Top 10 Procrastination Busters

1. Clouded Vision - Get a Grip Step back. It's time to look at the forest. What exactly are you trying to accomplish. Sometimes we get so caught up in the detail we forget where we're going.

2. The Task is Overwhelming - Break it Down The bigger the task, the more we need to define the natural milestones within the task. Want to lose 100 pounds? Go for 20 pounds, five times! Need to clean the garage? Break it down to North, South, East, and West. Or divide it into tasks that can be done in a certain block of time (15 minutes, 2 hours, etc).

3. Fear of the End Result -Breathe deeply, acknowledge the fear, then take the next step. Sometimes we're afraid we'll fail; sometimes we're afraid we'll succeed. The outcome is the same: fear of what will happen when we're done scares us so much we don't work at it. Fears are like small children. They yell loudest when they feel they are not being heard. Once you acknowledge them, they usually quiet down. Breathing deeply allows you to go past the fear into the next step.

4. The task is unpleasant or boring. - Focus on 'why' you are doing it. You hate to clean, but love living in graceful surroundings. You hate to do laundry, but love your family. You hate to make phone calls, but the you need the information on the other end of the line to make your project go faster or easier. There are many tasks or chores we do that we don't like to do, but are necessary to live the life we want to live. Focus on the bigger picture.

5. Indecision. - Take a deep breath, remember there are no wrong choices, and do something, anything. There are very few things that can't be undone, or done again. Can't decide what color to paint, so you let your walls remain stained and grungy? Pick three colors. Start with the lightest. If you don't like it, go on to the next.

6. You lack confidence. - Take a deep breath and figure out if your lack of skill is real or imagined. If it's real, find out where to gain the skills you need or find someone with the right skills who can help you. If it's imagined, look at #3.

7. Not enough time. - Break it down into steps that are doable in 5 to 15 minute chunks of time. This is related to #2, but has more to do with time than feeling overwhelmed. Large, uninterrupted chunks of time are very hard to come by. (And if we're honest, when they do come, we'd rather do something fun!) A good rule of thumb I use is "5 or 15". I either do 5 things (file 5 pieces of paper, fold 5 articles of clothing) or do something for 15 minutes. You'd be surprised how much gets done that way, and without pain!

8. Distractions. - Be honest with yourself, then get focused. Are you unconsciously inviting distractions so that you have a 'good' reason not to get something done? It's a way we often sabotage ourselves. Give yourself a gift of time to work on a project. Don't answer the phone or door for one hour. If you're in an office setting, ask the person if you can get back to them in an hour. Take control of the situation.

9. Not allowing adequate time. Figure out how long it will take, then double it, or better yet, triple it. When we envision a project in our minds, we see ourselves flying through it, on a straight and narrow path. Because of that we tend to vastly under-estimate how long it will take. Partly because we forget about Steps 1 through 8! Eventually you'll get better at this, but to begin with, start doubling how long you think it will take. This will allow you to plan better and, perhaps, even complete a project without stress!

10. Too many other projects. Ask for help or establish priority. If you've got too much on plate, speak up! Either to your boss, your family, or to yourself. What is the most important thing to do right now? Focus on that. Also, work on "Important" tasks, not just the "Urgent" ones! nnn