Kicking the Clutter: How to defeat procrastination

Procrastination is a habit that most of us have to deal with. It negatively affects millions of people, preventing them from being successful in their home, work or life.

Despite high IQ, expensive education, and the right connections, many people feel stuck, overwhelmed, and unfulfilled.

Countless books have been written about overcoming, conquering, defeating or preventing this deceptive habit. As a former procrastinator, I know the frustration of being controlled by this insidious habit.

I’ve tried many times to stop procrastinating, but have failed miserably each time. Lacking direction, it was easy for procrastination to step in and take over.

If you’ve crashed a few times trying to stop procrastinating, your failure was likely caused by one or more of the following:

Lack of commitment
You may have had thoughts about unhealthy habits but not fully committed to the work you need to do. You may have been forced by others to change, but deep down you didn’t want to change. Or maybe you wanted to change but weren’t willing to make the sacrifices.

No instant gratification
Did you expect dramatic changes in your behavior? You may have been disappointed when the instant gratification didn’t show up. Old habits are hard to break. Be prepared to be patient.

Immerse yourself instead of planning
When we get angry and disappointed in our lives, many of us throw ourselves into chaos without even thinking. We carry on with the same mindset that got us into trouble.

This quote from Albert Einstein says it all: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Since procrastination is related to disorganization, it pays to have a plan of action. Plan your procrastination attack by setting short-term goals. Get help from friends, family, or professionals.

Not being aware of the consequences
Procrastination is a vicious cycle. If you don’t do anything today, you’re stuck tomorrow. This leads to more procrastination, leading to frustration and overwhelm.

Procrastination can and will negatively impact every aspect of your life. If you feel stuck in your job, it could be the result of long-term procrastination. A lack of orientation in life as well as financial and health difficulties are more likely to be caused by procrastination. Depression, lack of self-confidence and anxiety can result from chronic procrastination.

What now?
Failure is not fatal. When you decide to give up and hide from the world, remember this: Many successful people claim that their success is the result of many failures. They set goals while keeping their purpose in life in mind.

Ask yourself: What is my purpose for being here? Her answer might give you the clarity you need.

Life Coach Ranka Burzan owns a professional organizing business based in the Qathet area and has written several books on clutter reduction and becoming more organized. Visit solutionsorganizing.com for more information.