Learn to Overcome Procrastination Today!

A great blogger and motivator, Celeste Chua inspired me to quote her awesome article.

To overcome procrastination in everything you do – from jobs to studies, you must first understand that procrastination is not the real issue. It is merely the symptom of the issue. So, what really causes procrastination? It’s really down to: (1) lack of desire and (2) fear.

Since we are operating a website on employment and career opportunities, it is only relevant that this discussion is delved into these areas.

1. Identify what you are procrastinating on

This should be an area that you keep putting things off. We shall take the example of your current job – be it full time or part-time.

2. Ask yourself “Why am I putting this off?”

Possible and obvious answers to this may range from “I don’t know”, “I don’t have enough time” and “I’m busy”. 

3. Pick out hotspot answers

Eliminate symptom of the issue. All the answers above are actually symptoms of the issue. The hotspot answers that you should be focusing at are: (1) feelings and (2) ability. Examples of feelings may be “I don’t like doing this”, “I’m tired”, “I’m scared” and “I hate doing this”. Examples of one’s ability may be “I don’t know how to”, “There’s so much on my hands right now” and “It’s too difficult”.

4. Probe into these answers

Dig into uncover what lies beneath. Ask yourself questions to these hotspot answers.

· “I don’t like this” ---> Why you don’t like this?

· “I don’t know how to” ---> Why don’t you know how to? What does it takes to know what you don’t know?

· “It’s too difficult” ---> Why is it difficult? What makes it difficult? Is there any other way to simplify it?

5. Keep repeating until you find the solutions

The more connected you are, the better this exercise will turn out. Chances are, these answers will affirm what you already know about yourself. As long as you keep on pressing, the answers will eventually surface.

6. Create and action plan to solve the root issue

Now that you’ve uncovered the root issue, it’s best to create an action plan to counter this procrastination symptom. Realization of the issue will always trigger one into action. If you have lost the passion in your job, simply move on and identify what you’re passionate in again and start pursuing that. Procrastinating will only prolong the issue and will bring you nowhere. Allow yourself to identify the root issue and you’ll never find procrastination a problem anymore.