GoGetter101
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This is something I've struggled with for many years and still do to some extent. We can't completely defeat procrastination.
This isn't a gimmick to fight procrastination. Like a 5 step system, or tricking your brain or rewarding yourself for finishing tasks.
I've read so many articles and watched YouTube videos on these so called ways to defeat procrastination but they only work temporalily.
This is something new I've been trying and this is one of the most productive years of my life.
I watched a video by Jordan Peterson. I couldn't find the full video but this video has all the relevant parts.
This is what I learnt from it.
MOTIVATION
Motivation: What is it and why is it important
I hear a lot of self help gurus say that motivation is not important, habits are more important.
This is true to some extent but you can't function without motivation.
Motivation is like fuel; you have to know when to fuel and refuel.
Motivation is a sense of purpose
Motivation is the destination.
HABITS
So you get 'fuel' through motivation.
Now you need to fill the right 'bike' with the right fuel.
Habits shouldn't be a challenge. It should as easy as riding a bike.
I use to create 30 day challenges for myself like
- Wake up 6am everyday for 30 days
- Go for a run everyday for 30 days
- Read everyday for 30 days
You need to make these challeges 'easy'. For example:
- Keep eyes open for 3 minutes when the alarm goes off. (This helps me get out of bed)
- Run or walk for 5 minutes
- Read one page per day.
These are small steps that will compound over time and eventually you'll have 'bike' that's easy to ride everyday.
But you need to be motivated when the road gets rough so always remember to 'refuel'
FEAR
Learn how to use your fears instead of running away from it.
What would happen if you keep procrastinating for the next week, month or year.
What would your life look like?
Write these down and let your fears motivate you just much as your dreams
Nowadays self help books tell you create mood boards of your ideal life.
People usually stick photos of places to travel, cars, mansions, beaches, etc
Knowing what you want is important but also knowing what you are willing to do to get there and the fears you'll encounter on the way is just imporant.
Your moodboards need to have stories of failures of what would happen if you kept procrastinating.
So keep letting what you want motivate you but also make sure you know your fears and let it motivate you.
How does all this help fight procrastination:
Now you should have a 'bike'(habit) and you know how to 'fuel'(motivation) it.
You can use this bike to fight procrastination.
For this you need a pen, paper and task you need to finish.
Point of focus:
Establish exactly what the task is. Reading, writing an essay, building a website, etc
Start the task.
Internal distractions:
When you start the task you'll get internal thoughts coming into your mind.
"I don't want to do this"
"I want to watch TV"
"I want to go out with friends"
"I'm lonely"
When these thoughts come write exactly what thoughts are on the sheet of paper.
You need to write EVERYTHING down. You are cleaning up your mind.
This helps you identify you internal distractions and unidentify yourself from these thoughts.
This is the child in your head wanting more! and you are the parent dicscipling the child.
Permission to not focus:
You'll also notice when you try to fight your thoughts it just gets bottled up and eventually all of it comes out!
Every now and then give yourself permission to not focus.
This is like taking your inner child to the park.
You need to let your mind have fun.
But there are still boundaries around the park.
Set the boundaries your mind needs.
CONCLUSION
Create your bike (habits)
Learn how to fuel it daily/weekly/monthly/yearly (motivation)
Know your destination (point of focus)
Learn to navigate the obstacles (Internal distractions)
This isn't a gimmick to fight procrastination. Like a 5 step system, or tricking your brain or rewarding yourself for finishing tasks.
I've read so many articles and watched YouTube videos on these so called ways to defeat procrastination but they only work temporalily.
This is something new I've been trying and this is one of the most productive years of my life.
I watched a video by Jordan Peterson. I couldn't find the full video but this video has all the relevant parts.
This is what I learnt from it.
MOTIVATION
Motivation: What is it and why is it important
I hear a lot of self help gurus say that motivation is not important, habits are more important.
This is true to some extent but you can't function without motivation.
Motivation is like fuel; you have to know when to fuel and refuel.
Motivation is a sense of purpose
Motivation is the destination.
HABITS
So you get 'fuel' through motivation.
Now you need to fill the right 'bike' with the right fuel.
Habits shouldn't be a challenge. It should as easy as riding a bike.
I use to create 30 day challenges for myself like
- Wake up 6am everyday for 30 days
- Go for a run everyday for 30 days
- Read everyday for 30 days
You need to make these challeges 'easy'. For example:
- Keep eyes open for 3 minutes when the alarm goes off. (This helps me get out of bed)
- Run or walk for 5 minutes
- Read one page per day.
These are small steps that will compound over time and eventually you'll have 'bike' that's easy to ride everyday.
But you need to be motivated when the road gets rough so always remember to 'refuel'
FEAR
Learn how to use your fears instead of running away from it.
What would happen if you keep procrastinating for the next week, month or year.
What would your life look like?
Write these down and let your fears motivate you just much as your dreams
Nowadays self help books tell you create mood boards of your ideal life.
People usually stick photos of places to travel, cars, mansions, beaches, etc
Knowing what you want is important but also knowing what you are willing to do to get there and the fears you'll encounter on the way is just imporant.
Your moodboards need to have stories of failures of what would happen if you kept procrastinating.
So keep letting what you want motivate you but also make sure you know your fears and let it motivate you.
How does all this help fight procrastination:
Now you should have a 'bike'(habit) and you know how to 'fuel'(motivation) it.
You can use this bike to fight procrastination.
For this you need a pen, paper and task you need to finish.
Point of focus:
Establish exactly what the task is. Reading, writing an essay, building a website, etc
Start the task.
Internal distractions:
When you start the task you'll get internal thoughts coming into your mind.
"I don't want to do this"
"I want to watch TV"
"I want to go out with friends"
"I'm lonely"
When these thoughts come write exactly what thoughts are on the sheet of paper.
You need to write EVERYTHING down. You are cleaning up your mind.
This helps you identify you internal distractions and unidentify yourself from these thoughts.
This is the child in your head wanting more! and you are the parent dicscipling the child.
Permission to not focus:
You'll also notice when you try to fight your thoughts it just gets bottled up and eventually all of it comes out!
Every now and then give yourself permission to not focus.
This is like taking your inner child to the park.
You need to let your mind have fun.
But there are still boundaries around the park.
Set the boundaries your mind needs.
CONCLUSION
Create your bike (habits)
Learn how to fuel it daily/weekly/monthly/yearly (motivation)
Know your destination (point of focus)
Learn to navigate the obstacles (Internal distractions)
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