Last week we discussed how being powerful in the present helps us win the future. If you missed that Thought Partner, you can find it here.
This week, we will explore being powerful through the alternative lens of beating procrastination.
Most of us procrastinate when it’s inviting, when we are wallowing in perfectionism, or when our to-do lists are littered with easy items to check off. These insidious adrenaline killers are commonly experienced and if not addressed, can vaporize our hopes of having a productive day.
How can you beat procrastination at its own game?
Check out these 3 Tips for Beating Procrastination:
1. Know Your Rhythm – What time of day are you most alert? What time of day does your focus and attention take a dip? Without getting too scientific, we have certain rhythms and cycles when our mental clarity and focus appear sharper than others. These circadian rhythms operate on a 24-hour basis, and it’s important to know the times you perform your best. If you are sharper in the morning, you must protect your best hours. If you get a second wind in the afternoon, ensure that time is protected for your most impactful work. These Thought Partners are written in the morning; if they were written in the afternoon, I shudder to think about the incoherence you would be subjected to!
2. Fictionalize Urgency – Sometimes, fabricating a sense of urgency helps jump the perfectionism procrastination hurdle. Author Napoleon Hill said, “Do not wait; the time will never be “just right.” Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.” Even if you don’t have the answers, the roadmap, or a clear picture of the result, start urgently and refine as you go. The first draft is not published but nothing is published that hasn’t been started.
3. Focus on Activities, Not Number of Accomplishments – Look at today’s to-do list. Is it filled with low-value, task-oriented items that give you a sense of accomplishment when checked off? Chances are the answer is yes. That’s not a terrible thing, but I would challenge you to review the list again and look for the high-value, needle-mover items on that list. You know the ones I’m talking about – the complex, strategic, game changers. Those items take much longer to check off the list and often roll over to the next day and the day after. Develop the habit of tackling those items first, or at least making strides with them. Resist the temptation to check off small items first – they always take more time than you allot.
For more tips to tackle procrastination and maximize your time (especially during this hectic time of the year), check out the classic 100-page book Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy.
