Procrastination is the easiest thing to do because you’re not doing anything! Get proactive and get to work! Start marking things off your To Do list when you read these 10 wrong moves that stop you from finishing what you’ve started.
1. You’re choosing the wrong starting point.
You have a daunting project looming over you, but you haven’t started yet. You just don’t know how to tackle it! You’re probably intimidated by the project because you’re choosing the wrong starting point. Look at your project from different viewpoints, and see if there might be a new way to approach it. You just might find a creative way that inspires you to get started, and you’ll finish your task in no time!
2. You’re striving for perfection.
You want your project to be great, and that’s an understandable goal. But don’t strive for perfection. Do the best job you can do, of course, but if you want everything to be perfect, you might start worrying that it won’t be perfect. And that might keep you from starting in the first place. Devote yourself to the project and work as hard as you can, and you’ll get results you can be proud of.
3. You have a fear of failure.
If you’re striving for perfection, then you probably have a fear of failure. You’re worried that your project won’t be good enough and you’ll be punished or ridiculed. Don’t even think about failure! The only way you can fail is to not do the project at all. Tackle your task and do the best job you can, and there’s no way you will fail.
4. You underestimate the task.
When you get your project, sit down and brainstorm. Think about different approaches and different goals. Think of how long it will take you to complete, and be realistic. Don’t underestimate the task! Don’t think you can complete it at the last minute. Break the task into smaller projects and set deadlines for yourself. Make sure you’re meeting each mini-deadline so you won’t miss your final due date.
5. You set multidirectional goals.
You’ve studied your tasks and set deadlines and goals, but are your goals straightforward? Don’t set multidirectional goals that might lead you astray. It’s good to try different approaches to your project, but don’t explore a different path that will keep you from reaching your goals.
6. You’re not making decisions.
Be proactive with your project! Don’t get stuck on something just because you can’t decide what to do. Spending too much time pondering the possibilities and the outcomes will make your project stall, and your inspiration will fade right along with it. Be decisive! Make decisions so your project will keep moving forward.
7. You’re not allocating time.
Talk about procrastination! Not devoting time to your project is just like procrastinating. Make sure you’re giving yourself enough time to complete the tasks you’ve assigned yourself until you finish. You’ll have plenty of time to relax and pat yourself on the back when you finish the project, so don’t waste time doing nothing now.
8. You’re not moving forward.
All of these steps will help you move forward. Make decisions, set goals, be realistic about what you want to achieve and what you can achieve. This will give you inspiration and drive to complete your project, and have fun along the way!
9. You’re not focusing.
Your project is in the works, but you’re not making any progress. You’re devoting time, you’re making decisions, you have goals, but nothing is working. Are you focusing on your project? You might not be devoting your entire self to the purpose. Make sure you focus on your project so it will go smoother and you’ll feel more connected to the whole thing.
10. You don’t have an end in sight.
You have a task to complete but you don’t know how it’s going to turn out. That’s OK at the start, but make sure you envision the end goal. It’s the light at the end of the tunnel! You need to have a general idea of how your project is going to turn out so you know what you’re striving for.
