Procrastination is the avoidance of doing a task which needs to be accomplished. It is the practice of doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones, or carrying out less urgent tasks instead of more urgent ones, thus putting off impending tasks to a later time (Wikipedia).
Procrastination is a problem that many of us have. The same problem when it comes to doing certain tasks that we always seem to avoid. There is help out there for procrastination. A while back, I had an interesting interview with Wellbeing expert Wajeeha Amin, a professional therapist.
I took the opportunity to pay her a visit and discuss procrastination. Nobody enjoys doing the tasks that need completion. We prefer doing pleasurable things and opt to leave the urgent tasks for a later time.
However, this could become a problem eventually. Those urgent tasks become major problems that you could have dealt with in the beginning.
We procrastinate for different reasons:
- fear of success
- fear of failure
- the fear of the unknown
First of all determine what you are trying to achieve. It could be:
- A goal
- A task or
- Anything personal
Then you need to start thinking about what you will achieve when you complete this task or goal.
You learn that there are benefits and negatives when succeeding so you become aware of it.
Another advice she gave me was having a workplace where I am comfortable and a mood board to keep myself organised.
At the end of my session, I had a relaxing hypnotherapy session that helped me feel good and productive at what I do.
In the hypnotherapy session, she taps into your subconscious part of mind, and gently makes changes to those unwanted behaviours, helping to promote positive change. This, in turn, allows you to remain relaxed while change takes place.
Here are Wajeeha’s 5 top tips.
Start with an easy task.
The best way to get things done is to get going. Start on the small task first, as simple as it sounds that what it takes. Completing a task gives you a sense of accomplishment. That feeling of accomplishment will help you with sense of momentum. Before you know it you will be on to the next task, the next and the next.
One piece at a time.
Look at what you need to get done as a jigsaw puzzle. The bigger picture can be hard to get our head around, sometimes scary, so we put them off. By taking that big job and breaking it down into smaller tasks, you can reduce the anxiety of getting it done. Thus getting it done one piece at a time.
Be nice to yourself.
Fear of failure can drive procrastination. We put things off to avoid what we feel is the inevitable “Failure”. We become critical and harsh with ourselves, sound familiar? You are more likely to get started on moving forward if you show yourself some compassion, rather than beating yourself up. Try it, next time you’re put something off and you hear that critical voice, remind yourself of all the things you have accomplished however small they may seem to you.
If you find yourself getting stuck, take some time out, breath, and go back to the task with a clear positive head.
Get a good why.
If you’re struggling to get something done, spend a few minutes thinking more deeply about exactly why you want to do it. What are you passionate about?
It’s easier to get yourself to do something you value, visualize the outcome, what will it feel like, look like when you complete the task? That’s how you beat procrastination.
Take time out
Give yourself the gift of self-care. Step away from a task when you start losing focus. Do something you enjoy, spend time with friends or family. Most of our greatest insights – those “A-ha!” moments – arrive when we least expect them.
We all procrastinate and we all have our faults. That’s what makes us human.
Take some time out and learn to embrace every part of you, let go of your need for control and perfection. It’s a lifelong goal, but it’s well worth pursuing. If you need a helping hand I am here.
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