Get Over Procrastination: It’s as Easy as 1,2,3,4

As I was gazing at my list of articles that I had to complete for this week, I kept running over this one and telling myself that I would come back to it. What's even more interesting was that I didn't realize that I was procrastinating over writing an article about overcoming procrastination. Once the irony set in, I determined that it was time to stop putting it off and learn some much needed lessons for getting over such a habit.

I began by delineating why I was putting things off. Not just with this article, but with many things in my life. Here's what I came up with:

• My house desperately needs to be cleaned, but I get an overwhelming sense of the inability to find the time to do so and dwell on the fact that it will not be fun.
• I've been planning to write a script for a long time but I am constantly plagued by the thought that it won't be good.
• I look at my office and realize that things still need to be put away and organized from a recent move I made and feel hopeless at the thought.

These are actually quite typical emotions when it comes to finding reasons for not doing things that need to be done. You may have totally different reasons for skating by the things you've been meaning to do, but I bet that the emotions at the center of the problem are essentially the same.

So, since we're all hopeless procrastinators, let's figure out how to get over it.

Visualize

Many of us determine to procrastinate once we have the disorganized image of the process of the task in our heads. It's too much for our brains to handle such disarray, so we think to ourselves "forget it." Unfortunately, part of getting over procrastination is organizing our thoughts. Don't let that throw you off though, it's not that difficult. First, imagine whatever it is that needs to be done as completed. Think of what you will gain by not having this on your to-do list any longer. DO NOT allow yourself to drift off to that place that reminds you of how terrible it will be to get it done.

Once you've seen it in your own mind as completed, think of the first step it might take to get there. Again, don't let your mind wonder past that. Also, don't be afraid to think of more than one possible way to complete the first step. This is all part of outlining and debunking the disorganized and overwhelming feelings of having to do it. If you can determine your first step, the rest will follow suit.

Brainstorm

This is another helpful method for...well...just about anything. Projects that seem too big to comprehend are often chiseled down with brainstorming. Simply jot down the major components of whatever task needs to be done and then continue with the sub-components of each. Mind mapping is a helpful way to do this. Then, begin to process the steps for each component. You'll probably find that one step requires doing another first, so you've prioritized and organized your task without even knowing it. This should lighten your load tremendously and it won't seem so unbearable anymore.

Commit

This is something I'm very reluctant to do simply because I can't stand to disappoint. I know that if I tell someone I'm going to do something, there is no way around it. So, if it's something you don't want to do, but know you have to or know that it will ultimately make you or someone else happy, commit to someone so that your sheer guilt won't let you put it off forever.

Change Your Perception

I know that this is easier said than done, but we can fool ourselves into believing anything. The same can be true for those awful tasks you've been stalling on. It's likely that the reason you're putting them off is because you believe they will be no fun at all. This is where you must change your perception. Trick yourself into believing it won't be so terrible. Or, look at the bigger picture. Say to yourself, "When I complete this, I'm getting a manicure and a pedicure and it's going to look and feel fabulous!" I guarantee you won't be putting that off.

I'm probably one of the worst procrastinators I know, but I also enjoy self-improvement by learning how to change the things I don't like about myself. I'm not so delusional to believe that every part of my life will be fun, but even the not-so-fun parts are really just a matter of perception. Only you can choose how you will react to certain things in your life. "Procrastinator" is just another title we all give ourselves when we're feeling a little less than productive. So, take a minute to have a pity party. Go ahead, I won't judge. We all have our moments, but when you're ready to get back on the horse, follow these steps to get over the hump and on your way to getting things done.