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2 Steps to Overcome Procrastination

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In this Wisdom Note, let us consider how easy it is to put off our responsibilities and how we allow non-important interruptions to distract us from doing what is most important. This is an age-old issue, but there are so many distractions both online and offline, it is very difficult not to procrastinate, especially if you are not very disciplined in your focus. Perseverance is so important to make sure we continue on life’s trail toward the summit.

Perseverance is about as important to achievement as gasoline is to driving a car. Sure, there will be times when you feel like you’re spinning your wheels, but you’ll always get out of the rut with genuine perseverance. Without it, you won’t even be able to start your engine.

Perseverance vs. Procrastination

The opposite of perseverance is procrastination. Perseverance means you never quit. Procrastination usually means you never get started although the inability to finish something is also a form of procrastination.

Ask people why they procrastinate and you’ll often hear something like, “I’m a perfectionist. Everything has to be just right before I can get down to work. No distractions, not too much noise, no telephone calls interrupting me, and of course I have to be feeling well physically, too. I can’t work when I have a headache.” The other end of procrastination – being unable to finish – also has a perfectionist explanation…“I’m just never satisfied. I’m my own harshest critic. Unless all the I’s are dotted and all the T’s are crossed, I just can’t consider that I’m done. That’s just the way I am, and I’ll probably never change.”

Do you see what’s going on here? A fault is being turned into a virtue. The perfectionist is saying that their standards are just too high for this world. This fault-into-virtue syndrome is a common defense when people are called upon to discuss their weaknesses, but in the end, it’s just a very pious kind of excuse making. It certainly doesn’t have anything to do with what’s really behind procrastination

The basis of procrastination could be fear of failure. That’s what perfectionism really is once you take a hard look at it. What’s the difference whether you’re afraid of being less than perfect or afraid of anything else? You’re still paralyzed by fear. What’s the difference whether you never start or never finish? You’re still stuck. You’re still going nowhere. You’re still overwhelmed by whatever task is before you. You’re still allowing yourself to be dominated by a negative vision of the future. In your mind, you see yourself being criticized, laughed at, punished, or ridden out of town on a rail. Of course, this negative vision of the future is really a mechanism that allows you to do nothing. It’s a very convenient mental tool.

I’m going to tell you how to overcome procrastination. I’m going to show you how to turn procrastination into perseverance, and if you do what I suggest, the process will be virtually painless. It involves using two very powerful principles that foster productivity and perseverance instead of passivity and procrastination

1. Break it down.

No matter what you’re trying to accomplish, whether it’s writing a book, climbing a mountain, or painting a house, the key to achievement is your ability to break down the task into manageable pieces and knock them off one at one time. Focus on accomplishing what’s right in front of you at this moment. Ignore what’s off in the distance someplace. Substitute real-time positive thinking for negative future visualization. That’s the first all-important technique for bringing an end to procrastination.

Suppose I were to ask you if you could write a 365-page novel. If you’re like most people, that would sound like an impossible task. But suppose I ask you a different question. Suppose I ask if you can write one page a day for one year. Do you think you could do it? Now the task is starting to seem more manageable. We’re breaking down the 365-page book into bite-size pieces. Even so, I suspect many people would still find the prospect intimidating. Do you know why? Writing one page may not seem so bad, but you’re being asked to look ahead one whole year. When people start to look that far ahead, many of them automatically go into a negative mode. So, let me formulate the idea of writing a book in yet another way. Let me break it down even more.

Suppose I was to ask you, “Can you fill up one page with words not for a year, not for a month, not even for a week, but just today?” Don’t look any further ahead than that. I believe most people would confidently declare that they could accomplish that. Of course, these would be the same people who feel totally incapable of writing a whole book.

If I said the same thing to you tomorrow…If I told you, I don’t want you to look back, and I don’t want you to look ahead. I just want you to fill up one page today. Do you think you could do it?

One day at a time. We’ve all heard that phrase. That’s what we’re doing here. We’re breaking down the time required for a major task into one-day segments, and we’re breaking down the work involved in writing a 365-page book into one-page increments.

Keep this up for one year, and you’ll write the book. Discipline yourself to look neither forward nor backward, and you can accomplish things you never thought you could possibly do. And it all begins with those three words “break it down.”

2. Write it down.

My second technique for defeating procrastination is also only three words long…”Write it down.” We know how important writing is to goal setting. The writing you’ll do for beating procrastination is very similar. Instead of focusing on the future, however, you’re now going to be writing about the present just as you experience it every day. Instead of describing the things you want to do or the places you want to go, you’re going to describe what you actually do with your time, and you’re going to keep a written record of the places you actually go.

In other words, you’re going to keep a journal of your activities. You are going to be surprised by the distractions, detours, and downright wastes of time you engage in during the course of a day. All of these get in the way of achieving your goals. For many people, it’s almost like they planned it that way, and maybe at some subconscious level, they did. The great thing about keeping a time journal is that it brings all this out in the open. It forces you to see what you’re actually doing… and what you’re not doing.

The time journal doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. Just buy a little spiral notebook that you can easily carry in your pocket. When you go to lunch, when you drive across town, when you go to the dry cleaners, when you spend some time shooting the breeze with co-workers or family, make a quick note of the time you began the activity and the time it ends. Try to make this notation as soon as possible. If it’s inconvenient to do it immediately, you can do it later. But you should make an entry in your time journal at least once every thirty minutes, and you should keep this up for at least a week, preferably two.

Break it down. Write it down. These two techniques are very straightforward. But don’t let that fool you…These are powerful and effective productivity techniques that allow you to put an end to procrastination and help you get started to achieve your goals.

Focus on what you need to accomplish today, and then tomorrow you can focus on what needs to be completed tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 reminds us, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

In our note this week, we identified some causes for procrastination and set forth a plan to that will help you to recognize it and start on the trail to prevent it.

How to Eliminate Excuses Forever

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In this Wisdom Note, let us consider that the way to ensure success in our daily trek is to make sure that we eliminate excuses because excuses stifle our results and make us less effective. So, it is time to head out onto the trail and look for the markers that will teach us to eliminate excuses forever. The markers are not hidden, but you do need to follow their instructions if you want to successfully navigate the trail of no more excuses.

During our past two Wisdom Notes, we explored the trails of specific types of excuses and presented some ideas on how to overcome the excuse obstacles on our path. On this week’s trail, we will study the markers that give us some general ideas, suggestions, and techniques we can use to eliminate all excuses forever.

As we study these trail markers, it’s important to understand that our excuses lead to stagnation and a life of regrets. Moreover, success in any field of endeavor requires a period of discomfort when we must venture into unfamiliar territories not knowing what to expect.

Trail Marker #1 – Avoid making comparisons.

Making comparisons between yourself and others will often make you feel disheartened if you are unable to live up to people’s standards and achievements. Instead, only compare yourself to your “best self.” No other comparisons are necessary. If through your highest efforts you surpass your personal best, then that’s good enough, at least until your next attempt.

Trail Marker #2 – Avoid dwelling on the past.

The moment we begin dwelling on past mistakes or failures is the moment, we begin experiencing the emotion of regret. Immediately we look to point the finger at someone or something else in order to justify our failures instead of taking responsibility for our decisions and actions. As a result, we begin rationalizing and making excuses for our failed attempts.

If you begin today by focusing on the present moment, rather than on the past, then you will begin to throw all your excuses out the door. Yes, by all means, learn from your mistakes and failures, but do not use them as a platform for your encyclopedia of excuses.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the church Philippi Chapter 3 verses 13 and 14, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Trail Marker # 3 – Begin by asking questions.

The moment you catch yourself making excuses immediately ask yourself the following set of questions:

  1. How badly do I really want this?
  2. Why don’t I have what I want?
  3. What excuses are getting in the way?

These questions will essentially help you to identify the gap between your current and desired reality. This likewise will help you get a better understanding of the circumstances that are holding you back from getting what you want most out of life.

The moment you identify these excuses, examine what you are lacking (as we did in the previous section), question the validity of your excuses, and take immediate action to fill these areas with everything required to keep moving you forward toward your goals and objectives.

Ask yourself:

  • Is this a genuine reason, or is it simply an excuse?
  • If this is an excuse, then what is it that I’m currently lacking?
  • What do I need specifically that will help me move beyond this excuse?
  • What’s the next step I need to take right now that will move me closer to my goals?

Trail Marker #4 – Focus on solutions and opportunities.

When making excuses we often focus on problems, regrets, and things that just didn’t work. Therefore, to eradicate excuses from our lives, we must instead begin focusing on solutions, opportunities, and the things that did work. It’s a simple shift, but if we keep this principle at the forefront of our minds when making excuses, it will immediately transform our perspective of the situation at hand.

Trail Marker #5 – Seek alternate perspectives.

Often the excuses we make are a result of a lack of perspective. We simply don’t have or know the bigger picture. It’s like looking through a keyhole. You will never see the entire room, but only a small section of that room.

Say, for instance, you looked through a keyhole and saw papers scattered all over a table. It would be easy to assume that the entire room is an absolute mess. However, you don’t have the full picture, do you? The rest of the room could be clean and spotless; however, your lack of perspective is preventing you from seeing the bigger picture.

Seek alternate perspectives by asking other people for their opinions, comments, and feedback. Get an understanding of how they see the situation before you commit to making excuses.

Trail Marker #6 – Accept full responsibility for failures and mistakes.

Excuses are often made because we simply don’t want to take responsibility for our shortcomings. When we take full responsibility for our failures and mistakes, we begin to gain confidence in ourselves and our own abilities. Moreover, we begin to feel empowered because life is no longer built upon luck or good fortune, but rather on our ability to successfully adapt to the changing conditions that life throws our way.

Trail Marker #7 – Learn from past experience.

Instead of making excuses, commit to learning from the experience in order to better yourself for the future.

Ask yourself:

  • What can I learn from this experience?
  • What has this experience taught me about myself, life, and others?
  • How can I use this experience to do better in the future?
  • What action could I take right now that would help me take a step in this direction?

Trail Marker #8 – Focus on your strengths.

When making excuses, we often focus on how inadequate and incapable we are. This limits our focus and brings to light all of our weaknesses. To counter this, we should instead focus on our strengths and how we can use them to make the best of every situation.

Trail Marker #9 – Cultivate four critical qualities.

Finally, to overcome your excuses, always cultivate patience, optimism, confidence, and persistence. And, if you must make excuses, then at least keep them private. Nobody likes people who can’t take responsibility for their decisions and actions. Sometimes we get so absorbed in making excuses about things that we forget to focus on making the best of every situation no matter what the outcome.

Now that we have studied the 9 trail markers that teach us how to eliminate excuses from our lives, we will explore Six Reflection Points for Life’s Transitions next.

The 11 Mountains of Excuses

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In this Wisdom Note, we want to examine the 11 most common excuses that we all use at times, and next we will learn how to overcome them. Our trail this week is a long one, so strap on your hiking boots and come along with me on a fast-paced trek over the 11 Mountains of Excuses.

Excuses come in many forms, and we tend to make them in many different ways. Even though they vary from person to person, there are certain excuses that we all tend to make at one time or another. On our trail this week, we will break down these excuses and discuss what they mean and how we can deal with them when they crop up in our lives.

Excuse Mountain #1: There’s not enough time.

This really means that you’re lacking passion, focus, discipline, and/or direction. Likewise, it suggests that your priorities are out of sorts and that you may be lacking the ability to manage your time effectively.

Alternatively, this excuse could indicate that you simply don’t value your time or just don’t want to take the time to do what you feel you must in order to achieve your desired outcomes. In fact, the causes for this excuse could very well be narrowed down to procrastination or even laziness.

Excuse Mountain #2: There’s not enough money.

This means that you don’t consider money to be a priority or you are simply looking for an easy way to make money and don’t have the desire, determination, persistence, or patience to work hard to achieve financial security.

This excuse also suggests that you could simply be lacking the strategies or ideas that could help you reach your financial objectives. Read a few books or get a mentor or a financial coach who can help you gain the necessary knowledge and understanding you need to succeed financially.

Excuse Mountain #3: I don’t have an education.

This excuse means that you lack creativity, inspiration, and desire. In addition, it would seem that you also lack a willingness to work hard and go the extra mile to put a little more effort into achieving your objectives — despite your lack of knowledge.

There are many multi-millionaires and billionaires who have nothing more than a high school education. Some don’t even have that. However, they were creative, had a desire, and were willing to work harder than anyone else to achieve their goals and objectives.

Excuse Mountain #4: I’m too old or young.

This excuse means you lack understanding, confidence, or perspective. Men and women of all ages have achieved great things. Therefore you are never too old or too young to attain your goals and objectives. It might be a little more difficult, which means that you may need to be more persistent, creative, and open to a greater array of experiences and opportunities. Alternatively, your age could actually work to your advantage. It just depends on your perspective and your ability to think flexibly about your circumstances.

Excuse Mountain #5: I don’t know how.

This excuse means you lack belief and confidence in your own abilities. It also means that you haven’t taken the time to practice, learn, or gain the experience or education necessary to “know what to do.”

This excuse is really very easy to combat. Simply learn how to do what you want to do by studying, reading books, gaining practical experience, asking for help, etc. Only by making mistakes over and over again will you eventually discover what works or doesn’t work for you.

Excuse Mountain #6: I can’t change.

This means you lack motivation and a reason to change. Moreover, this suggests that you lack emotional pain that would help you to accelerate change.

When it comes to our motives and desires, we are always pulled forward by the desire for pleasure or pushed forward by the desire to avoid pain. If you don’t believe you can change, you simply haven’t associated enough pain to NOT changing. Once you begin to look at all the dire consequences that will result from NOT making a change, then you will soon realize that the motivation was always there.

Excuse Mountain #7: I’m afraid to fail.

This excuse means you lack understanding, confidence, knowledge, and experience. Fear is nothing more than “False Evidence Appearing Real.” It’s our perspective of fear that frightens us and prevents us from moving forward. However, once we gain knowledge and understanding about the thing we fear, then that is the moment we build enough confidence to move forward and gain some experience. Subsequently, with enough “experience” under our belts, we develop even greater self-confidence that will propel us through our fears and toward the attainment of our goals and objectives.

Also consider that the trail to success is always strewn with obstacles, challenges, and problems. Along this path everyone makes mistakes. However, those who fail are those who simply give up and excuse their life away.

Excuse Mountain #8: It’s not the right time.

This excuse means you lack perspective, information, and resources. Sometimes it’s simply not the right time or season of life to take action. However, more often than not this is just a lame excuse that should indicate you lack perspective or you simply don’t have the necessary resources to deal with the circumstances at hand. Therefore, your first objective is to acquire the necessary resources to help you attain your desired outcome.

Excuse Mountain #9: I have to plan thoroughly first.

This excuse means you’re lacking perspective or you’re simply paralyzed by fear. There’s nothing wrong with planning for the future or taking the time to lay out a clear plan of action. However, if planning is all you do, then this indicates that there might be underlying fears that are preventing you from moving forward. Identify and overcome these fears, and subsequently, you will overcome your need for over-planning.

Excuse Mountain #10: It won’t work.

This excuse means you lack self-belief, motivation, creativity, patience, perspective, and persistence. All of these qualities are essential if you desire to eventually make things work. In fact, these qualities are absolutely essential for everything of value that you want to create in your life.

Excuse Mountain #11: I’m not inspired.

This excuse means you have poor habits that lead to a lack of discipline. Think about what kinds of habits you indulge in on a daily basis and about your typical routine throughout the day. More often than not you will find that inspiration isn’t a problem if you simply take the time to transform how you go about your day.

For instance, a lack of sleep could be causing you to feel tired, which leads to a lack of inspiration. If we dig a little deeper we could find that it’s your diet that’s causing your sleepless nights or that your lack of sleep is a result of not getting enough exercise throughout the week. Moreover, maybe you’re simply not getting enough exercise because you’re working longer hours than usual and, therefore, don’t have time to allocate for exercise.

This reminds me of excuses made that had an eternal consequence in a parable told by Christ explaining an invitation into His Kingdom in the analogy of a banquet in Luke 14:17-20, “When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’”

Now that we have explored the 11 Mountains of Excuses and have trekked over them, next we will learn how to eliminate excuses forever.