How to stop procrastinating and get things done

Months ago I wanted to start a blog. I wanted to document the answers I was getting to my questions on growth and finances, because it would hold me accountable, hopefully help somebody asking the same questions and I could use the blog as reference later on when I need to. But I kept procrastinating. It started with ‘I’ll do it later.’ And the idea just kept getting further and further from today. That’s the thing about procrastination. The longer you keep pushing it away, the less and less achievable your idea will seem. So how does one fight through procrastination and do what you set out to do when you set out to do it?

• Set a goal – Unless you know exactly what you want to achieve, just having an idea of what you want will not help you. This is because a vague idea seems far fetched and unachievable – which is a breeding ground for procrastination. But if you have a definite goal, you know exactly what you want and that clarity will lead you to start.
• Break it down – This adds to the previous point on clarity. Sometimes the final goal may seem too big, so breaking it down into smaller and measurable goals will make it more achievable. A whole blog for example is intimidating to me. But if I break it down into 2 weekly posts, it becomes clear and measurable, which brings the whole idea within reach.
• Set a time frame – When you don’t know when you want to have achieved your goals, you will keep thinking you have time. When you have time, procrastination will not feel like procrastination, so you can’t even recognize it to stop yourself. After you have broken down your goals, give yourself deadlines to work with.
• Show up – Now that you know what you want to achieve and by when, all that’s left is for you to show up and slay. It does not help you to set goals when you cannot be disciplined enough to come through for yourself. Train yourself to do what you said you will do, when you said you will do it, whether you feel like it or not.

Sometimes procrastination hides behind perfectionism. ‘It’s just not right yet.’ Well, it won’t be unless you work on it. It is okay for things not to be exactly how you want them now. If we started with perfect ideas and perfect methods, how the hell would we grow? Work with what you have today and adjust as you go. Unlock the box of perfectionism and become free to live your life today. Stop waiting.