Stop putting off the important things you need to get done and start kicking some butt! 

Most of us have the tendency to postpone the difficult or distasteful tasks we really should be doing.  This holds us back from experiencing all the success available to us.

Instead, we divert our attention to trivial activities.  We convince ourselves that we need a break or that we don’t have time to start that big project today.

Stop procrastinating and start kicking butt!

7 Techniques to Help You Stop Procrastinating NOW!

“Winners do things that losers don’t want to do.” ~Dr. Phil

Are you a winner or a loser?  The difference might be in how much you procrastinate.  If you really want to kick butt, then get the important, but difficult tasks done first!

Here are seven techniques to help you stop procrastinating:

1.  Make a Dent in It

You should start difficult tasks even if you think you only have time to make a dent in it.  This is my favorite technique and one I have to remind myself of continually.  The kicker is that when I go ahead and get started, I’m always amazed at how much I get done!  Don’t put off important things another minute.  Attack them now!

2.  Concentrate On What Must Be Done

Prioritize your to-do list and handle the “must be done” items first.  Write down everything you would like to do today and then go back and mark those that “must be done”, those that “should be done” and finally those that “can be done”.  Now you have your battle plan drawn up and all you have to do is stick to it!

3.  Break It Down

Break down large, formidable projects into individual tasks that you can knock out.  It is easy to feel overwhelmed when you think about starting a big project.  I know this becomes a mental block for me.  The only way I know to defeat this block is to break it down.  How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time!

4.  Stop Multitasking

Focus on one thing until it is completed.  Multitasking is a myth.  You actually get less done when you multitask because you waste time switching your attention back and forth.  Diverting yourself from important tasks to “emergencies” or less important, but urgent issues is a subtle form of procrastination that robs you of true effectiveness.  Kick this habit to the curb!

5.  Schedule a Cushion

Build cushion time into your daily schedule to put out fires.  Having a set time to deal with unplanned issues will help you discipline yourself to finish what you started before moving on to something else.  “Emergencies” are often the excuses we use for putting off our most important, but less appealing tasks.  Don’t let this trap bring you down!

6.  Find Your Quiet Hour

Set aside at least one hour a day as your quiet hour to work on important, but non-urgent tasks.  Close your door, turn off your phone and shut down your e-mail (gasp!) to eliminate all distractions.  You will amaze yourself at how much you can get done in an hour!  Doing this everyday will put you so far ahead that you’ll wonder how you ever survived without it.

7.  Reward Yourself

Give yourself a treat when you complete a demanding task.  Tell yourself that you can go outside or spend a few minutes on Twitter or have a piece of chocolate as soon as you finish your “must be done” task.  This will help change up the pace and give you something to look forward to when you get the job done.  Do whatever it takes to stop procrastinating!

Procrastination Is Your Biggest Enemy to Defeat

We would crush anything else that robbed us of so much success.  Why not defeat procrastination with these great techniques?  Find the ones that work best for you and put them into daily practice.  They will make a world of difference in your life!

What do you do to stop procrastinating?

Photo by Perfecto Insecto