Tips to DO IT NOW

We have all been faced the problem of procrastination some time or another. For some, it’s occasional and for others its chronic. Others find that it hits only some areas of their lives.

Whatever may be the case, the results are usually the same – waste of time, missed
opportunities, poor performance, and / or increased stress. Procrastination is letting the low-priority tasks get in the way of high-priority ones. This often
results in important jobs going lower down the priority list. Suppose you prefer to socialise with colleagues rather than studying for the exam. Or watch TV instead of doing your homework.
We all seem to do fine with things we want to do or enjoy doing. But, when we see some tasks as difficult, inconvenient, or boring, we may switch into a procrastination mode. We tend to avoid these tasks. In effect it is we who is getting fooled. Check out the following list and see how many are true for you:
• I'll wait until I'm in the right mood to take it up.
• It's OK to celebrate ... besides; I'll start my diet programme next week.
• My health isn't all that bad. And time is a great healer.
• There's plenty of time to complete this task.
• It's too hard to talk about. It’s difficult to decide where to begin.
• I work better and faster under stress, so I don't need to do it right now.
• I've got too many other things to do first.
Once expressed and examined, these self-defeating statements don't sound so convincing. But, when we tell these excuses to ourselves, they seem quite believable. Don't be carried away by their simplicity. They are enough to force us to postpone important tasks and duties.
How to overcome procrastination
1. Be realistic: we all have good reasons for postponing important work. Those old excuses really do not hold well. Write down all your excuses on one side of a piece of paper. Start challenging the faulty reasoning behind each of the excuses. Write down your realistic thoughts on the opposite side of each excuse.
2. Positive Attitude: Include a list of positive and motivating statements into your thoughts.
Consider ...
"There's no better time like now."
"The sooner I get the job done, the better it is."
"Perfectionism an illusion that keeps me from doing what I have to do right now."
"It's cheaper and less painful if I do it now rather than wait until it gets worse."
3. Do not jump to conclusion: Doing this will only fail you and reinforce you belief that you are no good at something. It will only create a wall of fear in you. Recognize that your negative predictions are not facts. Focus on the present and what positive steps you can take toward reaching your goals.
4. Be focused: Think about what you want and what needs to be done. Be specific. If it's getting that work completed by the deadline, figure out a timetable with realistic goals at each step. Keep your sights within reason. Having goals too big can scare you away from starting.
5. Set clear priorities: Write down all the things that need to be done in order of their importance. The greater the importance or urgency, the higher their priority. Put other distractions in its proper place – preferably in the last! Start at the top of the list and work your way down.
6. Break the complex tasks: Big projects are generally overwhelming. Break them down into the smaller and most manageable subparts. You'll get more done if you can do it piece by piece. For example, make an outline of the report before you start writing it. Do a small portion of the chores rather than all at once. This technique works especially well with the unpleasant jobs. Most of us can handle jobs we dislike as long as they're for a short time and in small increments.
7. Be organized: Have all your materials ready before you begin a task. Use a daily schedule and have it with you all the time. List the tasks of the day or week realistically. Keep a record of tasks that you have completed them.
8. Be committed: Commit yourself to doing the task. Write yourself a "I will do it" statement and keep revisiting it. Better still; be your own supervisor about your plans.
9. Use post-its: Have post-its to be used as reminders to yourself. Put them in frequently seen places like on the TV, refrigerator, bathroom mirror, front door, etc. The more we remember, the greater is the likelihood that we will follow our plans.
10. Reward yourself: Self-reinforcement has a powerful effect on developing a "do it now" attitude. Celebrate the completion, pat yourself on the back, smile, and let yourself enjoy the completion of even the smallest of tasks. Don't minimize your accomplishments. Remember, you're already that much closer to finishing those things that need to be done. Go ahead, get started ... NOW.