more.

The most important consideration for you to think about regarding procrastination is that you have to recognize all self-defeating problems such as fear, anxiety, inability to concentrate, bad time management, being indecisive, and perfectionism.

You also have to identity and write down your goals for whatever you choose to do. If it is a task that you have been assigned to do, then write down your goals on paper and keep track of what you do. Do the same thing with regards to your strengths, weaknesses, values, and priorities. You must record everything. This way you can refer to it every day. This will help you tremendously in both the short and long run.

When you look at your values, you will know what you believe and what you don’t. You will understand what your true self really is and where you stand on many issues you are confronted with each day.

Priorities help you to keep organized. Putting your priorities down in the order they need to get done and looking at that list frequently as you work, will help you immensely to overcome your anxiety of not getting the work done. It is like going to the shops with a shopping list. As you shop for what you want, you see the item and place it in your cart. Then you check that item off your list. This is exactly what you do with your priorities. You simply write them down and proceed to take them on one at a time. As you complete the task, you check it off. This really is a great way to make sure everything gets done, and you’ll be surprised at how you managed to complete each task in a timely fashion.

When you perform a task, look at your values, and decide if they are compatible. If so, go on and do it. But if the task is not compatible with your values, don’t get involved. Nine times out of ten, if you take on a job, task, or assignment, and your values don’t match with that job, task, or assignment, you will not complete it. Then you will go back to square one again and feel inadequate. Make sure you match your values with the action or actions you plan to take.

Another factor is that procrastinators fail to utilize time well. Many of them are time wasters. Don’t be a time waster. Instead, be a time manager. If you learn to manage your time wisely, you will find that all the things you used to complain about not being able to get done, because you had no time for it, will now get done because you do have time for it. You will become elated by the time you have. You’ll begin wondering why you waited so long to do this.

If you are in school, there is a way to get around your procrastination. When you begin to study, do so in small increments instead of looking at the whole assignment at once. Take a certain amount of time and study for that time. Then stop, take a break, then start the next block. Do the same until you complete the entire assignment. This will make the effort better and less demanding for you. After you have completed each short block, reward yourself for having completed that by taking a short break and enjoy your favorite drink or snack. You deserve it because you made it through that first section. When you take your breaks don’t spend too much time on them. You’ll get spoiled and won’t want to go back to your work. So try to keep them around 10 minutes, no longer if possible.

When you do study, have one goal in your mind, to learn and to prepare for the ultimate triumph – passing the test for this subject. Try to motivate yourself to study so you can achieve this end result. The more you picture the end result of an A on your test, the more motivated you will get. Another method you can use as you study, and many students who were procrastinators found this to be helpful, is to create a list of sections you have to study. Maybe break things down by chapter subheadings. This way as you complete each subheading, you mark it down on your list. By following these guidelines, you will get through your homework without once giving up or postponing the task.

The most important consideration for you is to set realistic goals for yourself. This means writing down what you expect to achieve for the day, week, month, or year, and doing everything possible to accomplish those goals. Be realistic with your goals. Do not put too much on yourself at once. Instead, strive for something reachable at first. Once you have reached for and obtained that goal, shoot for the next one. Keep doing this until you have reached all your goals. Once you have reached all your goals, you can think about newer more distant goals. But the new goals should be higher or need more work to be obtained. As you seek higher goals and reach them, you’ll gain more confidence and believe strongly that you’ll be able to reach any goals you need or want to make. It is just a matter of believing in yourself and what you can do.

After accomplishing many goals in your life, you will have reached heights you probably never reached before. A world of opportunity that wasn’t there before will now be open to you. You’ll find yourself presented with endless possibilities that will take you places you've never been to before.

The one problem procrastinators claim they face is distractions in their environment. These distractions come in many forms. In order for you to handle what comes up in your life, you must remove distractions whatever they may be. Make sure you have plenty of light when studying. This way you don’t have to strain. When you do study, don’t get too comfortable, or else you will find yourself falling asleep, or not wanting to study. Make sure to sit in a desk chair or some kind of firm chair. A straight-back chair is great. This will keep you from being too relaxed. This way you can stay focused on what is in front of you.

One other problem that also must be addressed here is sleep. Ever since we were children, we have been told that we need eight or more hours of sleep to function properly. Our health, safety, and performance depend on a good night's sleep. Yet, most procrastinators do not get the amount of sleep they should. There could be a good reason for this. Procrastinators tend to fear missing out on some kind of action. They think that if they sleep too long they will miss out on something that they should have been involved in. This is particularly true of college students. Procrastinators find that they delay studying until the last minute, and then they do all-nighters and cram for the exams they need to take. The problem with this is that they deprive themselves of sleep, which in turn affects their memory. When it comes time to take the test, they can’t remember what they studied. This is why using good study habits and getting a good night’s sleep is essential to passing courses.

Many people wake up each morning by an alarm, which they set religiously, even though they don’t have to get up so early. But what they fail to do is go to bed the night before in time to get a good night’s sleep before that alarm goes off.
Sleep deprivation has caused many illnesses, accidents, and problems. This is because when you have a lack of sleep, you can’t concentrate fully. Not only can you not concentrate fully, you also can’t think quickly enough, nor can you remember facts or whatever material you had absorbed beforehand.

What procrastinators need to realize is that when they go to bed at night, they won’t miss anything. They will wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go and do whatever tasks they need to do. They will have a clear head and a better memory. They will be more successful at passing tests than if they sat up all night cramming. The best way for procrastinators to avoid sleep deprivation is to set up a schedule to study. By follow this schedule religiously, they will find it easier to study and they won’t miss the chance for a good night’s sleep.

The best way to get the right amount of sleep, besides having a schedule of study, is to focus on going to bed at the same time each night and having a set time to get up in the morning. But don’t set the clock to get you up too early in the morning until you have had ample time to get at least eight hours of sleep. If you must get up early, go to bed early, and do it each night. This way you will get the amount of sleep you need. This will make you alert, refreshed, and ready to go for another day. If you concentrate on doing this each day you will get into the habit of doing this and will do it automatically. Then you won’t revert back to being a procrastinator again. Whatever you do before you go to bed at night, don't drink caffeine. This is absolutely the worst thing to do. It acts as a stimulant and keeps you awake. Don’t drink coffee. If you must drink something hot, drink decaffeinated herbal tea. If your procrastination is so advanced that nothing seems to work to help you sleep, go see a psychiatrist or psychologist, so you can get the help you need.

You can deal with procrastination as long as you know the score. You must know that you have it, and that it is indeed a problem. Then you just need to learn about what causes the problem and take steps to deal with it.

Previously you learned about the causes of procrastination and why it happens. You were told that procrastination is a condition that can be cured once you know the condition, why it occurs, and how it happens. Knowing these facts will help you in your efforts to cure your procrastination. So what is there left to do? You need to learn about what you must do to stop procrastination in its tracks.

In order to stop procrastinating, you must take certain steps and follow certain guidelines. Although you take the steps to stop procrastinating, remember that you have been procrastinating for a long time, so you aren’t going to stop overnight. It will take some time to quit. But if you work at a certain program every day, it will help lessen the effects of it, until you are rid of procrastination for good.

Taking small steps may be the best way to cure procrastination. But you must start slowly. Don’t expect perfection, nor expect a change overnight. If you perform certain steps right, you’ll make it. Here are the most recommended steps to take:

• Start Small: Any time you do anything at first, your best bet is to start small. Take things gradually. If you must, make a list to follow each day. This will help you get through the day, at least till you don’t have to be dependent on lists any more.

• Changing Home Life: The hardest part for procrastinators is living by themselves at home. There is no one else around to say anything to them. They are basically on their own in their house. This can cause them to lack discipline. They will not want to try to change. And the hardest part of being alone is change. You have no one to encourage you or force you to keep going or make the necessary adjustments. This is why being at home is the hardest thing to do for a procrastinator.

• The Control Factor: The biggest problem for some procrastinators is they like to take control of situations.

Taking control has its good points and bad points. The good point is you see to it things get done. The bad point is that it can have negative connotations. You may develop the urge to go beyond the control you should have. Instead, monitor your control and only do what is necessary to get the work done that needs to be done. Don’t go beyond that. Have people around to help you so you won’t have to go it alone. Using control can help you, especially in an office situation, but if you go beyond this control, you are risking it.

An example of this could be if there is a special meeting you have to go to by 1 p.m., but you also have reports that are due by 2 p.m. You don’t want to put off doing the reports. So you get out your trusty list, and you work on your reports till about 12:30 p.m. You notice your meeting is in a building next door and it usually takes 10 minutes to get there. So you work on the reports till 12:30 p.m and then mark doing these reports off your list. Now you walk out the door. When you get back from the meeting, you check off the meeting from your list and take your reports to your manager for delivery. You have just completed your list for the day, if that is all you had listed. If you had more, you simply go back to your office and continue down the list. This is the best way to use the proper amount of control.

• Face Your Fears: The best way to face fears or resist the temptation to be a procrastinator is to think about what would happen to you if you procrastinated on the task you want to do. How would you feel about not doing it? What would happen if you didn’t do it? Usually asking questions about your own fear and doubt is a way to break it. Because when you realize the fear is not real, it helps you to overcome it. Or, if you feel a lot of pain, anger, or resentment around the fear and avoidance you may face now, then perhaps you should think twice about developing procrastination. Having this kind of attitude has worked numerous times for procrastinators in the past and can work for you now, if you let it work.

These are just some of the ways in which you can stop procrastination in its tracks. Just take the necessary steps to alleviate it and you will soon find that it is a thing of the past. Imagine a life without having to suffer from procrastination. This is possible if you follow through on all you have to do and stick to it. Remember what you read in this text. You can’t get rid of procrastination overnight. It will take time, perhaps days, months, or even years, but you will eventually get rid of it. Get rid of those internal emotions that cause you to have procrastination like fear, avoidance, and perfectionism, and you’ll be on your way to a life free of those emotions and conditions that have held you back for so long.

SUMMARY
From reading this series you have found that there are many people who suffer from procrastination. It is a behaviour problem that is very difficult to get rid of. People who suffer from it often find they engage in it without even thinking about it. It just happens. Unfortunately, procrastination affects people in a bad way. Some people don’t even know they have it.

The biggest question that is asked is what’s procrastination? According to psychologists, procrastination is an avoidance of something. The person who is a procrastinator feels that his life is unmanageable. They will do everything possible to avoid situations, just so they can get out of facing their responsibility no matter what the task is. At first, the person is relieved to know no action had to be taken. But then feelings of guilt, inadequacy, depression, and self-doubt arise for failing to accomplish the task at hand.

Procrastination is a complex psychological behavior. Those who are not afflicted by it are lucky. But then again there are those who do have the condition, but not as badly as others. To those who are badly afflicted by it, the condition can lead to stress and anxiety.

Procrastinators act strangely and are often predictable in behavior. You give them a task and right away they are eager to do it. When they start the task, they think they have everything under control until they begin to do the work. Then they find they can’t do it and make all kinds of excuses for not wanting to get it done.
It is only when procrastinators can get in touch with the reality of their condition and take steps to alleviate it, that their procrastination can become less of a burden, and maybe become a condition of the past.

For the person having the condition of procrastination, dealing with it is crucial. But many people try to treat the condition only to find it stays around and continues to haunt them. There really are many causes of procrastination. However, the most important point here is to find the cause and remove it so the person who suffers from it won’t have to suffer constantly.

As was stated earlier, the causes of procrastination are many. These can include having confusion and fear, not planning enough, not analyzing things, not prioritizing, avoiding responsibilities, chronic depression, fatigue, lack of vision, and many more symptoms.

Now you know procrastination does not have to control your life. Of course if you have had it for a long time, it will be hard to get rid of. But it’s not impossible. The main thing is to learn how to deal with it. Once you know how to deal with it, you can take the next step to get rid of the problem once and for all.

Before you can get rid of procrastination, you have to acknowledge you have the problem. After you recognize you have it, you can then take the appropriate steps to rid yourself of its cursed existence.
There is one obstacle that stands in the way for many people. This is the fact that it could take a long time for it to be cured. Sometimes it can take days, weeks, or even years before the condition goes away. Once you understand the reasons behind procrastination and why it won’t go away so easily, you can get to the root of it, and find what allows it to flourish in your life, and remove that problem.

As you know, the causes of procrastination are many and can vary from one person to another. It is hard to pinpoint the exact cause because there can be different origins for each person who suffers from it. So why doesn’t procrastination go away?

Procrastination has deep-rooted causes which keep people from finding a cure for it right away. Even though the sufferer may have taken steps to get cured, unless the person gets to the core or root of the problem, they will likely have procrastination until such issues are dealt with. As long as the person has inner fear, a need for control, or a need for perfection, the person will continue to suffer from procrastination.

Procrastination can be dealt with. Those who suffer from it can be free of it. But in order to keep procrastination from becoming a major problem that persists, changes must be made on the inside first. Once these changes are made, any kind of problems that may have surfaced previously will be eliminated.