Episode #138: Overcoming The Procrastinator Inside You

We know we should do that project or piece of work but we resist. We may even be bold and get it into our To Do list, maybe even attach a high priority number to it, but still fail to start. Why? We are all pretty clever about avoiding pain and some projects have pain written all over them.

Our inner dialogue could also be an issue. We are talking ourselves out of doing the work because of what we are saying to ourselves about the prospect. Here are some ideas on changing the inner conversation to slip the chains of procrastination and assist us to get the hard bits completed.

1.“I need to do it perfectly”

We can say instead, “I will get this project started and give myself sufficient time to work on it, so it is done correctly”.

2.“I have to”

So let’s take back control and instead say “I choose to”.

3.“This project is overwhelming

This is the “eat the elephant” or “eat the live frog” metaphor – we are put off by the size or difficulty of the task at hand. Let’s change our focus from contemplating the project in it’s entirety and say to ourselves “Where is the best place to start”.

4.“I have no time for lunch”

Change the language to yourself and say instead, “My work effectiveness will be much, much better after a break, so I will take lunch and then really get into it”.

5.“I’ll never get this finished”

Let’s talk ourselves into it, by noting, “I know once I get started, I will be on a roll”.

6.“There is no way I can succeed”

Switch gears and use a kaizen thought process, “I will give it my best shot, get it going and work on improving it along the way”.

7.“No one else is working as hard as me”

Look at it differently, “This is my chance to take a leadership role and encourage others to swallow their frog”.

8.“I don’t know where to begin”

Switch thoughts and say, “Get the hard part done and then the rest will be easy”.

9.“I hate this part of the job”

Let’s think, “Once I finish this task, I will reward myself!”

Change our inner conversation and we change our productivity. Remember, time is limited and so we can’t do everything, but we can choose to do the most important thing every day. Let’s talk ourselves into it.