So, how exactly do you stop procrastinating?

How do you get off your arse and just do something? It seems the more important the task the harder it is to start. This is because of fear. The people who relentlessly get stuck into massive projects do this because they know the fear can be controlled.

“He who deliberates fully before taking a step will spend his entire life on one leg” — Chinese proverb

So, what are you afraid of? Afraid that it won’t work. Afraid that you can’t get it done in time? Afraid that you don’t know enough? You’re not good enough? Or is it your attitude to the task?

Matt Inglot theorises in this article that school engraves a mentality that “work needs to be put off as long as possible so that play can occur”. He’s right.. and for that schooling has a lot to answer for. But once we acknowledge this we can get over it. You have to. What you are procrastinating about could change your life.

Starting something is risky. So is not starting something. What’s it gonna be?

Bill from Unleash your potential writes in his article Don’t let fear steal your dream: “Every successful person I know is a risk-taker. If you are honest with yourself, every successful person you know is a risk-taker as well.”

Planning is hard. You’re always torn between the dream and the reality of what you can achieve. Eventually you also have to decide that you have planned enough and it is officially time to do something.

Busy people have it easy in this respect. Busy people see the task at hand and mull over it while they’re in low brain-usage moments: in the shower, on a bus etc. Then they work out when the only feasible time to get this task done is. Then when that timeslot comes up they just plow on into the task. They figure it’s now or never so it just gets done. On that note, if you ever have something important you need to delegate give the job to a busy person. They’ll get it done.

A monster article, is procrastination a gift?, tries to see the positive side in procrastinating. For some, I guess, the stress of leaving things to the last minute can provide the adrenalin required to get it done. I mean, that’s how most people finish their thesis. But the adrenalin forced last-minuters are always jealous of the people who could make themselves prepare and do it earlier. Face it. Stress just isn’t that much fun.

“He who has begun the task has half done it” — Horace (Roman Poet)

Starting to do things is the hardest bit. Once you get going you can use the momentum of doing to keep doing. And you can watch the task head towards completion. It’s undeniable feedback of your good work.. and that’s hard to ignore. Positive feedback always makes you feel great about getting on with more of what got you the feedback.

Jessica Robinson has some great pros and cons here on whether to tackle a new task with “baby steps” or a “massive action”. She also notes that sometimes jut by making a baby step “you could flow gently along with the tide and not only use it to your advantage, but thoroughly enjoy it.”

So, the basic steps to overcoming procrastination are:

• Get over your fear of starting by understanding that the consequences of not starting are risky too.
• Calculate the risks involved.
• Plan.. but then move on.
• Understand that it’s not “work” you’re procrastinating about. It’s your study. It’s your business. It’s your promotion. It’s your life.
• Get busy. Schedule a time to complete things.
• Look forward to the momentum and positive feedback that doing it will bring.
• Adjust and try to enjoy the idea of doing it.
• Make a start, however small. That first step is the hard step.
• Do it today. Tomorrow never comes.

Now, bugger off and get on with it!