Procrastination had gotten the best of me for years. As soon as I put off a decision, hit the snooze button or skipped the gym, I always had a rationale for my inability to get things done. I convinced myself that I was exhausted. Even if tomorrow isn’t the best option. It doesn’t matter if you postpone something, does it?
You should be concerned, then.
Why? Because you’re the one in charge of your own destiny. We have a tendency to view productivity hacks, apps, and software as the silver bullet to all of our woes. But it also means that we are able to blame external factors for our inability to work.
That wasn’t my laptop, it was my old one. In my opinion, it’s a waste of time, and I can’t get anything done in this manner. That noise is too much for me. I’m getting calls and emails nonstop. I never have the time.
Procrastination is a battle within yourself. In my own life, I can think of plenty of examples of this. My professional life felt stale to me in 2013. Prior to that, my father and I had founded a business together two years earlier. A restlessness developed in me after a period of two years, as I yearned to accomplish more and learn more. So, I took on some freelance work. I created websites, wrote content, and did some design work. Even so, it didn’t catch on. Why? I’ve never had to put up with unpleasant tasks in my life. It was only through finding a job that I could escape those burdensome duties.
We’ve all needed to get away from time to time.
It’s difficult to start a company or a career. In order to succeed, you’ll have to put in a lot of time and effort. No one is going to hand you more clients or work. You need to work hard. Whether it’s content marketing, one-on-one sales, networking or any other method you prefer, do it. Furthermore, you must form alliances and be strategic in order to rise through the ranks of your company. What are you supposed to do? In most cases, we’ve already heard about them. Or, you’ll be made aware of it. You can’t find a secret to success at work. We, on the other hand, prefer to take a break from the daily grind. That, in my opinion, is the essence of procrastination.
You’re aware of what needs to be done, but you choose not to act on it. For your entertainment, you open a news site and peruse the irrelevant stories there. In the alternative, you go through your Instagram feed and don’t like a single photo because you’re fed up with your life. You might shop at Zara, H&M, Net-A-Porter, Mr Porter, or any other online retailer that appeals to you.
It has been and still is, a constant battle in my life to overcome procrastination. Among other things, I’m currently working on a new novel. There is a title and I know what it’s about, so I’m ready to go. Writing, on the other hand, is extremely challenging for me.
That’s why I’m trying to find some sort of solace. As part of my day-to-day responsibilities as the owner of a small business, I respond to emails, read articles, go for a coffee, and do a little online shopping. Because I’m not a neat freak, it’s not that I’m a mess. So why does my mind wander? Because I’m fighting with myself.
In his classic The War of Art, Steven Pressfield refers to this inner enemy as the “Resistance.” He has the following to say about it: “Resistance is always lying and always full of shit.”
Procrastination can be defeated by taking action now.
Do it right now, not later. That’s something I have to constantly remind myself of. Procrastination always makes you want to put things off until later. In my current state, I’m still the same person. That’s something we were born with, I believe. A small but significant change has occurred in my life over the past three years: I now depend on a system to help me live a productive, contented, and meaningful existence.
Prior to this, I had no idea of how to overcome procrastination and complete tasks. I was always a quitter, unable to get out of a rut, and irritated. However, I’ve found a way to overcome my difficulties. Here’s how I got it done:
Every day, I put my mental toughness to the test. When it came to looking after my brain, I was a slacker. I was mentally weak, over-analysed, and lacked confidence in my own abilities. It wasn’t for lack of ability on my part. It was a result of my lack of faith in my own judgement and ability to solve problems. In order to learn how to better control my thoughts and increase my mental toughness I began reading about Stoicism, Pragmatism, and mindfulness. I don’t want to be enslaved to my own thoughts. The exact opposite is what I desire.
I work out every day. When I don’t work out, I get restless, irritable, and lethargic. I’m always ready to go to war because I keep my mind and body active every day. Procrastination can be conquered before the battle begins. Isn’t it true that soldiers don’t go to war unprepared? Be in excellent physical and mental health.
Daily routines that put me in charge of my life are a part of who I am. I keep a journal, read, set daily goals, and avoid consuming information that isn’t useful to me. In addition, I make it a point to spend time with my loved ones on a daily basis. Contact with others is essential. This serves as a constant reminder to keep me grounded. My hopes for the future are modest. My days are filled with joy. That’s all I ever think about.
I always have a to-do list of small, but important, tasks to accomplish. Using my new book as an example, let’s begin. It’s not uncommon for me to want to run away from difficult tasks, such as sitting down to write. Because of this, I tell myself that today is not going to be a good day. But every time I think about it, I open my list of small tasks and begin working on one of them right now…
To get my point across, I use the science of persuasion. “You can be the best writer and teacher in the world, but if no one knows about it, you can’t make an impact,” my mentor told me. For example, you can use the art of persuasion to write better cover letters and website copy. Obviously, overcoming procrastination and laying the groundwork for this strategy takes time. There’s a lot more to it. It’s not, however, a miracle. However, living a productive life isn’t always easy. And it’s not about hacking or technology. It’s about creating a long-term plan for your personal, professional, and financial success. What’s your strategy for making the most of your time and achieving your goals? It doesn’t matter what it is, get to it today. Not the following day, thank you very much.
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