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PROCRASTINATION
ELIMINATION 101 TIPS AND STRATEGIES FOR GETTING RID
OF PROCRASTINATION ONCE AND FOR ALL
Copyright © Felix Mack. All rights reserved
You can connect with Felix at http://FelixMack.Net
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Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 4
Acknowledge Procrastination ................................................................................................................... 6 Identifying Your Procrastination Style .................................................................................................... 8 101 Tips and Strategies ............................................................................................................................ 11
Prioritize ................................................................................................................................................ 12 Schedule................................................................................................................................................. 15 Organize ................................................................................................................................................. 17 Reminders ............................................................................................................................................. 19 Task Management ................................................................................................................................ 22
Accountability ....................................................................................................................................... 26 Just a Game ........................................................................................................................................... 29
Association ............................................................................................................................................ 32 Mindset .................................................................................................................................................. 33 Get Social ............................................................................................................................................... 38 Core Habits ........................................................................................................................................... 39 Motivation ............................................................................................................................................. 42
Get Rid of Procrastination Once and For All ........................................................................................ 45 Additional Resources ............................................................................................................................... 46
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Introduction
“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left
undone.”~Pablo Picasso
Are you always putting off things you have to get done? Do you often
avoid doing tasks because you feel stuck, stressed or overwhelmed by the
need to finish them? Do you wait until the last minute to complete tasks?
Welcome to the world of procrastination. You are one of thousands of
people who take joy in the expression, “Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?” This includes personal chores, completing projects at
work, doing assignments, going to the gym and just about every other task
you want or need to complete.
The feeling to needlessly delay things or skip out on tasks is
something most of us deal with every day. “I’ll do it some other time” may
seem like a harmless statement. However, when you have built a habit of not getting things done, procrastination can have a significant impact on
your happiness and success. In fact, procrastination may not only affect you
but also those who depend on you to complete a task. At its worst, the habit
of procrastinating can become so dangerous that it may have a negative
impact on your relationships, wealth, and even your health.
Because you are reading this book and likely already know that youprocrastinate, my objective is to focus on solutions rather than the
consequences of procrastinating. This book will explore numerous tips and
strategies for eliminating the procrastination habit.
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You may be asking yourself, “How can I change m y procrastinating
habit?”or “Can I really stop procrast inat ing?”
The fact that you downloaded this book is evidence that you are ready
to stop procrastinating. As you read on, keep in mind that there is
practically nothing that is impossible if you are willing to put in the effort to
accomplish it. Indeed, you were not born a procrastinator and you have
within you the ability to stop procrastinating. It is a habit we develop by
continuously putting things off one day after another, one task after
another.
In order to reverse that trend and do away with procrastination, once
and for all, we need to:
• Acknowledge that we have a procrastination habit.
• Identify and recognize the reasons we procrastinate.
• Implement simple strategies to help minimize and eliminate
procrastination.
Acknowledgement is half the battle, so you are already ahead of the
game. Many people simply do not admit they procrastinate and therefore
are not able to attack the root of the problem. Once you acknowledge, you
can then identify and recognize your reasons for procrastinating. Next, you
can implement some of the simple strategies in this book specific to your
own reasons for procrastinating.
My goal is for this book to empower you with the best ideas and
strategies to move forward in life, without procrastinating. So let us dive
right in and get things done!
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Acknowledge Procrastination
Procrastination is a habit, which means you do it regularly, in such a
way that it feels like a normal way of doing things. In fact, some people do
not even recognize they are doing it. Yet, excuses and running away from
responsibilities and accomplishing tasks dictate their day-to-day actions.
The first step for eliminating procrastination once and for all is for
you to take charge and accept complete responsibility for where you are
today. Forget about excuses or taking a defensive attitude when it comes to
procrastination. When you find yourself putting off a task or falling into the
procrastination trap, accept that you are procrastinating. Only then can you
easily move on to identifying the reasons why and move forward toward a
solution.
The following are warning signs that procrastination is sneaking in.
Know the warning signs so that you can instinctively understand when you
are procrastinating:
• Meeting a project deadline or accomplishing a task makes you feel
burdened, and you begin to believe it cannot be done. You feel
powerless or no sense of control over a specific task. You consider
putting off the activity a better choice than the little time or effort it
takes to cross it off your to-do list.
• You seem unable to manage time. When thinking about your list of
tasks or things you need to do, it seems there is not enough time on
your hands to get them done. You are constantly in conflict with the
time on the clock.
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• You are indecisive about a task. You may think, “It may or may not
really need to be done.” You are unable to make strong commitments
about a task, losing focus and shifting easily from one to the other.
• You get worried, frustrated or depressed about getting something
done. There is a feeling that things will not get done as expected or
the results will not be to your satisfaction.
The bottom line is that when you understand and acknowledge the
warning signs of procrastination, you become better and better at
anticipating them and can develop a plan of attack. This understanding
has a strong influence on your thinking and mental attitude. It will also
have an effect on how much effort you put into actually identifying the
underlying reasons and subsequently applying solutions.
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Identifying Your Procrastination Style
Procrastination comes in a number of different styles. After you have
acknowledged that procrastination is taking place, the next step is toidentify the underlying reasons. This varies depending on the individual.
However, one way to quickly identify your reasons for the habit is to briefly
learn about the different procrastination styles. In which of these styles do
you find yourself?
The Perfectionist
If you are hesitant to start or finish a task only because you want a
perfect result, you are likely a perfection ist procrast inator . You expect that
everything will be accomplished to perfection and you work hard to set a
high criterion for getting things done.
While it is normal to feel particular about your tasks and feel like you
can achieve perfection in everything you do, sometimes a perfectionist
attitude will get in the way of completing something due to the tiniest
details. This may cause repetition of tasks, taking several times to improve
further and further while refusing to finally accept the results.
The Rebel
A rebel procrastinator believes that following someone else’s rules
and deadlines makes them powerless. Although you can rebel against your
own will, this procrastination style mostly applies to tasks you need to
accomplish for someone else. If you are given a particular set of actions for
completing a task, you may decide to set your own time tables and
expectations for the task, and in turn delay its completion.
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Do you often put things off because you feel that doing something will
give someone else power over you? Perhaps you have been asked by a
family member, friend or coworker to do something for them. However,
doing it may give you a feeling that they are in control over you, which gives you cause to procrastinate.
The Fearful
A fearful procrastinator may be afraid, anxious or worried about how
to do a task or failing at it. If you delay your assignments and other
important tasks because you are unsure about the outcome, you may be
procrastinating because of fear.
Another characteristic of fearful procrastination is the assumption
that you cannot compete with others. You avoid leaving your comfort zone,
and the fear of failure holds you back from doing something that you feel
others do exceptionally well.
The DreamerDaydreaming may compel you to sit idly instead of working toward
accomplishing something. In this particular style, you may always find
yourself drifting off and getting distracted when you are working on a task.
Daydreamers fail to get in “the zone.”
Focus and concentration are the main factors that are a challenge for
“dreaming procrastinators.” In fact, for many of us, the lack of focus and
concentration is the root cause of ineffectiveness and lack of productivity.
When you identify these factors as your cause for procrastination, you can
work on precise strategies and find specific resources to help you better
develop these habits.
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The Over-doer
This procrastination style takes on a lot more work and tasks than can
actually be accomplished. As an over-doer, you overwhelm yourself with
too many tasks, never saying “no” to adding items to your to-do list. As a
result, these items are either half-done or not completed at all.
Another characteristic of the over-doer is the tendency to “multitask”
and the lack of prioritization. There is a feeling that working on multiple
items at the same time can actually accomplish a lot more, when the
absolute opposite is true. Additionally, there is a tendency to jump from
one task to the other mainly because there is rarely a sense of what needs to
be done first.
While procrastination styles can be grouped into even more
categories, I have found that most of us procrastinate for reasons within
these particular styles. Do you identify with any of these more than the
others? Knowing why you procrastinate is important because you may be
able to choose tips and solutions geared toward a particular style as
opposed to attempting to solve procrastination with strategies that do not
fit your specific reasons. For example, if you are an over-doer, then task
management solutions will apply most to the reasons you procrastinate.
In the next chapter, let’s begin exploring the numerous ways in which
we can attack the procrastination habit.
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101 Tips and Strategies
Eliminating the procrastination habit will require a consistent and
sustained effort on your part. In short, you have to replace the
procrastination habit with the action-oriented habit. When implemented,
these quick strategies can help you in that effort.
Some of the strategies may seem silly, unreasonable or even
challenging. Others may seem almost redundant or out of context. And that
is OK. I simply wanted to give you as many tips and strategies as possible.
Go through all of them and choose some of the best strategies that you feel
will work in your own fight against procrastination.
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Pr io r i t i ze
1. Com pr eh en s ive Li fe P lan
This is where it all begins. Knowing where you want to go and what road you want to take to get there has the potential of running over
procrastination when it shows up. Design your life and go live it, as opposed
to drifting aimlessly each day. This gives you power and control over your
actions, a sense of purpose, and a procrastination-free life journey.
2 . Checkl is t
This is one of the main weapons in your fight against procrastination. If youare not using lists (checklists, to-do lists), you are simply setting yourself up
for failure. Trying to keep every single item you have to get done in your
head clouds the mind, increases inefficiency and breeds procrastination.
3 . D o On e Ta sk P e r D a y
Huh? If the objective is to not put things off, then why only one task in a
day? Because we want to build a habit of getting things done! You can get
something done in a day, right? You may find this difficult to do, especially
if you are an over-doer by nature, but give it a try! Commit yourself to a
single task in one day. This should be the most critical task you have in a
master to-do list. When you complete the task, reward yourself. Feel free to
work on other tasks, but don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t get
something else done. Do this for a couple of days, and then move to two
tasks per day. Make it fun and see how long it takes you to build up to at
least a 10-item checklist.
4 . Q u i ck W in s
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Do you use tasks that take long to complete as excuses for not completing
smaller tasks? Go for the quick wins first. On your to-do list, identify those
tasks that will be easiest to complete and get those over with at the
beginning of your day.
5. Tack le th e Cha l len ge F ir s t
On the other hand, if you find that you procrastinate on tasks because they
seem insurmountable, get to work on those first. With these tasks, the key
is to get started and implement some of the accountability and tracking
strategies to ensure you get the job done.
6 . Cr i t ica l Tas ks F i r s t
When everything is urgent, you become disorganized and overwhelmed.
This is why prioritizing your tasks is a must. When you prioritize your
tasks, identifying and working on what is absolutely critical first can help
you control procrastination. Looking at a to-do list with all the items having
similar importance will only confuse and delay.
7. D u e D a t e
We all have things that we work on from day to day. However, for those
tasks that are not part of a daily routine, assign a due date so that you know
when it must be completed. Ideally, you will work on those items that have
a closer due date.
8 . W h at I s th e Objec t ive?
Avoid working on tasks that do not align with a larger goal or objective.
There are tasks that we may have to complete on a regular basis (such as
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laundry or car maintenance, for example) that are not part of a larger goal.
However, for items that fall outside of this category, be sure they align with
your goal of exercising, spending more time with family, starting a
business, or any other goal that you have set for yourself.
9 . H ow Lon g Wi ll It Take?
If I know a task will take 1 hour to complete, I would rather work on that
task first, as opposed to one that will take me 10 minutes. For others, it may
be the other way around, and that is OK. Just implement a system and stick
to it. If working on items that are quick to finish makes you more effective,
then go ahead and implement that strategy and move forward!
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S c h e d u l e
10 . St ick to the Sched u le
As you know, being disorganized can cause chaos. It can also impedeprogress and bring on procrastination. An effective way to stay organized is
to stick to a schedule. When someone or something threatens to disrupt
your focus, always refer to your schedule in order to stay on track.
11. H a v e a D e a d li n e
Your goals and objectives, along with associated tasks, should have a
deadline. If you find that your procrastination habits continue despite
having deadlines, be sure to combine this with some sort of accountability.
12. Tim e Blocks
This is a common technique often suggested to help manage time and boost
productivity. The idea is to set aside a continuous block of time to complete
a specific task. For example, you might block 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. to finally complete that report you have been procrastinating on for the past two
weeks. Consequently, you know your focus during that time should be
nothing else but that specific task. Schedule your tasks and begin using
time blocking as another strategy to help win the battle against
procrastination.
13. Tim e Re a l lo c a t io n : Th e 1 H o u r P r io r S tr a t e g y
What time do you typically wake up in the morning? If you have a specific
task you keep procrastinating on, set an alarm for one hour before the time
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you typically wake up, just to work on that task. In fact, you effectively add
an entire hour to your day as an additional benefit.
14 . Tim e Re a l lo c a t io n : Th e 1 Mo r e H o u r S t r a t e g y
Perhaps you do not like to wake up an hour earlier. If that is the case, when
you get to the end of your day, add the extra hour there instead. Set a timer
for 1 hour and commit to only working on that one task that keeps getting
delayed by procrastination.
15. P o s t p o n e L u n c h
Procrastination loves to creep in when other “scheduled” activities, such as
lunch, are approaching. Develop the habit of beating procrastination at this
game. How? Commit and continue to work on items until they are finished
before going to lunch (or dinner). A technique that helps in this area is
working on tasks that will actually be completed before lunch. If you usually
go to lunch at noon, and you begin a task that takes 1 hour at 11:30, you are
setting yourself up to procrastinate.
16 . Avoid th a t Du e Da te
Strive for completing tasks prior to their due date. Procrastination does not
even appear when you get into the habit of early completion. In fact, when
you assign a due date to specific tasks or to-do items, make it a day earlier
from the actual day it must be completed.
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Organ ize
17. Br e a k I t U p
For example, if you have “start a website” on your to-do list, you can break it down into several tasks such as “get a domain name,” “find a web hosting
company,” “find a designer,” “select a website template,” and other tasks
that relate to launching your website. As you achieve each milestone,
celebrate success, cross it off the list and move on. Procrastination is much
more likely to leave you alone when you approach tasks in smaller, focused
segments.
18 . Gr o u p T a s k s
In addition to helping you get things done, this can help you get them done
faster and become more efficient. Do all your emails at the same time, all
your phone calls together, all your writing in one sitting. When you bunch
tasks together, you increase your focus and get rid of any worries about
going back to similar tasks.
19 . Tr a c k Yo u r P r o g r e s s
With ongoing projects or action items that require multiple sub-tasks, use a
tracking sheet to chart your progress. Being able to see yourself moving
closer to an objective may reverse any procrastination trends when you are
working on a major goal.
2 0 . Delega te Task s
Handing off a task to someone else not only shrinks your to-do list and
improves your time management, but it also prevents you from
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procrastinating. After all, can you procrastinate on a task if you are not the
one doing it?
2 1. El i m i n a t e
Look through your master list of action items. Are there tasks that actually
seem unnecessary? Because I constantly offload things I have to get done
from my head onto a master list, I often find that some of those “things” are
actually passing thoughts that do not require action. If it is something that
does not really need to get done, get rid of it. If you get rid of it, you cannot
put off doing it!
2 2 . Conso l ida te
This is a technique I use to reduce the number of items on my to-do list.
Take a look at what action items can actually be combined into one. For
example, you may have “wash the car” and “change car oil” on your to-do
list. You can consolidate these items (and delegate at the same time) by
taking your car to a location that will take care of both! This eliminates the
tendency to procrastinate on one of these tasks.
2 3 . Ch a n ge t h e R o u t in e
Do you have routine tasks that you always procrastinate on? For example,
do you have to take out the trash on Wednesdays but always fail to do it
because of procrastination? Change your routine and take out the trash onTuesdays instead. A little change in your schedule can spark a new habit of
getting things done.
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R e m i n d e r s
2 4 . You r Own Voice
A bona fide “remind yourself” technique! That is, the sound of your own voice. Are you the auditory type? Do you prefer hearing things rather than
feeling or seeing them? Record your to-do list and put it on your CD, iPod,
mobile phone, laptop, tablet, desktop computer or home stereo! Don’t like
your voice? Even better!
2 5. Alar m Clock
Nowadays, if you have a mobile phone, you have an alarm clock. Use it as a
strategy to wipe out procrastination. Set the alarm to keep reminding you of
that task you absolutely have to get done. Commit to not using the snooze
button more than 3 times. When you complete a task, set the alarm
reminder for the next task!
2 6 . U s e Ca le n d a r R e m in d e r s
Yes, they are not just there to tell you the date of a particular birthday or
holiday. Add action items to your calendar on the date it must be completed
along with a reminder/alert to notify you of the event. Adding items to your
calendar helps cement the item into your subconscious and get you into
action mode!
2 7. E m a il R em in d e r s
You likely use it every day! Send yourself emails that remind you to stop
procrastinating on specific tasks. If you find yourself deleting those emails
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(bad procrastinator!), put a system in place that sends you emails every 30,
15 or even 5 minutes!
2 8 . Text Aler t s
As if calendar and email reminders were not enough, you can also set up
alerts to be sent to your mobile phone. If you are prone to procrastination,
take advantage of every means of technology at your disposal! A text
reminder can be the difference between you getting that small task done or
letting it linger another day on your to-do list.
2 9 . A Sm al l S t r in g
When procrastination starts to take hold of a particular task, tie a small
string to your index finger until the task is done. Unless you like walking
around with a string tied to your finger, you will no doubt work to finish
that task, without procrastinating.
3 0 . Car r y An I t em
It could be a rock, a few pennies, a marker, or anything else. Carry
something in your pocket or hold it in your hand and commit to not
releasing it until the task is done. Of course, this works best for tasks that
will not take hours to complete!
3 1. U se Yo u r Mi r r o r
Keep what you have to do in front of you, literally! If you look at yourself in
the mirror every morning or evening, that will be an excellent place to put
up a notice to yourself. In fact, sometimes writing your to-do list ON the
mirror can be an effective strategy to smother procrastination.
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3 2 . Th e Re f r i ge r a t o r
Take the fight to the kitchen. That is, to the refrigerator, where you post all
those pictures and grocery lists. Make some space for your to-do list andmake it bigger than everything else on the fridge. The bigger, the better.
Ideally, you will get sick and tired of looking at items left undone every time
you need something from the refrigerator.
3 3 . Do You Dr ive?
If you own and drive a car, use the dashboard as a Post-it note repository!
Especially with those tasks that you find yourself putting off time and time
again. In fact, make it a rule that every time you do not complete a task, you
(or someone you assign) will add another note to the dashboard! Make it a
goal to keep your dashboard Post-it note-free.
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Ta s k M a n a g e m e n t
3 4 . Switch i t Up
Procrastination can sometimes kick in when you feel that a task is takingtoo long to complete. If you pause, procrastination sets in and you have a
hard time getting back to the task. When you are faced with this situation,
switch to a different task on your checklist that you are able to complete
more quickly. Often, the good feeling of crossing something else off your
checklist will give you the boost needed to move forward on the original
task.
3 5. B en d t h e R u le s
Explore different ways of accomplishing a task. If something needs to be
done a particular way, it may cause you to procrastinate. But if you find a
more exciting way of doing that same task, you may find yourself jumping
at the opportunity to get it done. When you feel like saying: “I don’t want to
do this now,” ask yourself, “Is there a way I can do this differently so I canget it over with right now?”
3 6 . Rese t t h e Clock
Remain flexible about your deadlines to help avoid stress and
procrastination. When you come upon a deadline for a task, too much
worry about finishing can lead to a total shutdown on your productivity and
cause you to “give up.” Rather than stress about it, move the deadline an
hour or two and keep working on the task.
3 7. Take On th e Ach ievab le
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Seemingly insurmountable action items can often lead to procrastination.
Imagine you have to lose 100 pounds. While this would be a fantastic goal
that in itself is very achievable, a goal of first losing 5 or 10 pounds may lead
to more action and less procrastination!
3 8 . U n d e r s t a n d t h e O u t co m e
Know exactly what you are working toward. When you know the outcome
(or desired outcome) of doing a particular task, you have a sense of
direction and a better chance at avoiding procrastination. Avoid doing
things “just because” you think they need to be done. Know your purpose.
3 9 . B e P r e p a r e d
Unpreparedness leads to interruptions and eventually procrastination. You
can prevent this by having everything you need available to you in order to
complete a task. When you begin doing something from your to-do list, you
want to avoid having to stop because you were not prepared. Action-
oriented individuals have a plan and are prepared, and as a result they
execute efficiently and avoid procrastination.
4 0 . S t o p Mu lt it a sk i n g
The fact is, so-called “multitasking” is not a realistic method for creating
efficiency. When you attempt to do two or more things at once, you are
actually shifting your attention from one task to the other. In doing so, youlose momentum, effectiveness and productivity. When you begin to lose
any of those three factors, procrastination sneaks in to make sure tasks are
left undone. Prevent this from happening by focusing on one task at a time.
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4 1. G e t I n t o a Rh yt h m
It becomes easier to complete a task when you get into motion and build up
to a consistent rhythm. When you stop or experience a disruption, you
often have to start all over again. This is when procrastination will attack.Build a habit of staying in rhythm until a task is complete. This not only
helps beat procrastination, but also increases your effectiveness and
productivity.
4 2 . Th i n k P h a s e s
If you are a perfectionist, one strategy you can employ is phases. When you
finish a task but are not satisfied with the result, think about it as Phase 1,
or Alpha. Then, add Phase 2 (or Beta) to your to-do list and move on to
something else. Always keep moving forward and keep the momentum
going. If you keep going back to the same task because it is not perfect, you
will find yourself on the same task or project month after month without
progress.
4 3 . Next S tep
Sometimes, procrastination comes from not knowing what to do next. Keep
the next step in front of you, or at least know what it is. If you have broken
down your task into different steps, forgetting what they are will cause you
to use this as an excuse to delay and put off completing action items.
4 4 . Don ’t Look Back
As mentioned in the “Think Phases” strategies, do not look back once you
get started on a task. There may be times when you do so, but for the most
part, keep moving forward until the task is complete. This minimizes the
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tendency to tack on additional milestones to your task, which could lead to
procrastination.
4 5. P l a y t o Yo u r S t r e n g th s
Do what you do best and let the experts do the rest. When you focus on
your strengths and let others handle the rest, you remove the possibility of
procrastinating on those tasks.
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Accountabi l i ty
4 6 . Self-Accountabi l i ty
Hold yourself accountable for getting it done. Ask yourself, “Why didn’t Iget this done?” Listen to yourself as you come up with a number of excuses,
and then refute them! Don’t go jumping off a bridge. However, if you didn’t
finish a task, hold off on watching that favorite TV show you wanted to
watch so badly, or skip that movie you needed to see this weekend. As you
consistently hold yourself more accountable, your attitude and approach
toward completing tasks will change dramatically.
4 7. P a r t n e r Ac co u n t a b i lit y
Find someone who will hold you accountable to completing tasks,
preferably someone you look up to. The fact that you have to answer to
someone may give you that extra push you need to finally get it done. Tip:
Meet once a week with your accountability partner and let them know
exactly what will be done by the following week.
4 8 . H i r e a Co a ch
If you have a job, you probably have a boss. If you play sports (or played
sports in the past), you have a coach that pushes you to practice hard. Your
chances of procrastinating on tasks given to you by your boss or coach are
usually pretty slim. Similarly, having a personal, relationship, spiritual or
fitness coach can increase your chances of success dramatically in any of
those areas and help you eliminate procrastination once and for all.
4 9 . M a s te r m in d G r o u p
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If you are in business, find or create a small Mastermind group. Similar to
having an accountability partner, the group is composed of a few members
that meet regularly and hold each other accountable for accomplishing
their objective.
50 . W h a t ’s Yo u r G r a d e ?
Give your procrastination a daily grade and make it public. It could be an A,
B, C, D, or F or it could be on a 1-5 or 1-10 scale. Give yourself an honest
grade at the end of the day. If you see a 1 or an F, you will only want to get
better the next day. Work yourself up to straight As or 10s!
51. Be co m e a n Ac co u n t a b i li ty P a r t n e r
If you know someone who procrastinates, just like you do, offer to be their
“referee.” When you start to hold someone else accountable for their tasks,
you may begin “checking yourself” and taking your own procrastination
issues more seriously.
52 . H e a d o f t h e Cla s s
There are classes and small courses available to help you build better habits
or increase productivity. If you are a chronic procrastinator, completing one
of these training sessions or courses can launch you on the road to recovery.
53 . S to p t h e S h o w e r s
Commit yourself to not taking a shower until a particular task (or list of
tasks) is completely done and crossed off your list. If you do not get it done
today, you do not take a shower tomorrow. If you do not get it done
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tomorrow, you do not shower the next day. How long can you go without
taking a shower? Let’s get it done.
54 . Today’s Them e
A fun strategy you can implement from time to time to help reduce
procrastination is the idea of “theme days.” For example, for this week,
Monday is to work on website tasks only. Or, Tuesday’s focus is on house
tasks and nothing else. Sprinkle in a theme day every now and then to
knock off some related tasks that have been lingering in your
procrastination bucket.
55. Te a c h i n g
A simple strategy that motivates and eradicates procrastination is teaching
someone else the very same activity that you need to get done. For example,
if you need to change the oil in your car, but you keep procrastinating, why
not teach someone how to do it? You can cross the item off your list and
spend some time teaching someone else the task at the same time!
56 . W a t c h M e
A similar strategy to teaching someone—you can just ask someone to
physically watch you complete what you have to get done. This strategy may
not work for you if you are easily pressured or annoyed by someone’s
presence when you are trying to get work done!
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J u s t a Ga m e
57. Ra i se t h e S t a k e s
How much are you willing to bet you will get that done? $10, $50, $100?Put your money where your to-do list is! Determine how much you are not
willing to lose and give that money to a close friend or family member. If
you get the task done, you get the money back. If not, they keep the money.
As an example, my wife recently committed to losing two pounds every
week until she reaches her goal weight. I then challenged her to pay me $10
for every week that she does not lose two pounds and she accepted the
challenge! She absolutely does not want to pay me, so she is now extra-
motivated to achieve her goal.
58 . Beat th e Clock
Grab a stopwatch and set the countdown for five minutes. Begin a small
task and see how much you can get done within those five minutes. If you
complete the task, cross it off the list! Set the clock for 10 minutes. Can youcomplete another task within those 10 minutes? Awesome—how much can
you get done in 15 minutes? Work yourself up to an hour and keep trying to
beat that clock!
59 . Ma k e I t a F r i e n d ly G a m e
Like to have fun? Entertain yourself while getting things done and forget
about procrastination by keeping score. In fact, many of the strategies on
this list can actually be turned into friendly games that motivate you to get
things done. For example, if you have to make phone calls or write blog
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posts, find someone who has similar tasks and keep score on who gets more
done. Loser buys dinner.
6 0 . A Less -Fr i end ly Gam e
Find a true competitor that stirs up your emotions when they get things
done and you do not. Procrastination has a funny way of disappearing when
you want to beat someone else by getting something done before they do!
6 1. R e w a r d Yo u r R e s u lt s
Create a reward system for getting things done. It could be something as
little as your favorite foods or watching 30 minutes of television. However,
if you have a significant milestone that you have achieved, celebrate the
success! Have a party, show off that completed to-do list, brag about your
results and build fun memories that you can recall as motivation when
working on the next checklist!
6 2 . The Ant i -Ch ar i ty Pen a l ty
Is there an organization or charity you absolutely dislike? Commit to
donating to that organization if you procrastinate and do not get something
done. Perhaps you are a cat lover, but not so much dogs. Find the biggest
dog charity you can contribute to whenever you miss an objective!
6 3 . Sol i tude
Procrastinate on procrastination by putting yourself on timeout! If
socialization is your main distraction and reason for idleness, isolate
yourself into a home office or work area and commit to not coming out until
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the task is done. Easier said than done? Have someone lock the door from
the outside!
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Associa t ion
6 4 . Soar wi th Eag les
Instead of hanging out with crows, find and surround yourself with people who fly higher and get things done. Find those who are action-oriented and
who either have similar goals or have already accomplished what you are
pursuing. For the most part, procrastination lives outside of these circles,
so you will be more likely to also become more action-oriented and get
things done!
6 5. P r o t e c t Yo u r E n v ir o n m e n t
Your surroundings can have a significant impact on how much you get
done. When we are constantly surrounded by distractions and mental
interruptions, we tend to lose focus and get nothing done. This includes
physical distractions such as noises (television or radio), people distractions
and mental distractions such as daydreaming. Distractions are a friend to
procrastination. They hang out together. When you eliminate distractions,
you will see less procrastination.
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M i n d s e t
6 6 . M in d P r o gr a m m in g a n d Affir m a t io n s
When it comes to procrastination, every tool in your arsenal should beleveraged. This includes programming your subconscious mind to get
things done through affirmations. Whatever you affirm, with strong belief
and confidence, will come to pass. A simple method is to affirm to yourself
the night prior to when something must be done. Talk to yourself about
what is going to be done. An example might be: “I finished writing that
report.” Although exploring the ins and outs of affirmations is not in the
scope of this book, there are numerous resources available that expand on
this subject. I will point you to a few resources at the end of this book.
6 7. Co n s i d e r I t D o n e
When you get a task, put it into your mind that you have already
accomplished it. This is of course in conflict with your subconscious mind if
you have not done it already. For example, if you have to take your dog,
Buster, to the groomer but you keep procrastinating, just keep repeating to
yourself, “I took Buster to the groomer.” Soon enough, your action will
match your “consider it done” attitude.
6 8 . Say No to New
Refuse to add new items to your checklists. I have implemented a system
where a checklist of no more than 10 prioritized items must be completed
on any particular day. If something else comes up during the day, it will not
make it on that list unless every other task has been completed, or the item
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has a significant impact to my bottom line or relationships. This increases
your clarity and focus, resulting in less procrastinating.
6 9 . M in im ize P e o p l e I n t e r r u p t io n s
Are you someone who constantly gets interrupted by others with a “quick
question” or “Hey, can I ask you something?” These “brief” interruptions
can quickly add up to an hour or more of time that could have been used to
complete a task. When someone asks you if you have time for a quick
question, say, “Yes, I do—but not right now,” and let them know you will get
back to them when you finish your task.
70 . Visual iza t ion
This strategy can go hand in hand with “Consider It Done.” Imagine what
the completed task looks like and take a mental picture. Fixate your mind
on how good it feels to complete that task and picture it crossed off your
checklist. In fact, visualize yourself as an action-oriented individual who
constantly gets things done!
71. Take Fu ll Respon s ib i li ty
It is your choices and decisions that will affect how much and what you get
done. Know this and accept full responsibility for those choices. Do not
allow blame and excuses to become part of your world, as they only boost
and promote procrastination!
72 . O fflo a d Yo u r D a yd r e a m in g
Sometimes, daydreaming can interrupt our strongest effort to get a task
done. When that’s the case, write it down! Quickly come back to reality and
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offload your thoughts onto a diary, journal, or task list. Offloading your
thoughts will help you get back on track and stop procrastination in its
tracks.
73 . Elim ina te Lim i t ing Bel iefs
Unfounded beliefs about yourself or your ability to accomplish certain
things are known as “limiting beliefs.” There are numerous limiting beliefs
that hold people back and cause them to procrastinate. Beliefs such as “I
can’t do that,” “I’m too short,” “I’m too old,” or “I’m just not good enough”
are the result of negative conditioning as you are growing up or going
through certain life experiences. When you procrastinate because of a
limiting belief (for example, “I just don’t know what to do”), recognize it
and immediately question the thought. Eliminate it by affirming the
opposite and debunking any ideas that seem to support the belief.
74 . Ta k e P a u s e
Rather than give in to procrastination, allow yourself to take pause without
putting off action. If you are building momentum, I recommend you keep
going. However, if you are stuck in a particular area, take a breather or
small pause to build clarity and come back to the task with even more
determination.
75 . Mak e a Dec i s ion
When you get or think of new things that need to be done, make an
immediate decision. Choose to: 1. Do it now, 2. Delegate it, or 3. Add it to a
prioritized list. Making an immediate decision on new tasks gets it off your
mind and reduces the chance that procrastination will take over.
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76 . R e m a i n Co o l
At times, frustration and procrastination go hand in hand. Frustration can
set in when you fail to achieve a certain outcome or any time things do notgo as expected. This can lead to a feeling of putting your efforts on hold or
giving up entirely. To avoid getting to that point, learn to take pause during
frustrating situations. Sit back, relax and slowly count to 10. Then, give
procrastination no thought and get back to the task at hand.
77. Re c o gn i ze P r o c r a s t i n a t io n
Because procrastination is a habit, we may not recognize it when we do it.
In many ways, putting things off has become a matter of routine.
Consequently, one of the first things we should learn to do is recognize and
acknowledge this bad habit.
78 . Value You r Tim e
This is a change in mindset as much as a strategy against procrastination.
Change your views about time. Look at time as something you cannot get
back. The fact is, time cannot be saved or bought. It can only be spent. You
can reallocate time, but once it is gone, it is gone. When you change your
perspective on time and start to look at it from this viewpoint, you will
begin to value it more, treasure it, and take more definite action toward
your goals and objectives.
79 . At t i tud e Cou n t s
Optimism and positive thinking changes the way you approach everyday
life. Only you know if you need to improve in this area. If you do, making
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the shift can have a significant impact on not only your way of life, but also
on your habits, including procrastination.
8 0 . Stop Ly in g to You r se l f
Be honest with yourself when it comes to the communications going on
inside your head. If you know a task is just not doable, then change your
approach and cross it off your list, instead of remaining hostage to
procrastination.
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Get Socia l
8 1. F a c e b o o k I t
Is procrastination hitting you hard? Update your Facebook status with what you have to get done, and by when. We generally like to be seen as credible.
When you let everyone in your “friend list” know that you are on a mission
to accomplish something, you will probably want to make sure the next
related status talks about your success. You may even get some supporters
and accountability partners along the way.
8 2 . Vid e o S u p e r s t a r
If you are a big YouTube or Vimeo user, consider creating and posting a
video (or series of videos) related to what you have to get done. This
increases your “action mode” and pushes you to keep moving forward. For
example, if you want to lose 20 pounds, consider creating a weekly video
that tracks your progress. Throughout the week, you will consciously think
about your food and exercise choices knowing that you have to create a
video.
8 3 . Tweet Twee t
Are you procrastinating on going to the gym? As you get your day started,
send a Tweet to your Twitter followers letting them know you will be going
today. It could be as simple as, “Going to the gym today. Running 2 miles.”
Do not underestimate this technique, especially if you have many followers.
Similar to writing your goals, this will help cement into your mind that you
have to visit the gym today. Tweet away your procrastination!
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Co r e H a b i t s
8 4 . Bu i ld a H a b i t
As you work to eliminate procrastination once and for all, your ultimategoal is to build the action habit. You build a habit by doing an activity over
and over again, day after day, until the point where it becomes a routine
and you do not even have to think about doing the activity. So, if you
continually use a to-do list and get in the habit of completing the items on
your to-do list every day, you will start to build the action habit.
8 5. Re d u c e S t r e s s
Procrastination causes stress, as the pressures of getting things done get to
us. At the same time, stress and anxiety can be catalysts for procrastination.
And while it is a challenge for most of us to eliminate it completely, we can
minimize it by having an organized schedule that includes “time out” for
fun and relaxation. Explore ways and solutions to deal with stress, and as a
consequence you will also minimize procrastination.
8 6 . Elim in a t e O ve r - Co m m i tm e n t
Committing to too many projects or activities leads to being overwhelmed,
disorganization, and ultimately procrastination. If you find that you
procrastinate because you simply have too much to do, work to reduce or
eliminate the level of commitments you currently have.
8 7. Bui ld Con fiden ce
Lack of confidence is often a core reason for procrastinators. The thought of
not succeeding or completing the task to your (or others’) satisfaction may
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cause you to lose confidence. Procrastination is then used as a coping
mechanism for this lack of confidence. You help build self-confidence and
assertiveness in your approach by acquiring the necessary skills to
accomplish your tasks and becoming very good at what you do. Focus onthis area if you procrastinate due to lack of confidence.
8 8 . Bu r y Yo u r F e a r s
Similar to lack of confidence, fear often holds you back from getting things
done and going after what you want in life. With regard to procrastination,
people often fear the outcome of doing a particular task. For example, you
may procrastinate on calling someone back because you fear the particular
results of the conversation. As simplistic as it sounds, the way to get over
your fears is to confront them. In fact, there is no other way to soundly
defeat fear and stop procrastinating because of it.
8 9 . I n c r e a se Kn o w l e d ge
An increase in knowledge and understanding can become a procrastination
show stopper. Many people procrastinate because they simply do not know
what to do. Perhaps you do not know how to install a blog, which is the
reason you procrastinate on getting one started. In this case, you may
delegate or outsource this task, or increase your knowledge. When you
know what to do, procrastination retreats!
9 0 . Ge t S o m e E n e r gy
Lack of energy levels can be cause for procrastination (and laziness!).
Elevate your energy and become more active by exercising regularly and
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eating a proper diet. A sense of liveliness might be just what you need to do
away with procrastination once and for all.
9 1. Self-Discipl ine
In many ways, procrastination boils down to a lack of self-discipline.
Making yourself do w hat you do not w ant to do—this is self-discipline. So
to neutralize procrastination, work on building the self-discipline habit.
You can start by finding the motivation and inspiration you need (within
you or externally) to consistently complete tasks, even when you do not
want to do them.
9 2 . Elim i n a t e Ti m e -W a s t e r s
Minimize mindless entertainment as a distraction, such as television, video
games, or social media. At times, these may provide a good break and relief
from stress. However, for the most part, they contribute greatly to
procrastination and can lead you to wasting hours and hours of otherwise
productive activity.
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Motivat ion
9 3 . I s i t I n t e r e s t in g ?
Everything you do is by choice. Choose to work on things that are of interest to you. If doing your own taxes excites you, then you will have no
problem with procrastination. On the other hand, if the thought of doing
your own taxes gives you a headache, you may want to consider delegating
that task to a professional rather than procrastinating and stressing about
getting it done.
9 4 . W h a t M o t iva t e s Yo u ?
Procrastination cannot override your motivation. Find items that not only
interest you (such as a hobby or industry), but that also motivate you—such
as raising funds for a particular cause. For example, if you are extremely
motivated to start a website that will share ideas you are passionate about,
you are more likely to get it done as opposed to a website that covers
something you do not enjoy.
9 5. Tell 3 Peop le
Tell at least 3 people some of the items you will knock off your checklist
today. This is a variation of the accountability partner and mastermind
techniques. Although they are not holding you accountable, just telling 3
people what you need to do and when you will get it done adds a little more
“oomph” to your determination.
9 6 . Th i n k Co n s e q u e n c e s
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In the end, you want to say “I did it” instead of “I wish I did.” When you
realize you are procrastinating on a specific task or set of tasks on your
checklist, take out a pencil and a piece of paper and write down the
consequences for not completing the task. What will delaying a task do to your overall bottom line? How much further are you moving away from
your goals? Is it really worth it?
9 7. Mu si c t o Yo u r Ea r s
While it may be a distraction for many people, some personalities work
better and faster while listening to music. As weird as it sounds, some of us
even concentrate better with music on! If that’s you, use it to your
advantage as a tool to get things done and crush the procrastination habit.
9 8 . R id e t h e M o m e n t u m
I have hinted at this point throughout many of the strategies in this book.
When you get going, keep going. Action is the killer of procrastination.
When you have built momentum and are constantly taking action, there is
no way you can stop to procrastinate. Ride that momentum!
9 9 . Adjus t Cou r se
Even when you fail to adhere to a schedule, you can keep moving forward
by adjusting your course. The key is to keep moving forward. If you dwell
on distractions that have come up to take you off course, then you willremain off course. Adjust your sail and keep moving forward to avoid
procrastination.
1 0 0 . Ma k e a Mo v e
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When you want to procrastinate, think, “Just Move.” It may sound simple,
but if you have a task that requires physically taking action, just move! For
example, if you have to write a document but you keep procrastinating, just
put your hand on your keyboard and start hitting keys. If you have to mow the yard, grab a hold of the lawnmower and start moving it back and forth.
Eventually, your brain will catch up with your body movement. So get
moving.
10 1. G e t s ta r t e d . N OW .
Seriously, go get it done. Select a few of these strategies and go get rid of
procrastination, once and for all.
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Get Rid of Procrastination Once and For All
One of the reasons many people do not eliminate or even reduce their
procrastination is because of lack of action. If you are sick and tired of procrastination taking hold of your life, then you have to make a conscious
decision to change and then take action. I have presented you with at least
100 ideas that you can begin to implement and being the journey to
Procrastination Elimination.
I challenge you to make a commitment, starting right now, to replace
procrastination once and for all with the action habit. Here are your action
steps:
• Acknowledge procrastination and make the commitment to get rid
of it starting today.
• Understand your reasons for procrastinating. What truly is keeping
you from getting into action, consistently?
• Identify at least 3 to 5 strategies outlined in this book that you can
begin implementing into your daily life.
• When one of these ideas help you succeed in your Procrastination
Elimination journey, send me your success story!
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Additional Resources
The following resources are relevant and can further assist you in your
Procrast ination Elim ination journey:
Recommended Books:
The Now Habit by Neil Fiore
Getting Things Done by David Allen
The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy
The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
Recommended Technology Resources:
www.rememberthemilk.com – Online to-do list and task management.
www.evernote.com – Robust online note-taking application to help you
save notes and ideas.
www.Astrid.com – To-do list manager for Android, iPhone and other
mobile devices.
www.Stickk.com – Online commitment and accountability system.
These are just a few of the numerous technology tools available to help you
manage tasks and eliminate procrastination. Thank you for reading!