3 Ways to Make the Most Out of Procrastinating

In an ideal world, we’d do everything on time every time and still have time left over to eat, sleep, travel, and play.

In the real world, we simply procrastinate…

We know we shouldn’t put things off but we do it anyway. The next time you identify a good project to “do later” be sure to apply these 3 tips. They’ll save you from those feelings of guilt, inefficiency, and dread that plague even the most seasoned procrastinator. Read the Rest of This Article »

Are You Relaxing – Or Just Procrastinating?

It’s 6pm. You haven’t really accomplished anything today … but hey, you needed some time to relax. You took a long lunch and re-watched a couple of episodes of a TV show. You spent an hour or two in a coffee shop, flicking through a few newspapers. You updated Facebook and Twitter and Google+ …

… so why do you feel stressed?

Chances are, you weren’t really relaxing. You were procrastinating: putting off what you wanted to get done because you felt some resistance to it.

Here’s the difference: Read the Rest of This Article »

Are You Guilty of Procrastination (Without Even Realizing It)?

We all know what procrastination is. And perhaps you think it’s not something you struggle with at all.

I certainly used to feel that way. As a student, I had no problem getting my essays in on time. In my first job after college, I found it easy to stay focused during the work-day.

I saw other people who struggled – perhaps they’d spend hours or even days putting off some little task – but I didn’t think procrastination was one of my problems.

But it was. And, to some extent, still is. Except now, I can recognize it for what it is.

I wonder if you’re guilty of procrastination too – without even realizing? Read the Rest of This Article »

Day 13: Stop Making These Common Mistakes – This Is How You Can Be Truly Happy

Would you be happy if you won the lottery?

How about if George Clooney or Monica Belluci asked you to spend the night?

What if you were taller, thinner, faster, smarter or simply better at every thing you did?

Truth is, many people wait for happiness to happen to them, and end up squandering all the millions of seconds they could be using to make themselves truly happy, inside and out.

Most people don’t believe that we have the power to actively change their state from miserable and morose to happy and satisfied. And the kicker is, it doesn’t too much effort to change states naturally.

The real challenge is having the faith to try. Read the Rest of This Article »

7 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Start Writing

Procrastination is like leaving the headlights on in a parked car: it’s a slow drain on your mental battery. The longer the lights are on, the harder it is to get the engine started. By continually avoiding doing something you know you need to do, procrastination sucks the energy out of you.
This is doubly true for a task like writing. The longer you procrastinate writing a piece, the harder it becomes to start. However, even if you put off a task for weeks or months, it’s never too late to start. Starting isn’t easy, but it’s doable. The best part: once you start, you’ll usually find the difficulty you imagined is usually worse than the actual work involved.

Procrastination is usually a symptom of some other problem: poor preparation, perfectionism, a fear of failure or rejection, or just a simple lack of motivation and interest. Read the Rest of This Article »

How to Deny the Devil of Procrastination

A couple of days ago, sadly, shockingly, one of my dear friends took her own life. I will miss her largely, and will treasure her joy, laughter, incredible energy, savory jokes, smile, and her love of people. She was a special jewel, and I hope she knows how special she was, even in her afterlife.

When these unforgettable and unexpected events occur in life, I struggle to understand “the lesson.” I believe that my girlfriend is in a more peaceful place, so the lesson is really for me.

My friend was on a roll. But it wasn’t a good roll; it was a downward roll, worsened by procrastination. There were other things involved of course, but I feel that the “devil of procrastination” ultimately took her down. Others may say it was “finances,” or “depression,” but I think her finances could have been mended and the depression would have lifted, had procrastination not been running amuck. It all snowballed and grew into the ultimate procrastination…the procrastination of living, and then…the end of her life. Read the Rest of This Article »

6 Tips for When You’re Not in the Mood to Work

“Daydreamer” courtesy of Nelsonius

We all have times when we’re just not in the mood to get on with work. Perhaps we’re feeling tired or apathetic, or weeks of stress have finally caught up with us. Maybe we’re just having a hard time staying on task – Facebook, Twitter, webcomics and other distractions seem, well, more distracting than usual.

So how can you stay on-task and on-track when you don’t feel like working?

1.    Do Something Else!

Okay, it’s not always possible – but how about doing something else instead? If you’re trying to force yourself to work on your small biz at the weekend and you’re feeling fed up, then the best solution may well be to simply take a break.

You can end up wasting a lot of energy by pushing yourself on by sheer willpower … when, in fact, it may be the case that your brain and body really need a break.

Of course, this isn’t an option in your average job (no boss wants to hear “sorry, I wasn’t in the mood to work today”) but if you have flexible hours or work for yourself, pay attention to early signs of fatigue or burnout. Read the Rest of This Article »

Procrastination: 4 Causes and Cures

Do you find yourself procrastinating a lot? (You might even be procrastinating right now, reading this blog post while you should be working or cleaning or ordering the groceries online.)

Procrastination can be a real problem for some of us, leading to wasted hours and days, and a lot of frustration. Often, we think that to cure ourselves of procrastination, we need to concentrate harder, focus ourselves better and become more self-disciplined.

But I don’t believe that procrastination is a disease. It’s more like a symptom. And by figuring out – and addressing – the underlying cause, you’ve got a good chance of ending your procrastination habit.

So, what might the causes be? Read the Rest of This Article »

Overcoming Procrastination – 7 Tips to Get Yourself Going

Image Courtesy of Tom Podolec

Figuring out why people procrastinate is simple, it’s figuring out how to get over it that’s difficult. Overcoming procrastination is at the top of many people’s lists for bettering themselves. If you keep procrastination to a minimum you’ll lead a productive and efficient and likely happy life. Who wouldn’t want this for themselves?

In order to stop procrastinating now, consider the following procrastination tips:

1.    Deal with Your Stress. Many people find themselves procrastinating because they lead stressful lives. You can solve many problems by dealing with your stress in a healthy way. Start getting enough sleep. Take plenty of time to relax. Ask for help when you need it. Find something that works for you.

2.    Set a Schedule. It may help you to get a day planner or other type of scheduling plan. Not having a set schedule is one of the main reasons why people procrastinate. It’s easy to forget to do something, or to avoid doing something if you’re not holding yourself responsible at the end of the day. Look at your schedule throughout the day and make sure that you stick to it.

*   Another tip to remember is to set attainable goals for yourself. If you try to cram too much into one day, your body and mind will fight it with procrastination. Also, make sure you schedule in time for you to relax too. Read the Rest of This Article »