A strong habit of procrastination can leave a lot of destruction in its wake, so it can be helpful to be firm and unyielding with the techniques you use to conquer it. When it comes right down to it, you can analyze the reasons why you procrastinate as much as you like – but you won’t stop doing it until you decide that it’s time to take back control of your life.
Here are three powerful “no excuses” approaches that can help you do that:
1) Get tough.
One reason you may procrastinate is because you feel intimidated or overwhelmed by the tasks or chores facing you. In order to overcome a tendency to avoid things that seem difficult or frightening, you may find it helpful to consciously toughen yourself up.
How exactly do you do that? Try saying things like this to yourself: “No problem! This will be a piece of cake! I’m stronger than any fear or discomfort. I can handle this. I thrive on challenges.” At first you won’t really believe what you’re saying, but you may be able to “fake it until you make it” and experience a rush of power that can carry you through the rough spots.
2) Get determined.
Eventually you reach a point where you simply have to steel your determination to get things done, despite any excuses that may rise up to the contrary. If the tasks you’re working on are especially important, it may be easier than you think to talk yourself into a state of steely determination to get them done no matter what!
Try giving yourself a pep talk similar to this: “I am so sick of putting this off, and I want to be done with it! I’m just going to get moving on it right NOW, no matter how much I might want to keep avoiding it.” Just don’t allow yourself to put it off any longer, and you’ll be amazed at how effective such a tactic can be!
3) Get angry.
Finally, anger can be a great motivator too! Allow yourself to feel angry about your habit of putting things off until the last minute. Take a good, hard look at your circumstances and speak strongly to yourself about it: “It’s terrible what procrastination has done to my life! I’m sick of being a victim of my own fears and weaknesses. NO more! I’m taking control of this now and getting myself back on track. I’m not weak and I’m not a wimp, and I’m definitely not lazy – it’s time to stop acting like it.”
Taking a “no excuses” approach to procrastination may seem intimidating at first, but if you give it a fair chance you might learn to love the feelings of inner strength and empowerment it can create. Like any habit, the longer you do it the more comfortable you’ll get with it, and the easier it will be to keep it going!
