Ever wonder how to stop procrastinating?
I was recently talking with a friend who said, "You know, I need to have guests over to my house more often." "Why is that?" I asked. "Because that seems to be the only time I really clean my house," she responded.
Isn't that the truth! Deadlines and commitments have a wonderful way of forcing us to get things done which have to be done. It is easy to procrastinate about doing something when there is no one to hold you accountable.
Think about it!
You may be the worst procrastinator on earth about certain things like housework or dreaded work projects but chances are you file your tax return on time ever year.
This is because the federal government has placed a deadline on filing tax returns and they hold us accountable if they are not done.
If you want to stop procrastinating in your life try setting yourself deadlines for projects you have been putting off and finding ways to hold yourself accountable for meeting these deadlines.
Here are some ideas of how you can use this strategy to stop procrastinating at home and in your work.
1. Write it Down.
The act of simply deciding when you plan to complete a task and writing it down on your calendar can be very effective in creating a sense of a deadline.
2. Schedule something that forces you to take action.
For example, invite guests over to your house. If you have been putting off cleaning the house this will force you to clean and put things in order.
Another example, might be if you have been putting off visiting someone you know you should visit then give that person a call and let them know you will be visiting on a particular day.
Once you have made this commitment it will likely be more difficult to not follow through. Simply by putting this person on notice of a visit will create a deadline with accountability.
3. Put someone on notice that a project will be completed on a particular date.
If there is a project at work that you have been procrastinating about. Send your boss a note telling him or her that they can expect the project on a certain date.
This will create a deadline for you and your boss will likely hold you accountable by asking for the project if in fact it is not delivered by the date you promised it.
4. Leave yourself no way out.
Leaving yourself no way out is in a sense burning the bridge behind you so that you have no choice but to complete a task which you have been putting off.
If for instance, you need to buy a new vacuum because the old one has had it. You have the money saved for the new one but you have just been putting off going shopping for one.
Burn the bridges behind you. Give your old appliance away to a local thrift shop. Then you have no choice but to buy that new one.
You can put a stop to procrastination by simply setting yourself deadlines and holding yourself or having someone else hold you accountable.
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report that reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting motivation. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com /special.htm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|


When a person is bored or uninterested, certain tasks and... Read More
In a data-driven world, facts and figures are the order... Read More
Goals stalled? Always running behind? Stuck in a rut?Procrastination means... Read More
I worked hard for the past 17 years. I felt... Read More
Today is an anniversary of sorts for me. Three years... Read More
How many times have you heard this in your life?... Read More
Do you have the motivation to succeed in the mortgage... Read More
I hear many clients declare how boring and stagnant their... Read More
Need to move ahead and yet find yourself holding back?Edward... Read More
Research shows that at any one time more than half... Read More
People are unhappy and defeated by their everyday problems that... Read More
Visualization is creating a mental picture of something. Visualization is... Read More
A great life doesn't happen by accident. A great life... Read More
What is Accelerated learning?Simply put, accelerated learning is the ability... Read More
Enjoy a great quote to start off this fantastic week!"All... Read More
"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at... Read More
Remember when summer seemed to last forever? My mother use... Read More
It is just amazing the amount of people who don't... Read More
Man, I love to procrastinate! And I'm pretty darn good... Read More
Who are the most courageous people in the world? Armed... Read More
How are things going for you? Are you sitting on... Read More
In 2004 seven badly behaved teenagers were sent to a... Read More
"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in... Read More
Are you putting off your dreams until you have money?... Read More
I've had a vast array of job experiences. While in... Read More
We are all guilty of delaying what needs to be... Read More
When was the last time you truly relaxed? Do you... Read More
Are you having a hard time getting things done? Are... Read More
Daily actions to achieve your goals means daily progress and... Read More
The physical journey mirrors very accurately the spiritual journey of... Read More
Many claim intense childhood trauma "damages" a person in their... Read More
Have you heard something referred to as a "nine day... Read More
As you prepare to take your first steps, could there... Read More


Isn't a lack of daily motivation one of the biggest... Read More
Ah, the couch potato, that icon of American pop culture... Read More
If you are not as productive as you'd like or... Read More
It is just amazing the amount of people who don't... Read More
No matter how many years you spend in a classroom... Read More
The first week of May is a big birthday time... Read More
Engaging in genuine discipline requires that you develop the ability... Read More
The other day I was on my way home, and... Read More
"I have heard it said that the first ingredient of... Read More
If you really want to do something you will always... Read More
"Lord give me patience ? and hurry!"Have you ever prayed... Read More
While speaking at a San Diego university recently, I was... Read More
One day when my friend Todd and I were having... Read More
The word "journal" comes from the French. It dates back... Read More
When I listen to people tell me about some of... Read More
It is not just new age hype, studies in the... Read More
I've heard it said that 85% of success is showing... Read More
As a "Motivation Trainer" for over 20 years, I have... Read More
Would you like to feel and function like age 40... Read More
In this article I'll talk about the reason that stops... Read More
When people begin to investigate career change, often they don't... Read More
How many times have you heard or read that words... Read More
Do you remember that old television program that gave the... Read More
Do you want to know how the super successful overcome... Read More
As a life coach, I often hear people say they... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Thinking is good, yes it is. I strongly encourage thinking.... Read More
I had the most interesting discussion today with a friend... Read More
Self Help is itself a broad category from which to... Read More
Taking action about our current station in life involves taking... Read More
Whatever you are doing in your life at the present... Read More
"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in... Read More
'Action Rules!' in the Getting Goals Game. It is the... Read More
Motivation |