Let’s talk about PROCRASTINATION. Do you think it starts with PRO because we are all PROs at doing it? Kind of a coincidence don’t ya think? But, hey, let’s face it, we all have done it for some reason or another and it get us nowhere quickly or just prolongs the inevitable.
Let’s see what we can do about this! I don’t know about you, but I bet taking ACTION is going to come up somewhere!
The 2 types of Procrastination
Type 1: Procrastinating tasks we don’t want to do for some reason or another, but we have to do them anyways. (Ex. term papers, work deadlines, school work, cleaning, exercise, laundry, etc.)
Type 2: Procrastinating starting a task or goal that we REALLY WANT TO DO because we are AFRAID OF or FEAR the unknown, or the results/outcomes of our actions. It could also be that we don’t know HOW TO DO IT, or where to really start to accomplish it.
When FEAR or PERFECTIONISM is involved with our procrastination, we will almost always use the excuse:
As soon as __________, then I’ll DO or take action on _____________.
How do I know this? Because I’ve done it a million times, #duh 😉
How to Overcome the 2 Types of Procrastination
How to overcome Type 1: This is easy! Just DO IT already. Nobody wants to clean, do the laundry, write a term paper, or take out the trash. But believe me, just get it out of your way, so that you can do more of the things you enjoy. Who wants these tasks hanging over their head while they’re are trying to have a good time? Not me.
I found something helpful with overcoming type 1 procrastination. I read something by James Clear, in one of his blogs, called the 2 Minute Rule. If you can do something in 2 minutes, do it right away, and don’t put it off.
I’ve really been applying this rule to various tasks at work, when doing the dishes, and other mundane tasks at home that I’d normally put off. What I’ve found is that it really helps and keeps things running more efficient.
If I’m thinking about not doing something, I just ask myself, “Will this take longer than 2 minutes?” If it doesn’t, I just DO IT. Done and Done! Next Caller Please!
How to overcome Type 2: This one is going to be a little trickier. It’s going to take addressing our fears and perfectionism and then taking action. So let’s break it down a little further.
As a fitness coach and gym owner, I hear people say all the time, “As soon as I get into better shape, then I’ll meet with a trainer or try a class at the gym. I just want to get in better shape first.”
WHAT? Why would anyone say or WANT to do that? That’s the BEST time to get a trainer or join a class with a teacher so that you can get proper instruction and learn how to do things properly so that you don’t pick up any bad habits.
However, this thinking usually stems from a fear that they may not get results, the trainer may put them through too hard of a workout, they are worried about what the trainer will think of them, they have had a bad experience with diet and exercise in the past, or they might be afraid of failing.
The truth is that we may experience failure or have another bad experience if we take action, but, we could also succeed &/or learn something from the experience that will help us to know what our next action step is to take. It’s all about the mindset we choose to adopt in this situation.
Don’t worry, I’ve found myself using the “as soon as” master procrastinator technique, too.
As a lot of you know, I’m new to the blogging world and a recovering perfectionist, and I’ve found myself saying to myself, “As soon as I have something great and really insightful to write or say, then I’ll sit down and write.” Another one I use, “As soon as I have great video equipment and can make and edit great videos, then I’ll start making more VLOGS and workout videos.” These both stem from a fear that people may not like my stuff because it’s not perfected yet, may have grammar errors, someone’s already wrote about that topic, or that people will find my topics boring and useless, etc.
This mentality doesn’t get us anywhere and keeps us from taking action and from just getting sh*t done (#GSD). I’ve come to accept that not everything I do will be great, but I can help others by sharing my struggles, wins, and insights so that it may help them along their journey. The more I take action and just write or make videos, the better I get at it!
In my opinion, URGENCY, COMMITMENT, FORGETTING ABOUT WHAT OTHER’S THINK OF YOU, AND ACTION are the only ways to overcome Type 2.
How about you, are you ready to stop procrastinating and start taking action?
This week catch yourself when you are procrastinating doing something and either use the 2 Minute Rule technique or take action if you are experiencing fear. We never know how it is going to turn out, but trust that you will be able to handle what ever comes your way or change direction if needed.
I’d love to hear any tips or tools you have to overcome procrastination. Leave them in the comments below.
Thanks for stopping by,
Tommie
P.S. Would you like a little extra help getting started with Healthy Eating? Grab your copy of my FREE Lean Eating Guide, HERE!