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There’s the act of wanting to accomplish goals, and then there’s the art of actually achieving results. More plans go astray, more dreams go unfulfilled, and more time is wasted, by procrastination than by any other single factor. So, stop procrastinating! Simple enough… or so you may think. But for those who suffer with this particular issue, (and quite frankly, who doesn’t,) it’s a little more complicated than that.
Let’s start with a clear definition of exactly what procrastination is. Quite simply, procrastination is the habit of delaying an important task, usually by focusing on less urgent, more enjoyable, and easier activities instead.
Take a good look at that simple definition again. Notice, nowhere in that statement do you see the word, “lazy.” Most who struggle with procrastination seem to suffer in silence, almost ashamed to admit he or she is afflicted with this disorder.
It’s time to stop beating yourself up, because a lack of action has less to do with you, and/or your personal habits, than you may think. In fact, you have a different opponent to focus on. The true foe lies right here:
“The enemy of action is rationalization.”
If you look up the definition of rationalization, you’ll find this: “The action of attempting to explain or justify behavior or an attitude with logical reasons, even if these are not appropriate.” If you’re looking for the true culprit to a lack of action, it’s right here. So now we’ve got it solved, so you can stop rationalizing your lack of action! Simple enough… or so you may think. Rationalization is a sneaky habit that masks your inability to get what you need done, with things that would be nice to get done. As with most habits, it’s very possible to overcome this issue, but it’s going to take action:
Recognize That You’re Procrastinating. If you’re briefly delaying an important task for a genuinely good reason, then you aren’t necessarily procrastinating. However, if you start to put things off indefinitely, or switch focus because you want to avoid doing something, then you probably are. Stop rationalizing and you’re more likely to act. As long as you continue to deny or rationalize your procrastination, you are not in a position to overcome it.
Analyze what causes you to put things off. Once you admit that you are indeed procrastinating, examine your situation and determine why. Maybe it’s succumbing to the constant onslaught of emails, or a poor environment to work from. Then find a technique for conquering your procrastination.
Adopt strategies to conquer this habit. Rationalizing your lack of action is a deeply ingrained pattern of behavior, and it won’t resolve itself overnight.
- Let go of the past. Just because you’ve struggled in the past doesn’t mean you can’t overcome this in the future.
- Commit to the goal you’re looking to accomplish by writing down the tasks that you need to complete, and specify a time for doing them.
- Don’t just create a To-Do list; prioritize that list, and put the toughest jobs first.
- Consider doing a small task that gets you moving in the right direction, and remember, “Done is better than perfect.”
- Consider promising yourself a reward. For years, a simple bag of barbecued potato chips did the trick for me!
Rationalization can, and will, get in the way of performing most difficult tasks, but it’s an obstacle, and nothing more. Recognize it, analyze it, and develop strategies to conquer it. Once you do, achieving your goals will come down to two things: Getting started, and keeping it going!
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