Motivation and Procrastination

We've all done it at some point in our life. We start out with the very best of intention of completing a task, and then the need and desire fades into a "mmmm well maybe later ......". Then of course, later sometimes never arrives; we've fallen into the procrastinator's trap, our motivation slipped out the window!

Acting in this way now and again won't ruin our life, but, for some people it becomes a way of life. For them, nothing is completed, they wander around in a fugue of 'not doing, never completing'. Invariably this leads to frustration, sadness and low self esteem. The zest for life begins to evaporate before their very eyes.

So, how do we dig ourselves out of this rut of immobility? If life is a constant battle for you, perhaps it is time to start thinking about a new format, a new way of doing things.
Here are some things to consider making life flow more naturally:

• Passion. Do things you have a passion for. We all have to do things we don’t want to. But if life has become a chronic source of dull chores, you’ve got a big problem that needs fixing.
• Habits. You can’t put everything on autopilot. But I’ve found putting a few core habits in place creates a structure for the day. Waking up at the same time, working at the same times and having a similar productive routine makes it easier to do the next day.
• Flow. Flow is the state where your mind is completely focused on the task at hand. While there are many factors that go into producing this state, having the right challenge level is a big part. Find ways to tweak your tasks so they hover in that sweet spot between boredom and maddening frustration.

Despite your best efforts, passion, habits and an emotive environment can fail. In that case, it’s time to find whatever emotional catalyst you can use to get started. Here are a few:

1. Go Back to “Why” – Focusing on a dull task doesn’t make it any more attractive. Zooming out and asking yourself why you are bothering in the first place will make it more appealing. If you can’t figure out why, then there’s a good chance you shouldn’t bother with it in the first place.
2. Go for Five – Start working for five minutes. Often that little push will be enough to get you going.
3. Move Around – Get your body moving as you would if you were extremely motivated to do something. This ‘faking it’ approach to motivation may seem silly or crude, but it works.
4. Find the Next Step – It’s impossible to work on a project. All you can do is focus on the next immediate step. Fighting an amorphous blob of work will only cause procrastination. Chunk it up so that it becomes manageable.
5. Find Your Itch – What is it thats keeping you from living fully? Don’t let the itch continue without isolating it and removing the problem. Are you unmotivated because your tired, afraid, bored, restless or angry. Maybe it is because you aren’t sure you have time or delegated tasks haven’t been finished yet.
6. Deconstruct Your Fears – I’m sure you don’t have a phobia about getting stuff done. But at the same time, hidden fears or anxieties can keep you from getting real work completed. Isolate the unknowns and make yourself confident you can handle the worst case scenario.
7. Get a Partner – Find someone who will motivate you when you’re feeling lazy. Walk, talk, do whatever you need to do to keep yourself active.
8. Kickstart Your Day – Plan out tomorrow. Get up early and place all the important things early in the morning. Building momentum early in the day can usually carry you forward far later.
9. Read Books – Not just self-help or motivational books, but any book that has new ideas. New ideas get your mental gears turning and can build motivation. Learning new ideas puts your brain in motion, so it requires less time to speed up to your tasks.
10. Get the Right Tools – Your environment can have a profound effect on your enthusiasm. Computers that are too slow, inefficient applications or a vehicle that breaks down constantly can kill your motivation. Building motivation is almost as important as avoiding the traps that can stop it.
11. There are No Small Problems - The worst killer of motivation is facing a seemingly small problem that creates endless frustration. Reframe little problems that must be fixed as bigger ones, or they will kill any drive you have.
12. Develop a Mantra – Find a few statements that focus your mind and motivate you. It doesn’t matter whether they are pulled from a tacky motivational poster, or just a few words to tell you what to do. If you aren’t sure where to start, a good personal mantra is, “Do it now!”
13. Build on Success – Success creates success. When you’ve just won, it is easy to feel motivated about almost anything. Emotions tend not to be situation specific, so a small win, whether it is a compliment from a colleague or finishing two thirds of your tasks before noon can turn you into a juggernaut. There are many ways you can place small successes earlier on to spur motivation later. Structuring your to-do lists, placing straightforward tasks such as walking early in the day or giving yourself an affirmation can do the trick.

That's about it really. All you need to do now is to rise off your rump and motivate yourself ........