How I Finally Stopped Procrastinating - Knockout Method Review

I have been a chronic procrastinator for about 10 years. What makes my procrastination so bad is that I am also a freelancer which means I am my own boss and set my own deadlines. About a year ago things started getting really bad where I was lying to a client to get more time on one of my deliverables. I eventually lost the client, which led to not getting paid, and severely impacted my living situation.

About 3 months ago I discovered a process through Reddit called Procrastination Knockout (PKO). Its basically a daily routine for procrastinators to follow. It takes the “thinking” out of the “doing” and provides a structured outline for your day. When I want to get something done I randomize my tasks and set a Pomodoro timer. Now I don’t actually chose what I am working on and I do it for a set period of time with breaks built in.

For example, if my job is to build a database for my client, I put in all the task associated with doing the database like layouts, scripting, formatting, etc..I then do them in a random order for set time intervals.

What’s great about PKO is that its not just some routine that you do. They show you how to turn the daily program into an actual habit. In addition there is self-regulation techniques like meditation built in to help you stave off procrastination.

I was NEVER a big fan of meditation, but now I meditate for almost an hour a day, which is threaded throughout the routine. I always perceived meditation as waste of time, but the way it is setup in the Knockout method makes it no big deal. You don’t actually mediate for a long time, it’s a few minutes here and there, and often follows a productivity block. I like to use the time to be proud of my efforts for getting work done.

At first the Procrastination Knockout Method seemed a little intimidating. When I first tried it I decided to skip lessons 1 through 7 and go right to the daily routine. For some people I am sure that’s fine, but for me that didn’t work….I couldn’t stick with it and It felt a bit all over the place with my work.

What you learn in the first 7 parts is that habits form slowly. So PKO shows you how to slowly build habits and then add on when you are ready. I highly advise reading through the material before skipping ahead like I did.

It sounds kind of crazy to say, but PKO turned my life around. It still took some effort and a bit of will on my part, but it gave me something to believe in and follow. It also became easier to follow because the routine itself is a habit that you build.

I’ve tried many self-help books over the years and nothing quite gave me a step by step guide like this. None of the info in the course is new discoveries so to speak , but its put together in such a way that you can apply it to everyday living, which is not something I have ever found anywhere.

The last month and a half is the most productive I have been in years and I actually feel good about myself and my work. I don’t know that I have “cured” my procrastination issue, but it’s the first step I have taken in the right direction.

If you are thinking about giving it a shot its worth it if are ready to create change in your life. It took me about 7 to 10 days to settle in with the routine and I haven’t been the same person since I started.