Does this sound familiar? You wake up in the morning; have your coffee; read your list of things to do today; then go back to bed. Is this procrastination, or a more serious problem? If it occurs more than once, it is. However, people procrastinate for a variety of reasons such as; fear of failing or succeeding; poor organizational skills; and sometimes, a lack of self-esteem. Let’s explore these particular areas and offer a few easy tips in overcoming procrastination.
Fear of Success or Fear of Failure
If you fall into this category, there are certain tasks you can perform to understand your resistance. Ask yourself what are you most afraid of; the task, the requirements needed to fulfill the task; the outcome, or possible failure? Perhaps it may go even deeper. Maybe you are afraid you will succeed. Most often, there is a tendency to sabotage a certain project because in succeeding, you are meeting the high expectation others’ have about you and your work. Thus, more pressure is being placed upon you; and therefore, no excuses can suffice in exceeding those expectations.
Fear of rejection can be another reason why you cling to procrastination. This may originate from low-self esteem; or a lingering uncertainty within your own mind. It can also be generated from a past rejection which has resurfaced by the task itself. Do not place so much importance on what others think; affirming confidence in your own abilities is the key to overcoming rejection. You may feel a slight twinge, but will be able to brush it off if you just remember who you are.
Organizational Skills: Create a Small List
Don’t allow small tasks to overpower you. Instead of pressuring yourself by including twenty or more things to do on your list, create small lists of five things to do. Managing your life in this way will make it easier for you to complete the tasks; leaving you with a feeling of accomplishment. It’s not worth losing your sense of achievement over minor missteps.
Lack of Self Esteem and Motivation
Lack of self-esteem prevents you from completing the easiest task. Why? Either because you do not feel you are worthy of the challenge, or because you feel you are not good enough to complete it. Motivation is a good place to begin. Start with an easy task first; then gradually work your way up to full completion. Your confidence will build; you will feel more positive about what you can accomplish, and you will be less likely to avoid the next task at hand.
Lift the Weight off Your Shoulders
Here is an analogy which may help you. Food shopping requires a list, correct? Each time a product is placed in the shopping cart, you cross it off the list. Well, following the same procedure with other tasks in your life will lift the weight off your shoulders, and the burden will disappear. The secret is not to overload your mind with tasks neither you nor anyone else can handle. Take it one step at a time. Remember, no one is testing you; there is no time-clock. There is no pressure.
Aahhh.. but how do your define success? And How do you define failure?
Additionally, how do you know if you’re making progress? In other words, you should be using a tool to measure your productivity. I measure it by tracking my time with TSheets.com
Fear of success can also be tied to fear of losing the ability to relate to family and close friends, or put another way: fear that they will become resentful of the success.
Sometimes in social networks, there is a tight bond and identity associated with being downtrodden. There are common characteristics of the network — economic, ethnic or otherwise — that each member agrees is keeping them from finding success. To threaten this identity is to betray the support network that one relies on to feel that sense of belonging we all crave. It is the rare person that wants to break away from that.
B. Rene Williamss last blog post..Jun 3, Investment in Stock Markets: Risky or Rewarding?
Very insightful Rene. That kind of thinking (fear) will definitely keep you stuck in the same place.
You hit it right on, LISTS, that is the starting point, it breaks the tasks up into manageable chunks, and nothing feels better then being able to cross stuff off…thereby achieving a little at a time..
I daily maintain things to do list, but the target is never reached. Don’t know what it is. Sometimes i read this sort of article which helps for a small period but not continuously.
well i dont thinks that i have ever been afraid of succeeding but failer is somthing that pops into my mind..
.-= greg @ horsetacksaddlesupplies.com´s last blog ..Tips on Saddle Pads =-.
Fear of Success or Failure just holds you up, never let you do things freely & never let you achieve your target. Fear is good some times, but If a person is well motivated & believe in himself, he will do every thing he wants to do. As long as your inner self is balance with your positive thinking you are ready to do everything. Forgot about the circumstance just do your level best.
sometimes i think i’m scared more of success than failure. Thinking that if i succeed, what would all the people around me think and the pressures and everything.
.-= Kelly@Big Fat Thighs´s last blog ..By: admin =-.
i think having faith a strong faith will also help to overcome the fear
.-= dr delaram hanookai´s last blog ..Dr. Delaram Hanookai, Sherman Oaks, 91423 =-.
Success and failure are relative. What is success to me could be failure for the other. What keeps one going is self-belief. Eventually, you are what you do. I believe we must place confidence in our decisions. If one is aware of what and why one is doing, one would surely get the results