How to Stop Procrastination in 3 Simple Steps

By Myriam Callegarin • January 5th, 2010

You know you should do it, it keeps popping up in your mind. With ability, you manage to push the thought back, and once again you “forget” about it for a while. And so it goes on, for weeks, months, maybe even years.

The problem with procrastination is that it really drains your energy. Instead of being able to dedicate your full attention and passion to what matters, you drag a growing number of “to-do’s” around. You feel more and more tired, and wonder where your energy and motivation have gone. Do you know the feeling?

How to change this, with immediate effect

It’s actually easy. Why make it more complicated than it is? Instead of focusing on what you “should do”, focus on the benefit you would get from doing it. It doesn’t matter if it is about something physical, or something emotional. It could even be a decision you keep postponing.

So here are three simple steps to stop procrastination:

Step 1:

Ask yourself: “How do I benefit from doing this?”

Even if what you do will directly benefit someone else, how will you indirectly benefit from it? For example, if you pay off a debt, you may feel relieved, free, independent, re-energized, etc.

Take a moment to cleary envision and “feel” the benefit. If it helps, write it on a piece of paper, or draw pictures that express your vision.

Step 2:

Ask yourself: “How important is this benefit to me?”

Step 3:

Take action.

If your answer in Step 2 is “very important”, then you know why it is good to take care of it immediately.

If you find it “important”, take your calendar (now) and schedule a specific date on which you will do it.

If your answer is “not important”, then why should you do it? What could happen if you delete it from your mental “to-do list”?

Conclusion

Every time you find yourself procrastinating, take a few seconds to ask yourself “How will I benefit from doing it?” and then move over to Step 2 and 3. Within few minutes you will be able to get rid of unnecessary “extra-burden”, and thus feel much freer, proud of yourself, and re-energized.