Procrastination. Such a long word. A word that makes you feel like you did something wrong. Procrastination. Hard to say it, but so easy to drift into. Procrastination. Every time that I don’t do what I should be doing I hear it shouting in my head, PROCRASTINATION!

It’s not easy dealing with it. There were days that I felt it is all I do, which is basically nothing. I got up in the morning, got the kids ready and off to school (yay for that, it is better than the days I would not get out of bed at all), had a list of things needed to get done, but instead, I would sink into a black hole of doing nothing. Well, doing something, but mostly things that have a result value of big fat zero!

I feel it’s like an addiction for me, the easy way out. Instead of doing the important things, things that will move me forward in my life and toward my dreams, I do other things. It is scary to move forward, it is scary to do things that are out of my comfort zone. So in times that was easier not to deal with them. I found rescue in watching Youtube, going into Facebook or just doing nothing.

the reason for procrastination is very simple – you don’t want to do what you need to do. Now, the reason that you don’t want to do it does not have to be because you don’t like doing it. It can be because you are afraid of the result, afraid of the process, you are not sure where to start or it just makes you stressed. So before you start with all the tools that might help you with the procrastination, try and find the “why?” Why don’t you want to write that post? Why don’t you want to make that phone call? Why don’t you want to go to the gym?

Here is a video from one of my favorite motivational speaker’s Mel Robbins, talking about the real reason you procrastinate:

Now that we dealt with the “why” it is easier to find the how.

So, lately, after doing a lot of work with myself I started reducing the procrastination time. I started to be more productive and to achieve more. I cannot say that I am 100% healed, and maybe I will never be, but things are much better. I thought I will share with you some of the things that helped me with dealing with procrastination:

1. 1. Listening to motivational speakers. My favorite one is Brendon Burchard. His work is helping me to improve myself.  I highly recommend Brendon’s book “The Motivation Manifesto” it will get you looking at things differently and will get you moving more in the right direction. He also has a youtube channel in which you can get a lot of inspiration, here is one of my favorite videos:
2. Setting Goals for each day – what do I want to accomplish today? What is the most important thing that needs to be done? I try to make a list that is not too long, otherwise, I get lost. Also, the important things, if I can, I do them first thing in the morning.
3. I work in blocks of time – do a 45-50 min of time of working and then take a 10 min break in which I try to move around as much as I can. I use my timer on my phone to help with that.
4. The most important thing – I block the websites that cause me problems! I feel that this is the most helpful tool I found in dealing with procrastination. Also, I don’t have a Facebook app on my phone and I muted all the groups that I’m in on Whatsapp. The software that I am using on my computer to block websites is “Cold Turkey Blocker“. You can decide which websites you want to block and for how long.
5. Keep a notebook or a notepad nearby and every time a thought comes to your head, something you need to do, something you want to buy, something you want to check, anything, just write it down. Then you will feel more free and relaxed to continue with your work and not start looking and doing something else.
6. When I feel that my mind starts to wonder and the feeling of stop doing what I’m doing is coming over there are two things I do:
   1. I start saying to myself over and over what is my task right now and why it is important. ( I know it sounds weird to talk to yourself, but it really helps, it’s as if you are your own cop!)
   2. If it doesn’t help, I take out my journal and start writing whatever comes to my head for about 5-10 min and then get back to work.

I do believe that it is an addiction. Going into Facebook every 30 min is an addiction. Going to check what is new on the news channel is an addiction. But I found that like everything else I can find solutions in dealing with it. It takes time and effort, and there are days that it is more difficult than others, but it is so worth overcoming it.

Do you have the procrastination problem? What are your tips on how to deal with it?

I hope you found this post helpful.

Until next time,

Don’t forget to smile  🙂