{"id":32439,"date":"2015-04-15T22:18:51","date_gmt":"2015-04-16T06:18:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=32439"},"modified":"2015-04-18T20:04:21","modified_gmt":"2015-04-19T04:04:21","slug":"5-principles-for-pummeling-procrastination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/5-principles-for-pummeling-procrastination\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Principles for Pummeling Procrastination"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

<\/p>\n

Welcome to the battle for progressive conscious awareness!<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s fight is between the challenger \u2013 YOU, <\/i><\/b>and the reigning champ –\u201cProcrastination\u201d!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Alright you two, I want a clean and efficient fight! No eye gouging, no hair pulling, and no ear biting!<\/i><\/p>\n

The winner gets full control of the conscious willpower of the individual!<\/p>\n

I hope you\u2019ve laced up your gloves. Are you ready?! Ring the bell!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

5. Start by Asking \u201cWhere is Procrastination \u201cPointing\u201d Me?\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

Stop perceiving procrastination as a problem to be overcome, and start perceiving it as a compass pointing you directly toward its own solution.<\/i><\/p>\n

First on our list is sort of a self-trick, because it\u2019s actually a transcendental, empowering truth in disguise! The key to really start buckling down on procrastination is to:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Stop worrying about why you\u2019re procrastinating.<\/li>\n
  2. Become consciously aware of what it is that you\u2019re actually doing instead of what you\u2019re \u201csupposed to be\u201d doing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    If you\u2019re avoiding work that others are insisting is of serious importance – and you just can\u2019t get motivated enough to take it seriously (i.e you’d rather do something like read about a topic that genuinely interests you) – your problem isn\u2019t<\/i> procrastination.<\/p>\n

    Procrastination is a symptom of your source issue. <\/i><\/p>\n

    Your true problem is an incongruence between your internal, non-conditioned goals and aspirations, and your current external reality.<\/p>\n

    There\u2019s a difference between procrastinating on something you genuinely want to be doing, and falling back into unconscious\u201cdefault\u201d behavior mode, where you just succumb to endless internet browsing instead of increasing your knowledge or skill-set.<\/p>\n

    The internet is the best example of conscious empowerment or unconscious self-abuse.<\/p>\n

    Unlimited knowledge and distraction are simultaneously at your finger tips.<\/p>\n

    How strong is your conscious will?<\/p>\n

    If you take away only one thing from this first suggestion, let it be this:<\/i><\/b> don\u2019t beat yourself up for having previously been led to believe that you need to be doing un-fulfilling work in order to be deemed a \u201csuccessful\u201d human being.<\/i><\/p>\n

    The majority of dissatisfaction and un-fulfillment in our world is not a result of being lazy and unmotivated; it\u2019s a subconscious response to the fact that you\u2019re engaged in work that is not congruent with who you actually are as an individual. <\/i><\/p>\n

    Let this voice guide you out of the maze of illusions, and into domains of wondrous self-exploration, excitement, and growth!<\/p>\n

    4. Start With The Hardest Task First!<\/b><\/p>\n

    Note that the hardest task is typically also the most important one for most people.<\/p>\n

    You shouldn\u2019t be tackling it just because<\/i> it\u2019s hard or the most important, but because upon completing said task – everything else will be cake in comparison!<\/i><\/p>\n

    Also, you\u2019ll be creating and building motivational momentum as you experience yourself plowing through your most difficult, important, or tedious task(s) first.<\/p>\n

    This is especially effective when you get your biggest challenge out of the way first thing in the morning\/day.<\/p>\n

    This is a neat little trick you can play with yourself, because it creates elevated mood, confidence, and self-momentum for the rest of your day.<\/p>\n

    Don’t knock it until you try it!<\/p>\n

    3. Time Box That Task!<\/b><\/p>\n

    It seems like this article is just destined for one boxing pun after another \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

    Time boxing is an incredibly useful technique that helps get your momentum going in a positive, constructive, and productive direction.<\/p>\n

    What you want to do is identify a task that you need\/want to complete, and set a timer (I use Online-Stopwatch for everything, including writing articles) for say, 20-30 minutes.<\/p>\n

    The goal of time boxing is to consciously focus only on the work at hand,<\/i> as intensely as possible for the allotted time.<\/p>\n

    This is a critical point of time boxing: the entire purpose of this activity is to focus ONLY on the task you wish to accomplish.<\/i> While that timer is ticking, you do nothing BUT that one task.<\/p>\n

    No checking Facebook.<\/p>\n

    No texting.<\/p>\n

    Nothing but the task until that timer goes off. <\/i><\/p>\n

    Then when the time goes off, you give yourself complete and total permission to stop working. <\/i><\/p>\n

    Knowing your work time is finite not only increases your mood and focus, but it also prevents you from over-thinking about variables that don\u2019t matter. Instead of aimlessly spinning your wheels while things continue to be left unfinished, time boxing allows you to neatly and quickly nip that issue in the bud.<\/p>\n

    The real beauty with time boxing however, is that after that 20-30 minutes you\u2019ll be so \u201cin the zone\u201d – you\u2019ll actually prefer to continue working!<\/i><\/p>\n

    Time boxing makes you more conscious of the fact that it\u2019s not really fear, anxiety, or procrastination that’s stopping you; it\u2019s simply a matter of overcoming the initial momentum<\/i> of those emotions!<\/p>\n

    It’s like pushing a boulder up a hill. When it crests, you can let go and everything works itself out naturally as a consequence.<\/p>\n

    It suddenly becomes blatantly obvious that the true challenge is enduring the pre-cresting period \u2013 not the final goal itself.<\/i><\/p>\n

    Learning to \u201ccreate the conditions\u201d that allow for increasing personal momentum via action is incredibly self-empowering!<\/p>\n

    2. Make Time for (Guaranteed) Fun!<\/b><\/p>\n

    If you consistently schedule yourself a period of the day where you\u2019re guaranteed uninterrupted time to enjoy your favorite activity\/method of relaxation – you\u2019re essentially re-wiring your risk\/reward system.<\/p>\n

    This is the same concept as \u201cre-conditioning yourself\u201d.<\/p>\n

    What you\u2019re actually doing is allowing yourself to create feelings of excitement regarding the fact that you\u2019ll get to do something you enjoy later in the day, week, etc.<\/p>\n

    This can often make it easier to move through work that might not necessarily be exhilarating, but needs to be done.<\/p>\n

    \u201cBatch\u201d this suggestion with the time boxing tip above, and you’ll really<\/i> be packing some punches ;).<\/p>\n

    You\u2019re far more likely to maintain self-discipline and action if you\u2019re rewarding yourself for doing so.<\/p>\n

    Don\u2019t settle for society\u2019s risk\/reward system; build your own!<\/i><\/p>\n

    This is also incredibly empowering for anyone who has ever experimented with this approach. I use it on days where I feel a bit too \u201cmeh\u201d to hit the gym, but I know my routine and progress depend on it.<\/p>\n

    So, what I do is imagine the lunch I\u2019ll be able to make and enjoy after my workout. Sometimes I\u2019ll just start making lunch, and that’s enough of a catalyst to make me want to hit the weights for 60-90 minutes.<\/p>\n

    Every single time I do this, I get to the gym and think \u201cMan, the hardest part is always just getting started; once I\u2019m here, everything\u2019s awesome!\u201d.<\/i><\/p>\n

    Which brings us to our final punch-tastic, procrastination-pummeling point…<\/p>\n

    1. Just Get Started NOW!<\/b><\/p>\n

    If you\u2019ve been paying attention to the several points above, you\u2019ll notice that \u201cjust getting started\u201d is one of the most common denominators regarding procrastination.<\/p>\n

    This is because the hardest part is always going to be going from your \u201cZero Point\u201d (point of complete rest) to your \u201cNon-Zero Point\u201d (anything that\u2019s more than complete rest). Newton’s First Law of Motion graces us with its presence yet again.<\/p>\n

    It doesn\u2019t matter how big or how small these steps are; what appears easy to one person is a nightmarish, bang-your-head-against-the-wall-fest for another. This is why it\u2019s incredibly important not to confuse other people\u2019s goals with your genuine goals.<\/i><\/p>\n

    Missing that first step will simply have you spending your time boxing shadows instead of procrastination.<\/p>\n

    Time boxing is a fantastic way to \u201cjust get started\u201d. As we revealed above, it will often create the conditions necessary to allow you to just keep working (taking action).<\/i> You\u2019ll probably end up working longer than you would have if you didn\u2019t implement that strategy.<\/p>\n

    If you can muster the courage to start saying \u201cno\u201d to the people, places, and activities that are incongruent with you, you\u2019re making progress.<\/p>\n

    If you can then muster further courage to begin consciously replacing those things with people, places, and activities that are congruent with you who actually are as an individual, reality then opens up and becomes a treasure trove of opportunity.<\/p>\n

    The only condition is that you start becoming more conscious and deliberate with how you’re investing your time and energy \u2013 beginning right NOW.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

    Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n

    Learning to gradually cope with, and eventually overcome, your own personal desire to procrastinate is a huge step forward in the right direction.<\/p>\n

    No longer will your life be a series of distractions, each baiting and pulling you in different directions.<\/p>\n

    No more will everything appear to be urgent and require your attention immediately.<\/p>\n

    You’ll learn to \u201chave eyes\u201d for what’s truly worth doing, and what’s a genuine waste of time.<\/p>\n

    Mastering your time and attention is the true secret to mastering your life across the domains of career, relationships, health\/fitness, and hobbies. Until you begin doing so, you’re reality will be contingent on people and organizations who have already<\/i> done so.<\/p>\n

    So lace up those gloves, move (don’t stick!), and refuse to stay down for the count! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

    Jason Demakis is a psychology & philosophy-based personal development writer, certified personal fitness trainer, and nutritional consultant. With a focus on prioritizing conscious decision making and behavior, Jason strives to motivate and inspire others to achieve their true potential and fulfillment. You can find more of Jason’s writing via <\/i>his personal website, JasonDemakis.com<\/a>.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Today\u2019s fight is between the challenger \u2013 YOU, and the reigning champ -\u201cProcrastination\u201d! 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