Beating Procrastination

We all procrastinate at some point. Some days, we’re on fire and blitz through everything we need to do with time to spare. Sometimes, we just can’t meet our list or what’s called for with the same intensity. I’ve found that honoring the energy of each day allows me to approach what I need to do while minimizing procrastination.

Check-In

When I wake up in the morning, I do a quick check-in that goes something like…

“Good morning Jenn, where are we at?”

“What do you need?” 

“How are you feeling?” 

My answer will then influence my choices for the day. From tasks to get done, food to eat, and workouts to complete, I set the tone by going through the above self-talk.

Listening to myself and starting the day with that check-in sets me up for success. On days I feel like I’m starting the day at a deficit, I complete tasks I enjoy first in order to build positive energy. If I’m feeling rested and ready to roll, I might start my day with a task I might be dreading instead. Somehow this simple check-in helps me defeat procrastination because I am adapting my “to do” list to meet me at the best of my ability on that particular day. So, when something comes up that I don’t really want to do, I remind myself that I know how to adapt and get it done.

Setting Time Limits

If I have items or projects on my list that either take a lot of time or are more nebulous in nature, I determine what time I can commit to them, set a timer for 30 or 60 minutes and devote that time. This simple act helps me stay with a task I don’t love, knowing I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and that I’m making forward progress.  

Saying Yes to Less 

Here is a classic me: I don’t want to do something, so I will start to clean a drawer in the kitchen, which will have something in it from the office, so then I will start organizing the office. Pretty soon, I will be organizing four rooms in the house just so I don’t have to do said thing I don’t want to do. Anyone relate or been there? I want to feel productive, but not in the way I should be.

I have learned that when I start to clean a drawer, I am probably avoiding something else I could or should be doing. So, now if I clean a drawer, I am only allowed to clean that one drawer. Then, I need to go back to my tasks list and complete something before I start cleaning another space.