6 steps to stop Procrastinating

…and help take control of your actions

It’s been a long summer and it can be hard to get back to work - but if you follow these 6 Steps, you will soon be able to start replacing your old procrastinating habits with better ways to help deal with challenging activities:

1. Become aware of the moments you want to procrastinate

When you do, stand up from your desk for a minute or 2 to break the cycle and consider the next steps.

2. Become aware of the feelings you have and your inner dialogue

Try to look at your feelings as if you were an outside observer. Observe the tendency to procrastinate from the perspective of “Isn’t that interesting”, see if you notice anything. And simply be okay with feeling whatever you feel.

Listen to the little excuses and rationalizations that you tell yourself to start procrastinating, and remember these for next time so you can nip them in the bud.

3. Relax

Take a few deep breaths and relax your muscles, stimulating the brain to feel okay with the current situation.

4. Make the activity at hand less intimidating

Break up the task or activity at hand into smaller steps to make it less overwhelming.

5. Set intentions

Now set intentions for what you’re about to do. Maybe this means just working for 5 minutes on the easiest task on your list. Your main goal should be to make it as easy as possible to get started - and once you have some momentum, it’s much easier to get going.

6. Get started and keep going

Start anywhere, on some easy aspect of the big task. Use a timer or app blocker to disable possible distractions. Then get going so that you can finish what you set out to do!

It’s very easy to procrastinate, but if you follow these 6 steps it should help you get started and sometimes just taking the first step is all you need to get going and finish!