| 10 Easy Ways to Beat Procrastination
by: Ray Kadkhodaian
When we are facing the roadblock of procrastination, it helps to use different strategies to move us along. Here are ten: 1) Gamble - Make an actual bet against yourself, for money, really!; 2) Barter - Write down all the things that you will get in return for completing the project; 3) Bribe - Go out and buy yourself something that you really want, but only open it upon completion of your project; 4) Penalty - Give yourself a productive penalty for not completing the task, i.e. $10 of your spending money goes to the bank, or run 2 miles on the treadmill, etc; 5) Perform - Pick a favorite character on TV or from the movies and complete the project as if you were them. How would Steve Martin complete the task?; 6) Fantasize - Imagine something out of the ordinary would happen if you completed the project, i.e. your boss would give you a raise, you would win the lottery, etc; 7) Beat the Clock - Time yourself and see how fast you can complete the task. This especially helps if the task is repetitive; you can try to beat your time!; 8) Tell Someone - When we involve other people, we tend to follow through more. Tell someone what you plan to accomplish!; 9) Post It - Remind yourself like crazy; Place Post-it notes all over your mirror, your desk, your car? Call your voicemail and leave a message. Be persistant; 10) Deadline - Most importantly, set a deadline. You will never complete the project, lest start it, without one. About the Author Ray Kadkhodaian, along with his wife, is a published author and personal coach. He co-authored the book, Good Boudaries - Great Relationships, and coaches clients on maximizing their relationships through his company, The Lighthouse. |
