“When there is a hill to climb, don’t think that waiting will make it any smaller”.

We’re in the last term of school now and heading towards the summer holiday, and for me that just means loads to do before I switch off for the summer. Where there was procrastination last term, I need to get going now and not let anything get in my way. I mean, what else can prevent me from getting started on those things that need to get done? It’s time to do those things I have been putting off until ‘one day’ – did you know that ‘one day’ isn’t on the calendar. I looked!

For all of us procrastinators, and at least 95% of us procrastinate occasionally, it’s time to kill procrastination before it kills us.

But to be fair, procrastination is not always a bad thing. Instead of reacting immediately to every situation and action point, it gives you a ‘safety zone’ of time to let things settle and analyse decisions. It does however also stop you getting on with life, fulfilling your true potential and performing at your best to get the results you deserve in every area of your life.

“Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried“ Lovely quote, not sure who wrote it but it sums up what happens when you do nothing – nothing happens.

How many opportunities have you let slip through your fingers because you didn’t act on them?

What could you have done that would have significantly improved your life, but you didn’t quite get around to it?

Procrastination is a 4-letter word: FEAR

Fear of starting, afraid of keeping going, terrified of finishing, the fear of failure or the fear of success. Whether that fear is real or imagined – the mind doesn’t know the difference – it stops us in our tracks. So what can we do?

The first thing we can do is identify what it is we are procrastinating about. Then in one list identify why we want to do whatever it is, and a second list identify why we don’t do it. This will help identify where the fear is. Is it in starting? Knowing where to begin? Ability to do it? The actual result? Consequences of achieving it (or not)?

If this doesn’t give an answer then we can think about whether what we’re procrastinating about is something we really want to do – or is it on someone else’s agenda?

Assuming it’s something we want to do, the best strategy is to identify one small action that would start moving us forward and break the inertia. The first step can be the hardest and once started it gathers momentum and becomes a lot easier.

It also really helps to think about the outcome, and identify how we’ll be feeling once it’s achieved. What’s the benefit and why is it important? This should give the inspiration to start.

The physical sensations of fear and excitement are virtually identical, but excitement gives you energy and fear holds you in place. So if the feelings are the same, let’s choose excitement and move forward in a positive frame of mind.

With love and gratitude

Nadine.