Why do I procrastinate so often?

byTheBolads

225 followers

5 years ago

"Enthusiasm spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment." by Norman Vincent Peale.

Grappling with procrastination

"I have been grappling with a simple question; What is the difference between reaching my goals and giving up?"

When Edison's research laboratory burned to the ground when he was aged sixty-seven, as the fire was raging his world-famous "invention factory", he told his children, "Kids, go get your mother. She'll never see another fire like this one."

Edison knew that enthusiasm is the best antidote for tragedy, and it's easily the most potent weapon to use in grappling with procrastination.

I have learned that my enthusiasm level has nothing to do with my feelings; my feelings wakeup on a different side of the bed every day.

I have learned to take control of my feeling, and it is a conscious choice.

I have to prevent my feelings from controlling me.

Can one talk oneself into a positive frame of mind when discouraged?

• How do I keep myself motivated?
• How do I stay focused on a tedious task?
• How do I handle failure when my plan isn't going well?

Well, I found some answers:

Stay away from negative people. Attitudes can be contagious, and negative people can infect one if care is not taken.

Associate with positive thinkers, their self-confidence can be very contagious, too.

Scheduling difficult tasks for the time of day when your energy is highest is a good approach.

If I am struggling to decide the best time to tackle the day's least appealing jobs, I try getting them out of the way by doing them first.

Whenever I tackle a challenge that's been long-standing, I get into the habit of completing tasks, and my enthusiasm goes up a notch.

Inactivity is a known cause of depression and anxiety.

Apparently, there are ways of increasing my energy levels without eliminating other causes of procrastination. Young adults and teenagers are fond of expending enormous amounts of energy without getting anything done.

I have to remember that any technique is only effective when used as part of a whole strategy.

Whenever I work through a seemingly difficult task with ease and a high level of competence, I immediately record the time of day and then look at what other factors might have contributed to making me do more.

2 of my favourite methods to overcome procrastination

When I start to discover changes to my regular pattern, I work out daily to operate at a higher energy level.

I identified the time of day when I am most efficient, smartly. I plan some of my least enjoyable tasks for that period.

Listen to the right kind of music also helps. We have varying taste in music due to many factors. The eighties pop music still do well for me.

I realised that one must continue to learn, and it is the joy of living.

The affirmation, "Live today as if it is the last day of my life", doesn't really work for me. If indeed today were the last day of my life, won't many things pale into insignificance? The things on my mind will be what is needful, important, necessary and urgent?

Rather, I ask myself what needs to be done, not just what I wish to do.

Mark Twain reminded us that enthusiasm is a choice when he declared, "Do something every day that I don't want to do; this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing my duty without pain."

Then I woke up; another day has begun again. 😆