Sure-Fire Steps To Combat Procrastination

You really want to open a blog, put in an entry for a writing contest, compose an article or blog post, or do something else … something big but you realise you keep postponing doing so time and time again.

You know why?

You are being played by a thief of progress called procrastination. This thief prevents you from taking the necessary steps you need to take to achieve your goals. It turns you into a mediocre … always wishing … never doing the needful … never daring the odds … never conquering new territories … never breaking barriers.

Just WISHING.

Knowing and removing the barrier

This is the part where you get to know the thief and how it operates.

Procrastination works mainly on two human tendencies: the tendency to have fear and the tendency to give excuses.

Long ago, I nursed the desire to launch my online platform. But procrastination had the better of me for about a year. Yes, a solid whole year!

Guess how? By simply capitalising on those human tendencies.

First, it gave me the clichéd EXCUSE of busy schedule – internships, exams, chores, studies, outings, errands and whatnot.

In another breath, it instilled several FEARS in me – the fear of failing, of turning out a mediocre, of betraying expectations, or simply not being good enough.

I lingered in this state for long until I realised what works.

Here’s what works…

Kill the thief!

Yeah, kill the damn thief called procrastination.

To do this, you need to admit that your excuses – no matter how valid or genuine they seem – are nothing but excuses deserving absolutely no right to come between you and your goals. And then … jettison the excuses.

Also, admit your fears and be courageous enough to dare, face, and surmount them.

Now, let’s get more practical.

Three practical steps to overcome procrastination

These three steps help you overcome procrastination whether you are a writer, blogger, entrepreneur or other than them.

1: Start

The first step is to start.

Start!

Do what needs to be done. Importantly, DO THEM NOW, not tomorrow or later.

This is the key to opening the door to your dreams. I wanted to open a blog long ago but I kept telling myself I’ll do that later. One day, I realised almost a year had passed and I’ve still not opened one!

Then, I made up my mind that I’m opening it that day. I did not succumb to the whispers of Mr. Procrastination but instead went ahead that moment to open the blog.

So, if there’s an essay contest you want to enter, a blog you want to open, or any other dream you want to chase, go do it now!

Start!

2: Continue

Continuing is the second step.

You might open a blog, and then get hooked at the point of crafting your first or even subsequent post. Or you might start composing your entry for a contest, and then, face a little roadblock.

What are you to do? Stop and bow out?

Of course, not.

In the face of challenges, continue! That is the spirit. Start and continue.

3: Don’t stop

Then, there is the last step which is especially important if you are engaged in a long-term exercise like … say blogging – don’t stop.

You may start a blog and discover you’re not getting traffic. You may start an essay and then at a point begin to doubt the quality of your entry.

Still, don’t stop.

Continue and finish it! That’s the attitude of winners – they never quit. Quitters however never win.

So go take the bull by the horn and kill the life out of procrastination. How did you do this?

First, jettison your excuses and surmount your fears. Then, start whatever it is you want to do, continue with it, and don’t stop till you finish.

So how else do you deal with procrastination? Please share in the comments.