So Why Do You Procrastinate?

Procrastination is basically a way of life for many people as it allows you to take a more ‘comfortable’ option for delaying tough decisions.

When people procrastinate they are more often than not putting off doing something that could be a huge benefit to them, but for some reason they use more energy and effort in delaying this task than actually doing it.

If left unchecked procrastination can become habitual and it this is one of the main reasons why many people do not achieve their goals or dreams.

So why do people procrastinate?

While there are a number of reasons why this happens, one of the most common reasons is due to a subconscious fear of failure, or a fear of change that is stronger than the goal of success.

Maybe you’ve had a past bad experience and therefore you are hesitant to venture out of the box for fear of being ‘bitten’ again. Maybe it’s a confidence thing we’re you just don’t have the self-confidence to breakout of your comfort zone.

Or maybe it’s because you believe that because you weren’t born into successful or wealthy beginnings, you will never amount to anything remotely worthwhile. So rather than going through the pain of failure, you just don’t bother to try in the first place.

This is the road of self-destruction. Listen. You’re going to make a few mistakes along the way – this is all part of ‘playing the game’.  But you are also going to hit a few home runs and it’s during these times you realize how easy it really is.

Those who are totally committed to attaining their goals learn to overcome their initial fears and take the necessary action to do the things they have put off for so long.

You’ll be surprised that when you break the cycle and take action a great weight will be lifted from your shoulders and you will wonder why in the world you didn’t do this earlier.

But of course overcoming your fear is not always easy.

In fact it can be quite scary as there may be some real issues that you need to resolve, so you don’t want to make the wrong decision. So first and foremost you need to carry out due diligence to satisfy any concerns you may have.

After you’ve done your research and you are happy with what you have found, it’s time to make you’re your decision as to whether it is worth your while to take action or not.

But how will you know whether you should take action?

To help you get started here are some steps you should follow to help you make your decision a little easier:

Make a list of all the things you need to do that you have been putting off, you probably have this “to do” list already drafted in your mind or written down in a safe place.

Then, go to a quiet place where you will not be interrupted for about 20 minutes. Go through each item on the list and write down your excuses for not having completed the task already.

Maybe there is a money problem, or you do not think you have enough education or the proper qualifications. Whatever it is just write it down and do not worry about how it will be resolved, you can worry about this later.

Next, go through the list again and write down the benefits you currently enjoy because you are procrastinating on these tasks. Yes, you must be receiving a benefit for not doing the task otherwise you would have done it by now.

For example – if you wrote down that you do not have enough education, then the benefit you are receiving right now by not getting an education is that you have more money than you would if you were spending it on school fees or text books.

Another benefit could be that you have more time to do what you want, instead of spending it locked away for hours on end studying for boring exams.

When you’ve done this repeat the same process, but this time write down the benefits you would receive if you didn’t procrastinate and took action on a particular topic.

Finally, look at all the reasons you have listed as excuses for procrastinating and the benefits you are receiving and compare these to the benefits if you did take action.  Do your excuses still make sense?

This is the time to sit down again and make a plan – a plan that you will stick to and not put off for any longer. Quickly write down a list of things you will do to make your dreams a reality and make a “to do” list that you will actually do!

Then, go through the list again and put them in the order you will do them (example: Do you need to get a loan before you can go to college?) Also, write down the date that you will complete each item.

Now that you have your work planned that you can achieve in a manageable way, go out and make your dreams come true!

Check out 101 Tips to Avoiding Procrastination to easily eliminate procrastination and take back control of you life!

Toodles,

Internet Marketing Stranger
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