Procrastination is the bad habit of putting of until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday. -Napoleon Hill
My biggest problem lately has been housework. It gets done, little by little, but for some reason it seems to take me all day long. I feel like if I had a kick in the pants to get me going, I would do so much more - faster. And then there's homework - I keep putting assignments off until the last minute, and then have to scramble to get it turned it on time, often resulting in less-than-quality work. Then throw in writing? I am having so much trouble getting motivated to write posts... more than simple writer's block. I have ideas, I have things to write about - but as soon as I get near the computer, I change my mind and decide to go play with the kids instead. Or watch Netflix. Or read a book. Or play Temple Run... You get the picture.
So today I got my butt in gear and actually worked on getting motivated. It was amazing how fast I was able to get the house clean, get supper cooked, and write some. I probably got more accomplished today that I've been able to force myself to do in a week's time.
Here are a few tips to find motivation when you're feeling a little less than excited about doing things.
Set a goal
Probably the most important way, and the first step you should take, is to set a goal. It doesn't matter if it's in the form of a simple to-do list or if you use a planner to map out every minute of your day - you have to set time aside specifically for what it is you want to accomplish. Don't forget to check out the free checklist printable at the end of this post!
Take cleaning the house for example - set aside a certain time for getting your housework done. If you have other things that you want to do (like me and my Leverage show), set an alarm clock to remind you of when it's time to get up and start cleaning.
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. -Benjamin FranklinBe realistic
You can't honestly think that you'll have time to get the house spotless, have dinner made, write three blog posts, craft with the kids, and sew a prom dress all in one day. If you can, you probably wouldn't be reading this.
Be realistic about your goals. If you have a lot of things to get done, then try separating it up and spreading it out over the course of a few days. If you're a procrastinator like I am, then you have to know - you can't change your nature in a day.
Set time limits
A big part of my procrastination comes from my perfectionism. When I start something, I will work on it until I think it is perfect - which means I rarely finish anything. So certain times that you want certain things accomplished by.
For example, today I had to take two quizzes, a test, and finish up an assignment. Maybe I wouldn't have had such a workload if I hadn't put off getting my work done until the last minute... but that's beside the point. When I got started, I told myself that I had three hours to get it all done. Be realistic, again, with time limits - you aren't going to be able to cook a gourmet meal in 15 minutes. Try to give yourself ample time to complete your goals, while cutting the limit short enough to make sure you don't spend all day on one thing.
Take breaks
For every half-hour you've been working on your checklist, give yourself 10 minutes of break time. Maybe you need to stretch and walk around, or maybe you just want to check your email. Give yourself a few minutes to stop thinking about your goals, and take a breather. It will help get you focused again on the tasks at hand, and help keep you from getting aggravated.
Reward yourself
You've finished something on your list. Have a snack. Watch a YouTube video. Knit a sweater. Whatever it is that feels like a reward to you, do it. You've earned it!
Download and print this free Checklist to help keep you motivated!
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