We’ve all been there. You are moving forward, kicking butt, and working hard to make your dreams a reality when all of sudden out of the blue… you just stop.
Needless to say, procrastination is not an uncommon issue. Even worse, while everybody has their moments, research indicates that for up to 20% of people, procrastination is something that happens a lot.
So how do you regain momentum when you get blocked? Here are three handy tricks to help get you out of a rut and back to work quickly.
1. Eat the Frog
When it comes to breaking the cycle of putting things off, writer Mark Twain had a word or two of helpful advice to offer. He claimed that, “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.”
This is just another way of saying that if you find yourself procrastinating, the best way to get over it is through. Tackle that big job that is making you spin your tires right away, and voila – your confidence and momentum will more than likely be back on track. You will probably find that everything else should feel easy from there on.
2. Break It Up
Procrastination is most likely to strike when a person comes up against a big task that seems too daunting to handle.
Here’s an easy trick to help make even the nastiest jobs seem manageable. Start by drafting an outline. Prioritize those things that need to get done first to get the ball rolling, and keep filling in the outline as you go.
By making a plan, you will instantly begin to feel more in control, and that big, scary job will immediately seem less daunting when broken up into manageable bite-size chunks.
3. It’s All About How You Look at It
The thing that really makes procrastination feel so torturous is all the self-punishment that comes with it.
Just think about it. Are you more likely to be eager to help out somebody who is being bossy and cruel, or somebody who asks nicely and makes it clear that they appreciate what you do?
Here’s the thing. You are your own boss! This means that the kinder you are to yourself, the easier it will be to move forward without having to drain any extra energy into feeling guilty. So every time you catch yourself falling into negative self-talk, try to replace that dialogue with a positive and empowering affirmation that rings true to you instead.
You will be amazed at what a difference changing your mind state will make.
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