To be totally honest, like you, I could probably be crowned as The Procrastination Queen of the century!
Although having this prestigious title makes one think that I’m only a procrastinator, as you well know, we can all be more than one thing at the same time. It is in this dual role that I take my procrastination crown off and put on my action orientated crown.
Now is just as good a time as any, to go on a journey through the kingdom, to travel the lands of procrastination and to plant the seeds of a new reign.
Before we embark on this exciting adventure, let’s take a moment to get into the “zone”.
Our first step is to sit in quiet contemplation. Some people like to call this meditation, I like to call it connection.
Take a moment to connect to the core of the procrastination. There may well be a very good reason as to why you are procrastinating. You may have a very rational fear. Procrastination can sometimes act as an early warning alarm. If you take a moment to listen to it you may well avert a nasty situation.
When we are connected to ourselves we can easily tell a warning signal from an exciting idea. Yes, procrastination can also be a signal that we are so excited that we are still in the ‘thinking’ stage, rather than the ‘doing’ stage.
It is time to get all those excited butterflies flying in formation!
Once we have addressed the fear or have dealt with the butterflies, it is time to determine our purpose. Purpose gives the reason for getting over procrastination. Ready for action ma’am?
The next step is to find out the ‘why’ of doing what we want to do. Once we have completed the task that we are procrastinating on, what changes will that make to our lives?
What will our new purpose be?
What will our life without procrastination look like, how good would we feel knowing we had done what we set out to do? Now that would be amazing, living in paradise, wouldn’t it!
To understand our purpose more fully, we probably need to see exactly what a wonderful life would look like.
Step three in this journey is to set our vision.
Where do we want to be? What exactly does this new way of being look, feel, smell and taste like? Without a clear vision as to your destination, it would be pretty difficult to stay focussed!
Simply seeing the new way of being, the way we want to be (without procrastination), is enough to get our creative juices flowing. With butterflies in formation, a clear purpose and totally connected to who we are, we can better see the path ahead.
The next step is to plan what we may need.
To make our actions realistic and to anticipate what obstacles may come our way, a plan will make a great frame of reference. A clear plan will also show progress, our very next steps as well as what we can do differently!
Suddenly this kingdom of paradise is starting to look a little more do-able, yes. It is time to take action, step onto the path and start walking it.
To keep you focussed and aimed on achieving your vision, you may want to get an ‘accountability partner’. Now, I am not talking about some evil Sherriff-of-Nottingham-type character, rather some-one who will gently point out when you veer off the path or start showing signs of procrastination again. A great coach does this job admirably – find one you connect with and enjoy the journey!
You could also join a local networking group or on-line forum. Either way, simply having some-one walk the path with you, will help you get to that new paradise you visualised a whole lot quicker than going it the ‘hard way’ alone.
Instead of doing it the hard way, let’s sum up how you can get your kingdom from procrastination to paradise in five easy steps:
- Meditate and connect
- Know your purpose
- Set your vision
- Create a clear plan
5. Take action and get a coach to keep you accountable!
According to neuroscientists, the best way to get over procrastination is to take action.
I know, right! You have the journey mapped and summarised, find your ideal accountability partner and go get ‘em princess! Of course you can.
Cheryl-lya is a Soul Adventurer, helping women around the globe plan, launch and grow successful and sustainable businesses. She runs workshops alongside one-to-one coaching. To contact her: Book a call, or visit her website soulscompass.net and schedule a free Virtual Cuppa. Say ‘hello’ or share your joys via email: hello@soulscompass.net