Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of performance through strong human relations,
team building, and goal of giving. This is the seven Minute Leadership
Podcast with your host Paul fella Aldo. Hello everyone, and welcome to the
Seven Minute Leadership Podcast, Episode one sixty eight, and today I want to
give you some tips about overcoming procrastination. So, procrastination is an issue that
affects all of us at some point of our lives. Some are prone to
it long term, and others may encounter it from time to time. Sometimes
referred to as being in a funk. Procrastination can hinder your personal growth and
your individual achievements. It's the habit of delaying or avoiding tasks and in general,
the things you need to do or want to do. It can lead
distress, missed opportunities, and unfulfilled potential. If we can understand the underlying
causes and implement effective strategies, we can break free from the bonds of procrastination
and truly have a life of productivity, purpose and fulfillment at home and at
work. So let's start with identifying the root causes. Why do I always
put things off? So you have to start by exploring the reasons behind your
procrastination and have a general awareness on what your exact patterns of procrastination are and
dive deeper into your underlying emotions, fears, or even your own self limiting
beliefs that may be contributing to the behavior. You have to figure out is
this in every Sunday thing or the night that your favorite TV show is on?
Kind of thing that general procrastination awareness will allow you to address those root
causes head on. Define your objectives because clearly defining your goals provides a sense
of purpose and direction, and it makes it easier to prioritize your tasks and
stay motivated. And we've talked about smart goals before, those that are specific,
measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound goals that go in step
with what you're trying to accomplish. Okay, next commercial break, I'm going
to get the laundry out of the dryer and take it upstairs. At halftime,
I'm going to put it away. That's what I'm talking about. This
level of clarity helps you to make progress and reduces the chances of procrastination.
And have you heard of this thing called chunking? Well, you have to
embrace chunking ladies and gentlemen, and it's pretty simple. So large tasks can
be overwhelming, which leads to procrastination. Break down your goals into smaller,
more manageable tasks chunks. Like I mentioned about the laundry earlier, this technique
allows you to focus on one step at a time, making the process a
little less intimidating. Chunking away at tasks is a great way to build momentum
for accomplishing larger tasks. Prioritize and plan you have to create a roadmap for
yourself. Start by developing a plan that outlines the task required to achieve your
goals, whatever they are at home or at work. Prioritize them based on
their importance and urgency. And this is where things like to do lists,
calendars, or project management apps will help you organize and track your progress.
Decision fatigue is a real thing, but when you have a structured approach to
tackle your tasks efficiently, decision fatigue is less likely to occur. And another
great role of thumb to follow is utilize the two minute rule. If a
task takes longer, I'm sorry. If a task takes less than two minutes,
do it immediately. When you tackle small tasks immediately, you prevent them
from accumulating and becoming bigger tasks and establish accountability for larger, more important tasks.
Share your goals and progress with a trusted friend, family member, or
a mentor who can hold you accountable. And I said larger tasks because none
of your friends care if you put your laundry away or not, but their
support and encouragement can motivate you to stay on track and follow through on your
commitments. Procrastination is a pesky little thing that we all deal with, but
it can be overcome. You can break free from the cycle of procrastination if
you understand what's causing it and what your plan is to avoid it. Procrastination
is also contagious to others, but so are the habits to avoid it.
Remember, every small step you take today brings you closer to the extraordinary life
you envision for yourself tomorrow. This has been the seven minute Leadership podcast,
and I thank you for listening. For more Paul Fellovaledo podcasts, visit Paul
Fellovaledo dot com.