How many times have I written this inaugural blog in my head only to find out that it never materialized on paper?  Let me be honest: dozens of times!  The irking question is WHY did I fall prey to procrastination?  Why did I keep delaying something I desired to do?  What was holding me back from getting it done?

The answers are too numerous to mention but I think I have distilled them down to a few:

1. Perfectionism – This is the yearning to get all the “i”s dotted and all the “t”s crossed. Perfectionists are stuck on start because they over-analyze things.  They experience what some may call a “paralysis of analysis”.  Now, I know we don’t live in a perfect world so why was I trying to ensure that the post was perfect?  This brought me to the next possible answer…
2. Panic – This is so paralyzing until it’s not even funny. Many of us have panic or fear in bucket loads to share.  (Oh my, I’m rhyming too!)  We might fear rejection, failure, or even fear what people might say.  Would you believe that some people even procrastinate because they subconsciously fear success?  It’s true!
3. Pyrrhonism – Don’t be scared by this term. This is just a fancy way of referring to self-doubt, skepticism and uncertainty.  Thinking that you’re not good enough is a crippling reality for many.  It contributes greatly to lack of motivation, anxiety and even depression.  I struggle with this from time to time and often have to talk to myself to shake it off and move on.

These were just some of the barriers I had to overcome to confront the thief that everyone knows: procrastination.  Yes, it steals our time, our satisfaction and or peace of mind. 

Here are a few practical things you can employ if you find yourself in the same boat:

• Accept your imperfections. You are not perfect and you won’t please everybody.  This is a liberating thought!  Biblical history is bursting with countless examples of imperfect people who acted in the midst of their imperfections and went on to accomplish great feats.  When we embrace the reality that it is impossible to please everybody, we can begin to accept our shortcomings and take action.
• Do it scared. Be willing to do it afraid and perhaps even wrong.  It’s not the end of the road if you make a mistake.  Just do it!  When you care enough about what it is that you want to accomplish, your care will override your fear.  So be sure that what you have been putting off is something that is important to you.  If it is important, then you won’t mind doing a few simple but effective ways to overcome the fear that renders you inactive.
• Break it down. How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time!  Think of your task in smaller, bite-size chunks and do a little piece every day.  The small successes will soon turn into the big reward of reaching your ultimate goal.
• Focus on the results. Stop analyzing the task and focus rather on what you will gain once the task is completed.    If you keep the intended results or rewards in mind, it will help to keep you motivated to take action.  This may even help you to reverse the procrastination and do the difficult things first.
• Change your self-talk. There is a nonstop conversation going on in our minds.  The question to ask is “What are you saying to yourself?”  Negative self-talk causes low self-esteem, self-doubt and unhealthy behaviors.  To overcome procrastination we have to make positive affirmations about our abilities and ourselves.  Sometimes, we might need to say things aloud to counteract the negativity in our minds.  Don’t worry; your friends won’t think you’re losing it. (Hopefully!)

It’s time to stop staring at those goals as though they are mysterious and unobtainable.  If you have dreamed it, you can certainly do it.  All it takes is a little discipline.  Decide to confront that thief of time and progress.  Do it now. …..do it today!

Question:  How do you overcome procrastination and finally do what you have wanted to do all along?