The first step in beating procrastination is to acknowledge that you are putting things off. You must have awareness and the ability to correct your habits and actions (or lack thereof). Be honest with yourself. The more we procrastinate, the more we erode our self-confidence and belief in ourselves.
Procrastination is the action of delaying or postponing something.
There are 3 major reasons why we procrastinate:
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Low Self-Esteem/Fear of failure
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Lack of Focus
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No Motivation
Low Self-Esteem/Fear of Failure
We might procrastinate because we don't fully believe in ourselves. We don't believe we can accomplish the task or goal so we never start. We're also afraid to fail. We're afraid of what people might think of us and we do not want to look stupid trying something and failing miserably. If we are afraid of failure, then in our minds, it's better to not try at all. You must realize that failure is a part of success. When you first start something, you will always be bad at it. However, the more you do something, the better you will be. Don't be afraid to try and don't be afraid to fail.
Lack of Focus
What is your environment like? Are you constantly distracted by your phone or other people around you? We tend to procrastinate because we get distracted and lose focus on the task at hand. Instead of working towards our goals, we decide to scroll on Instagram or browse the internet. Your work environment needs to have peak creativity. Create an environment that supports supreme focus. Limit your distractions.
No Motivation
You cannot wait until you are fully motivated to do something. There will be days where you will not want to work. Push through. Set goals that are meaningful to you. Find your passion and do things that make you feel alive. What is your "why"? How big are your goals? There's magic in thinking big so create BIG GOALS for yourself. Successful people do not rely on motivation to get things done. Successful people rely on their habits and rituals.
"Focus on goals, not obstacles." - Chad Jarry
Your excuses are not valid. Eliminate your excuses.
Start Small
A lot of times we do not start something because we tend to look at the end result rather than the process. Our end goal can seem too far-fetched and unrealistic to achieve. Rather than focusing on the end goal, focus on the process. Start small. Start by working towards your goal bit by bit, day by day. For example, if you want to start a blog, start by completing one sentence and work your way up. By doing this, you are using "Psychological Momentum" which is a series of events that can affect your behavior and quality of performance in a given situation. It's about counting your small "wins" and building momentum to ultimately achieve your goal.
If you'd like to read more about Psychological Momentum and success, below is the study:
