Last week, I wrote about one tip that I use for keeping on top of procrastination. This week, I’ll admit that I am having a bit of a hard time keeping to my own tactics.
Here’s why. Sometimes, even when you have set a standard for yourself, bypassing the usual workarounds that would allow you to procrastinate your way out of doing what you are supposed to, you just can’t muster the desire to take the first step. Or the middle ones. Or even do anything remotely related to the task at hand.
You can hear your inner self in the background… “but I don’t WANNA!”
Sometimes all the tricks in the world won’t help you avoid the procrastination trap, and you end up facing down your impending deadline with the feeling that you just don’t care. No one else is paying attention, so why should you give a crap? It would be much easier to just give up and move on.
(Side note: if you feel like this most of the time, it’s probably a sign that you should probably re-evaluate what you’re doing – find your “hell yes” and be passionate about what you’re doing.)
That note aside, sometimes you just gotta suck it up and do it anyway. Push through, power on despite the perceived agony. (Second side note: it’s usually never as bad as it seems at the time.)
It’s like when your mom used to force you to eat your broccoli at the dinner table, because it was good for you. Or when Calvin’s dad (of Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes) used to tell Calvin that the things he hated doing built character. It’s kinda like that, only now it’s just you – no parental type telling you what to do “for your own good”. Now it’s just you, your amazing procrastination abilities, and your willpower.
Nike says: Just do it.
Once you manage to swear, complain and whinge your way through the task at hand, it will all be over and you can move on. Heck, maybe it will even help you get some momentum back.
Recap?
Quit whining and just do it.
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