Six tips to overcoming procrastination

Do you start your day with a long to-do list and then feel you’ve failed because it’s never done? Maybe you struggle to even write a list because too many things are demanding your attention. I’ve been there. I would start my day writing a to-do list. But instead of ticking things off, I’d add more instead. So how do you move forward and start getting things done? 

Here are six practical tips to help you tackle procrastination:

1. Manage your to-do list

One common mistake is writing a list in a rush first thing in the morning. Then adding more during the day. This sets you up to fail. Instead, select just three tasks to complete each day. This will help you focus and give you a sense of achievement.

2. Prioritise 

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when there are too many things to do. This is where prioritising helps. By putting your tasks in order of importance, you’re more likely to tackle things that need your immediate attention.

3. Make a plan

The best time to plan your day is the night before. This allows the subconscious mind to process tasks and do the prep work for you while you sleep. That way you avoid waking up in the night worrying, and your day will flow much better.

4. Visualise

When you’re procrastinating, using visualisation can be a great way forward. Bob Proctor once said: “If you see it in your mind, you will hold it in your hand”. According to the study ‘The Future of Memory’, imagining future events activates a region in your brain that stimulates new neural pathways. By visualising your tasks, you’re giving your brain clear instructions.

5. Find joy

Often people procrastinate over tasks they think they should do, but just can’t get into. To get past that, you need to know why you’re doing the task. Do you really want to? How much? What do you gain? If the benefits don’t resonate with you, explore other things that bring you joy. Procrastination can rob you of valuable time. But it’s also a chance to analyse your choices and see how they fit in the bigger scheme of things.

6. Dig deep

If you’ve been procrastinating for a long time, then you need to understand why. What excuses have you been telling yourself?. Are they valid? Are there any fears holding you back? Sometimes we need to define what’s stopping us first so we can change the way we respond.

The good news is you can get past this. And there’s support available if you can’t manage alone. Techniques like hypnotherapy and Brain Working Recursive Therapy (BWRT) can help remove your subconscious blocks. And sometimes it only takes two sessions. So don’t procrastinate about tackling your procrastination. Instead, tick it off your to-do list.

This article was written for and published in Mo2vate Magazine https://mo2vatemagazine.com