Have you found yourself saying “I’ll catch up with that” but “it” never happens? Do you always seem to have an excuse for not doing something that really needs to be done? Have you thought about going on a diet or taking a new class? Do you leave writing a report or preparing a presentation until the last minute and then find that you’ve put yourself under even more pressure and notice your stress levels rising at the same time?
Last year I didn’t even know that eBooks or Ezines existed. More recently I have made more discoveries such as affiliate marketing and many other tools on the internet to help and support the huge growth of online sales. What a wonderful excuse, to tread carefully and not rush into action, I can take my time and do a lot of research. Of course I need to research articles; however, I can spend too much time researching my chosen topic, putting off the day I start writing and submitting articles. The truth is, I can avoid taking action, since I’m not sure what to do or I’m worried about not doing it right. When a friend calls me and invites me to go, I jump at the chance, anything to avoid action!
I often find myself thinking, I won’t do it today, I’ll have more time tomorrow. Before I knew it, a month had passed. In fact, three months have passed and I have written very little. Three weeks ago I made the decision to start, the first few days seemed quite challenging. The words didn’t flow, I didn’t write much and it was very difficult for me to find inspiration.
Today is a writing day for me. Last night I planned what I wanted to accomplish today. I removed any obstacles I could find to distract myself. I knew how frustrated I would be at the end of today if I didn’t achieve what I had set out to do. I found myself a bit stale after a couple of hours so I took my dog for a long walk; I had planned to do this today! Another one of my “I’ll do it tomorrow” is to get in shape and lose some weight. As I walked, new ideas and strategies came to mind and I felt energized.
Here are some simple strategies that have helped me in recent weeks:
Know where you want to go
Be as clear as possible about your end goal, where you want to go and why, and you will measure success. I have written my goals on sticky note pads; they are on the wall in my office and have helped me a lot to concentrate. I also have a wonderful dream board, which I did in April of this year and it has reminded me of the biggest dreams I have ever set for myself. If you’re still not sure about your goal, list the pros and cons of achieving it. If the pros don’t outweigh the cons, is it worth doing?
If you’re stuck, start small
Break your homework into small chunks. Just 15 minutes a day of focused action may be all it takes. Close your mind and your door to all other interruptions! If you want to write a hundred page book, write one page a day and it will be finished in less than four months. If you want to get in shape, a 15-minute walk is a good start.
Fast forward to tomorrow
Just imagine how you will do it if tomorrow you have a similar conversation with yourself, “why haven’t I started?”
share your plans
If you share your plans with someone else (who will support you), making them public will hold you more accountable than if you keep all your ideas in your head. If you want to exercise more and then work out with a partner, hire a personal trainer (either at home or at the gym). If you’re stuck with words, then talk to some friends or colleagues and you’ll find that as you talk, your ideas will flow and the stiffness will disappear.
use the day wisely
I do my best work in the morning, so I’ve made sure that at least once a week I erase my journal so I can start writing early in the morning. If I haven’t taken a walk at lunchtime, I usually find a good reason not to go.
I feel privileged to work as a coach. Most days I come across clients who also get stuck, procrastinating, and wondering why they always feel stressed. It’s good for me to know that many other people maybe like me sometimes don’t use their time wisely. I have choices today, in how I spend my time. It feels good not to be saying today, “I’ll do it tomorrow.”