Tips To Get Motivated and Overcome Procrastination

Procrastination is a complicated behavior that affects all people to some degree. Some experience only small problems with procrastination while with others, it is a major source of anxiety and stress. Lack of motivation and procrastination is related to time management. Procrastinators often fail to complete tasks even though they know what the task is and the time they have to do it.

Why do people procrastinate? Often a difficult task is avoided in favor of the less difficult. Tasks that take longer amounts of time are less desirable than those that can be completed quickly. People sometimes procrastinate due to fear of failure. No one wants to be embarrassed by a lack of knowledge or skills when beginning a new task. Overcoming the fear of failure and developing good work habits will do wonders for those who tend to procrastinate.

The first step in overcoming procrastination is to recognize what psychological issues cause you to procrastinate in the first place. Self-defeating issues such as anxiety, fear, poor time management skills, indecisiveness, difficulty concentrating, and perfectionism can be major contributors to a lack of motivation. It's important to clarify your goals and then work to achieve them.

If you do not know how to manage your time efficiently, there are classes and literature available to help you learn. In order to change, you first have to accept and forgive yourself for your shortcomings. Do not expect to change overnight, expect to backslide on occasion and forgive yourself when this happens. Give yourself adequate credit for tasks you do accomplish in a timely manner.

If you have a friend or coworker who seems to be highly organized and efficient, ask for suggestions as to how you can do the same. Reward yourself for small steps taken towards your goals and be realistic in your expectations. As with any type of behavioral change, overcoming procrastination will not happen instantly. Change your work or study habits to minimize distractions and promote wise management of your time.

Be disciplined in your approach by setting a realistic goal and sticking to it. Setting priorities is critical in learning to manage your time in the most efficient manner. Do not dwell on setbacks or mistakes. Focus instead on success and soon enough you will stop dwelling on failure and instead come to expect the best from yourself.

Motivation is the key to achieving success at work and at home. Motivation comes from within. Coming to grips with personal issues is the first step in realizing why you procrastinate and then taking steps to change. If you focus on self-discipline and proper time management, you will be able to change those habits that led you to be a procrastinator in the first place.

You can get motivated and stay motivated by implementing a few changes and observing a few personal rules. Observing and copying those who seem to always be a step ahead is also an excellent tool in overcoming procrastination.

Realizing that procrastination is a self-imposed condition is an important step in changing those bad habits into a lifelong formula for success. Make your plan, follow it carefully, and forgive yourself for imperfections. You will soon transform yourself from a chronic procrastinator into a highly motivated, disciplined individual.

About The Author

Arina Nikitina is the author of the goal setting tutorial "How to Set and Achieve a Goal". Get 27 proven techniques, 9 worksheets, and step-by-step success plan here: http://www.how-to-set-and-achieve-a-goal.com/.

arina@goal-setting-guide.com

---

Motivation; 5 Steps to Get the Changes You Want

Q: I just read your column in today's' Greensboro News and Record. For the last few years I've been struggling with change, and found your suggestions about... Read More

The Road Less Traveled

Can someone please tell me why it is that men who have nothing substantial to offer continually approach me? Do you have anything of benefit to bring... Read More

A Perfect World ... Imbalance Creates Motivation

I am a big proponent of balance. Everything has to be just so. I believe that we should all strive to obtain balance in our lives. Balance... Read More

The Power

I had a friend ask me a question not to long ago that really led me to do some thinking. "How do you manage to stay so... Read More

Life Doesnt Have A Sell By Date

Or does it?Best on or before?.. Nearly everything we touch nowadays has a sell by date somewhere on the packaging.When is your best before date? What's the... Read More

Danger In The Comfort Zone

I don't know who said it or where I heard it, but I'm sure it was brought to my attention by a sales trainer somewhere, at some... Read More

Training Your Mind to Help You

Our friend, singer and songwriter Chuck Pyle, likes to say, "The mind is like a bad neighborhood-you should never go there by yourself." If you're mind hasn't... Read More

Citizens of the Land of Opportunity

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these... Read More

Do The Hardest Thing First And The Rest Will Be Easy

Have you ever noticed that in life we almost always choose the easy road, the path of least resistance when it comes to challenges in our way?I... Read More

After the Big Project: Recovering From Success

My older daughter got married 10 days ago. The wedding was a joyous and extraordinary experience, way beyond our imaginings. I am deeply happy about all of... Read More

The Ultimate Kick-butt Motivational Lesson

How often have you struggled with yourself over the work that needs to be done? How many times have you put off performing some task or other... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management ? the Value of Challenge

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this... Read More

Were Good at the Things We Like

Read that again. It doesn't say "We like the things we're good at," though that's true as well. No, it says we're good at the things we... Read More

You Want Me to Do What?

Most of the time whenever we need to make an important business decision we turn to what is convenient or comfortable. Why is it that we never... Read More

Nurturing Your Vision

There is a new television show, called Blind Justice that will be replacing NYPD Blue. The show follows a Detective who, at the prime of his life... Read More

Your Most Important Opportunity says a top UK Personal Development Coach

For some people this article will turn out to be one of the most important things they've ever read.I say this because some people are ready to... Read More

2 Simple Ways To Cure Procrastination

Curing procrastination is not necessarily about will power or forcefully advancing in your goals but rather it is about learning why we procrastinate, what we are afraid... Read More

Planting Seeds of Action

Recently, I was driving past a local nursery and saw a sign that said, "Fall Is For Planting." As I drove, the idea on the sign was... Read More

Do We Have Free Will?

It is being suggested here that we have only one real choice in life:To let go of fear and resistance and be taken by the flow of... Read More

The Doomsday Device ... The physical Brain In Action

Our physical brains quickly and easily handle mundane sequences of operations, or processes without question. It repeats processes like a machine: A»B»C»...»Z». Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines the word... Read More

Motivation By An Audience

Sooner or later, if you keep working hard in a focused way on a skill or project, you will have an audience even if it is an... Read More

Motivation: Good Luck or Bad Luck, Too Soon to Tell

As the story goes, there was once a farmer and his only son in the days just before the Civil War. Having only one horse, the farmer... Read More

Beyond Procrastination ? 8 Questions To Ask Yourself

Why am I constantly putting things off? Why don't I do the things I'm "supposed" to do, but don't really want to? Why do I always seem... Read More

Taking Responsibility

Taking action about our current station in life involves taking responsibility for our current state of affairs. When we acknowledge that we are the main culprits with... Read More

Making Decisions

You lost your job. Your partner left you. Your car was re-possessed. You find your life barren like the desert.Your self-esteem plunged. You don't think you are... Read More

If Theres Money in a Dead Mouse...

My 4 year old son was very excited. I had promised him to tell a wonderful story tonight.As usual, I got engrossed in my work till late... Read More