Stop procrastinating

Stop procrastinating

Today is the day to get started

You can achieve actual change if you learn how to start doing instead of thinking, “meh, maybe tomorrow,”. The next time when you face a task and you can’t get started on for some reason, follow the steps below:

1. Define why you want to do it

Let’s say you want to start running. Ask yourself why: To reduce stress, lose some weight, and feel better. Well done.

2. Associate it with pain or pleasure

Running sucks, but the feeling you get if you skip it, is worse than the run itself. Also, the joy you feel after is more fulfilling than watching youtube.

3. Divide the task into smaller tasks

Break your task down to it more tangible and get an overview of what to do. In the running example, it could be like this:

Find your workout wear

Put it on

Go outside and move around a bit

Gently start running and listen to your body

Continue running until you feel satisfied

Return home

Stretch a little

Take a shower

Watch YouTube as a reward

4. Start small and simple

In the example above, finding your clothes is a way to get started. Create these kinds of cues creates a momentum into the rest of the task.

5. Try and fail

Failing is great; it’s how you learn stuff. If you don’t know what you are doing, try and feel it out. If you fail, that’s okay, try again with the new knowledge you have now.

6. Try and succeed

Eventually, you will succeed. The more you do something, the more often the first attempt will be successful. Compare it to when you cook your favorite meal; you rarely fail – right? Most other tasks are the same.

“Failure = small errors in judgment repeated every day.
Success = simple disciplines repeated every day.”