How to Overcome Inaction
It’s not good enough to understand why people procrastinate. It’s also crucial that you know the techniques to help you overcome inaction to reach your destination. Below are some proven methods for handling procrastination.
Emotional Connection
Whenever you find yourself delaying a task, ask yourself why you need to do it now? There are always reasons you feel are reasonable enough for you to push a task to another time. For example, you might think that you still have time until the deadline. Time projection happens when you can complete a task long ahead of the deadline. So, you might want to play now and work later.
However, this approach isn’t the best because you never can tell what might pop up later. Life is too unpredictable to leave things you need to do now until later. What if you have an urgent family during the time you plan to get the work done? Therefore, even if you feel that you have more than enough time, do the job now and play later. Find a reason you should do it now and use that emotional connection to pull through.
Journaling
Journaling is a fantastic way to measure your progress and make plans for the future. Keeping an update of how far you have gone and what you need to do next can motivate you to keep making progress. If you are committed to updating your journal, you’ll want to have something to write in it when the time comes. There is a scintillating and refreshing feeling that comes with ticking the tasks you have done at the end of a day, week, or month.
Use your journal to experience this feeling consistently. Looking forward to the next time you can write about your progress can be a trigger to get more work done, especially during the days when you are not in the mood to do anything. The feeling gets more intense when you share the content of your journal with someone you love and respect. Anticipation of showing pride in your accomplishments can be a great motivator.
Eat That Frog
Many people see a frog as an ugly animal, and many people cannot imagine eating it. Difficult and tedious tasks have this appearance in our imagination. Anytime you think about doing them, you are put off and would instead do something else. You can make life easier for yourself by doing the most challenging task first among a list of activities.
Once you can get it out of the way, it becomes easier to “attack” the rest and complete what you need to do. Nonetheless, you need to be wary of complacency after “eating the frog.” You can be so proud of yourself that you might decide to relax. Don’t let that feeling overwhelm you. If the task is energy-draining, you might rest a little before you start the next. However, if you still have enough in the tank to complete the remaining tasks, don’t hesitate. Start with the intention to complete everything.
Change the Triggers Label
In the previous post, the Causes of Procrastination, I highlighted seven reasons that lead to procrastination. These seven triggers include ambiguity, difficulty, lack of instant gratification, frustration, tedium, disorganization, and irrelevance. Change the label of each one as follows to change your perception of a task: Ambiguity – Demanding an explanation Difficult - Tasking Lacking instant gratification – Delayed significant reward Frustrating – Requires more training Boring - Misunderstood Disorganized - Progressing Irrelevant – Needing personal meaning
This simple change of perception can go a long way in affecting how you approach a task you have been avoiding. It would help if you conquered something in your mind before actually doing it. Visualizing the job first is called visualization, or mental rehearsal. A minor tweak in your thinking can be the difference between inaction and taking deliberate steps to get something done.
Leverage Peak Energy Period
Your energy level affects the kind of task you can do. Suppose a task is physically and mentally demanding. In that case, you’ll not perform at your best level when you are tired or have low energy levels. Besides, you need to understand your body to detect the time of the day you are most alert. For some people, it’s during the day, while some people are more alert at night.
Once you discover your peak energy period, line up your most demanding tasks for that part of the day as much as possible. That part of the day is the best time to “eat your frogs.” Reserve the less demanding activities for periods when you are not as energetic but can still work. You are not a machine, and you need to realize that. Even machines need maintenance, and their batteries need recharging.
Identify Resistance Level
No matter how hardworking you are, there are times in your life when you have reached your breaking point. This point is when you cannot take anymore. You are drained, physically and mentally, and you have to take a break. If you don’t rest when you get to that point, you are only inviting trouble for yourself. You’ll not be effective again, no matter how hard you try.
It is not laziness but smart to take a break when you get to that point. Sometimes, taking a walk might be all you need to be reinvigorated. You’re only unfair to yourself when you keep working when you are no longer at your peak. Sleeping for some time might also work in this situation.
Think About the Cost
Sometimes, what will keep you focused and active is remembering what you stand to lose by being lazy and inactive. Think about how procrastinating can cost you in your interpersonal and professional relationships. How will your partner feel when they come back to find the home a mess? You don’t want an argument that can affect the mood of your relationship, do you? Then get up and do something fast!
If your boss finds out that you haven’t completed the task, they will not be happy with you. So, why should you risk being questioned, embarrassed, or even fired? Since you don’t want to find yourself in that unpleasant situation, motivate yourself to get to work immediately.
Fight the Feeling
The most important attribute you need that can help you overcome procrastination is self-control. You cannot always depend on external factors to inspire and motivate you to do what you need to do. There are times when you must discipline yourself to do what you need to do. It would be best if you exercised control over your body. Your body prefers sleeping and having fun to working even when you will regret it later. So, you must learn to stop your body and mind from always having their way.
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