4 Ways to Quit Procrastinating

Achieving something great gives us a huge sense of accomplishment.

But even though we know this, we still put things off.

Why is that?

Don't you realize that procrastination can literally make or break your success?

Let's take a minute to talk about procrastination and what you can do to overcome it.

Why Do We Procrastinate?

The main reason why we procrastinate has to do with fear.

We fear we're going to mess up...

We fear that our attempts to do something aren't going to be perfect...

We fear doing the hard work...

We fear what people are going to say...

We fear what we could be missing out on...

We fear looking dumb in front of others...

The list goes on.

What you have to understand is that this feeling of fear is natural.

The only way you can begin to overcome this fear is by taking action.

The fear isn't going to disappear.

In fact, it almost never does.

You just have to train yourself to take action in spite of your fears.

So the answer isn't to try and eliminate your fear...

The answer is to make the commitment, and do what needs to get done regardless of fear.

Once you understand that ... procrastination becomes easy to recognize and avoid altogether.

So, if you’re trying to stop procrastinating…

Here are 4 things you can start doing immediately to help push through your fear and overcome procrastination.

1. Establish Deadlines

Need to get something important done?

No problem ... just set a deadline.

When you have an expectation for when something needs to be done, you allow yourself less time to procrastinate in the first place.

This can help keep you on task by instilling a sense of urgency in completing whatever it is you set a deadline for.

Maybe you want to reach a certain body weight...

If you set a deadline for when the goal needs to be accomplished...

You won't hesitate to go to the gym and crush a workout.

Maybe you want to get a promotion or complete a project within your business...

If you set a deadline for when you need to complete a particular goal...

I guarantee you won't push off the necessary tasks to get you to that goal.

This is a very easy way to start taking action quickly.

2. Exercise Discipline

Let's be real...

Most people procrastinate because they lack the discipline to catch themselves and get right back on course.

Other than fear, this is the reason why most people can never make ends meet in their lives.

They are undisciplined.

If you're struggling with procrastination, a lot of that may have to do with the fact that the actions you need to take are not habitual.

So, make a habit of them by being disciplined.

Are there going to be days you don't want to do the work?

Yes.

It doesn't matter though.

You have to show up and execute regardless of how you feel.

Everyone has days where they don't feel like doing anything.

Train yourself to do the work regardless of how you feel.

3. Pivot

We all have that little voice in our head that whines, complains, and makes excuses.

This voice can completely consume your actions if you aren’t aware of it.

It looks for the path of least resistance…

It wants you to stay comfortable…

…and is ultimately responsible for a lot of procrastination.

You need to learn to identify this voice.

As soon as you notice yourself start to ease up, make excuses, or complain…

Take a step back, and use those thoughts to your advantage.

You can do this by immediately springing into action.

Do the exact opposite of what that weak little voice is telling you.

I call this the production pivot.

It's recognizing this weak voice, and taking the power away from it by intentionally taking action against it.

Next time you catch yourself thinking "I really don't want to do this."

Complete the task on the spot, then do a little extra.

The sooner you can master this skill, the less time you’ll spend procrastinating.

That’s a fact.

4. Use The Power List

If you have things you need to get done...

Why not make a list of the 5 most important things you need to do each day to reach your long-term goals?

This is a strategy I've used for over 20 years…

One that helps me focus on the process instead of the result…

And this strategy is a tool I call The Power List.

The concept of The Power List is very simple…

Consider what your biggest goals are, and the steps you need to take each day to bring you closer to your goals.

These "steps" are going to be your critical tasks.

The idea is to build these critical tasks into habits by completing them regularly.

In fact, if you complete all 5 tasks ... you win the day.

If you win enough days in a row...

You start to harness the power of momentum ... and eventually, winning becomes a part of WHO YOU ARE.

On the other hand...

If you fail to complete any of your 5 tasks ... you lose the day.

The Power List makes it easy for you to track your progress and instill more discipline in your daily routine.

Don’t Let Procrastination Win

When you start drifting away from your task at hand, you need the self-awareness to recognize it and adjust immediately.

Procrastination will keep you from greatness if you let it win.

If you take the strategies that I gave you and apply them…

You’ll never have a problem with procrastination.

Get disciplined…

Get focused…

…and get serious about your goals and dreams.

You’ve got this.

Listen to my podcast, REAL AF, if you’re looking for more tips on how to take action, leave procrastination behind, and pursue your true potential in life.