How to Avoid Procrastination
Our resident life coach, Carole Ann Rice shares with us her tips for avoiding procrastination… something many of us are be found guilty of an something that keeps us from achieving our dreams.
-
Stop procrastinating!
Is there something in your life you keep putting off? Do you find yourself needlessly surfing the net, watching Jeremy Kyle or eating direct from the fridge to avoid something?
Perhaps you are trying to ignore that difficult phone call, tacking your tax return or studying your last scary-looking bank statement? It may seem like a good tactic to cross your fingers and hope it will go away but you know deep down doing the ostrich doesn’t get you any where.
Now remember back when you have been in a similar position before, you know that you will feel better, lighter, happier and liberated when the job is done. So why is it then that we procrastinate when it’s better to get the job done?
Procrastination is fear-based behavior. We start to build up a whole set of assumed negative outcomes before we even start the job. For example we might think the following:
- It is going to be too difficult/will take a long time
- It might be painful or make us feel bad about ourselves
- It won’t be “perfect” so why bother?
- What if we fail or are rejected?
These, we must remember, are just negative assumptions but our inner critic is having a field day. Our negative internal dialogue is setting us up to fail; making us feel insecure, vulnerable and disabling our energy to the point of inertia, even depression.
But you can get out of the rut and into the groove.
Here are some of my top coaching tips I use to help my clients teleport themselves out of analysis paralysis and into action.
-
Start by setting yourself small time limits. 20 minutes dealing with the task then and a 5 minute break – tea, washing up, a walk – then start again.
-
Be accountable to someone – email or phone a friend or relative and show what you have accomplished. Or better still hire a coach!
-
Build in small treats for work accomplished – a nice bath, phone a friend, a glass of wine in the evening
-
Do the tough stuff first. It then gets easier.
-
Keep to-do lists to 3 actionable things
-
Be realistic with timescales. Don’t attempt to do a week’s work in a day
-
Ask yourself if you are stuck – is this better to do this in 1 hour or 20?
-
Don’t aim for perfection aim for progress
-
Remember obstacles you have overcome from the past. You did it then you can do it now.
-
Imagine how good you’ll feel when you’ve done it!
Taking action means being responsible, facing up and being an “adult”. Taking care of business may sometimes feel painful and onerous but when we confront the tough stuff and deal with it we grow and feel more in control.
In the words of the great Martin Luther King “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step”.
Or as the more current soothsayer Nike would put it – “Just do it”.
If you would like further tips on procrastination or would like to book a 30 minute free trial session contact Carole Ann www.realcoachingco.com.
Stylist? Join our Directory
You receive leads straight into your inbox which you follow up at your earliest convenience. This is your chance to speak directly to prospective clients and increase your chances of getting those bookings.
Recent articles
-
Dressing for Work – the golden rules
Getting our client's work wardrobe right is possibly the biggest challenge we as stylists are faced with. Not only do you want to make a positive impression at work and be noticed for all the right reasons, but you also want to feel good... after all, you spend most of your life working! Here are some ideas for sorting out your work wardrobe.
-
What is the 2012 Royal Ascot Dress Code
If you are lucky enough to be heading to Royal Ascot this year then you may want to read this. The dress code has altered slightly and you wouldn’t want to go getting it wrong, believe me!
-
Milli Millu Handbags SS12 collection - WIN
Have we got a treat for you. Not only have we found an emerging handbag designer who is making waves for all the right reasons but we also have one of their handbags to give away... all £300 worth of glorious clutch!
Hot topics
-
The Pussycat Dolls Corset Look
Check out the Gorgeous Pussy Cat Dolls, proving they really do look incredible all of the time in pretty much anything, including corsets!
-
What Body Shape Am I?
Contrary to popular belief there are 5 different female body shapes, which have been somewhat overcomplicated through the years and given all sorts of interesting names. Understanding which body shape you are is the first rule of getting to grips with your wardrobe.
-
What’s the difference between a Personal Stylist and An Image Consultant?
There’s been much debate as to the difference between Image Consultants and Personal Stylists recently, so I am going to try and shed some light on the matter for you.
-
Have you got a shopping addiction?
Did you know that a staggering 25% of Brits are addicted to shopping according to a national survey carried out by Kensington Financial Management Consultants.