Stop Procrastinating

We all procrastinate, often to dodge daunting tasks. But when it disrupts work and spikes stress levels for everyone involved, it's time to take action! Whether it’s a task for work, your success, or just cleaning out a closet you’ve been putting off. Once the task is accomplished you will feel so much better about tackling the other tasks you’ve been putting off all year long.  You'll feel energized, sleep soundly, and finally put that nagging task behind you!

Here are 10 strategies I personally and professionally use to break free from procrastination:

Boost your productivity, uplift your mood, and earn that “doer” reputation at work!

1. Identify the situation.

Write down that daunting task you’ve been avoiding. For instance: I need to enter my client list into a PowerPoint spread sheet so I can find information quicker. Clarity is key!

2. Pinpoint Your Emotions

What's stopping you from jumping into this task?

It often boils down to three core emotions: 

-Fear of new challenges, 

-Anger at changes when the old way was fine, 

-Sadness over feeling tech-challenged or you just can’t part with old stuff.

Recognizing these feelings helps reveal that procrastination is really just an emotional response!

3. Embrace Your Emotions!

Remember, emotions like sadness, anger, and fear are just energy in motion!

Take a moment for yourself-cry to release sadness, punch or yell into a pillow for anger, or do some exaggerated shivers to shake off that fear.

Let it out and lighten your load. You’ll feel free again!

4. Make a plan! 

Solid planning is the cornerstone of success for any project. Start by defining your goal clearly.  Your written goal acts as your guiding star through turbulent waters. For instance, “I need to organize my client list so I can be more successful in finding their information in a timely fashion. By doing this I can be more helpful to them and to me instead of allowing it to be a roadblock.”  Having a sharp focus will keep you motivated and on course!

5. Uncover Your “Truths”

Spot those sneaky sabotaging thoughts waiting to strike during weak moments!

When you catch yourself saying, "I'll never learn all this," flip it with empowering truths like: 

"I can do this" or “If others can learn, so can I." 

To tackle frustration, remind yourself: 

"I'm doing this to be a more productive team player" or if you’re still working a 9-5 job, say to yourself "My boss believes I'm the best for this!"

6. Break your goal into bite-sized steps!

You've envisioned the task, tackled what's been holding you back, and transformed that negative mindset. Now it's time to decide when you'll kick off and craft a realistic step-by-step plan. Write it down, schedule it, and commit! Embark on a mental journey: plot out each detail—who to talk with, what to discuss, where you'll work, when it'll happen, and how long each step will take. When you break down these steps also include how long each task will take and build that into your goals. 15-minute allotments, 30 minutes or 1-hour allotments to complete the task. It might not be done in one day, but over a 2-week period you will begin to see results and want to increase your schedule to better complete the tasks you’ve assigned yourself.

7. Anticipate Roadblocks!

After creating your game plan, take a moment to envision potential challenges ahead. Time constraints, scheduling conflicts, etc.  What if urgent projects interrupt your flow?  Prepare tactics to stay on track and conquer any obstacle that comes your way!

8. Take the leap!

You've prepped, now it's time to conquer that daunting task!  Before you dive in, check in with your feelings—anger, fear, or sadness?  Release that energy physically and constructively.  Once those emotions are set free, you'll feel lighter and ready to jump in. Just focus on one step at a time—you might be surprised how easy it becomes!

9. Battle Resistance

As you tackle your tasks, expect to face excuses, bad moods, and discouragement. Counter resistance with tenacity! Keep reminding yourself: “I can do this. I'll feel better once I’m done.” Repeat it until it's etched in your mind. Whenever temptation strikes or doubt creeps in, shift your focus back to the goal!

10. Embrace the Upside!

Tackling a daunting task is super satisfying! Celebrate every small win along the way. Remember, finishing what you’ve been avoiding will lighten your workload and boost your mood. Whether it’s a task for work, your success, or just cleaning out a closet you’ve been putting off. Once the task is accomplished you will feel so much better about tackling the other tasks you’ve been putting off all year long.  You'll feel energized, sleep soundly, and finally put that nagging task behind you! Let's do this!

Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing, with 12 of those years in the online content sphere. Author of 5 books and a Graduate with an Associate of Arts degree in Business Management, a bachelor’s in mass communication and cyber-Analysis, a master’s in criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft and is currently studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology. Her work portfolio includes coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. Elizabeth is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist in her spare time, proficient in watercolor, acrylic, oil, pen and ink, gouache, and pastels. As a political operative who has worked on over 300 campaigns during her career, Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 7 blogs ranging from art to life coaching, food, writing, Gardening, and opinion or history pieces each week.