This is the first in a 3-Part series on ways to surmount procrastination. Part 2 will expand on the 5 Steps. Part 3 covers when getting in the mindset doesn’t work.
Many productivity books and blogs highlight five key steps to overcoming procrastination: planning and prioritization, self-discipline, time management, taking initiative, and consistent action. However, the point of this article is not just to reiterate these steps, but to emphasize the mindset that makes them possible and more likely to happen consistently.
Mindset is about focus, not just positive thinking or reciting mantras. It’s about cultivating a mental state that supports productivity and helps you engage with your tasks in a meaningful way. This mindset can be developed in just 10 to 30 minutes each morning, setting the stage for a productive day.
Consider how many of us start our day: we reach for our phones or laptops immediately, diving into work with a surge of nervous energy, even before the first cup of coffee. While it might feel productive, this approach often leads to stress and exhaustion by the end of the day. This "hamster wheel" start to your day is actually counterproductive.
Mastering Mindset
The first pattern or routine to break is this: avoid screens until you’ve taken time to focus your mind and set an intention for the day. Create a peaceful mental space before the demands of the day take over. Here’s how to establish a supportive mindset for your day:
1. 10 minutes of meditation: Center yourself and create mental clarity.
2. 10 minutes of freeform writing in a journal: Process thoughts and clear your mind.
3. 10 minutes of reading a book you’re genuinely interested in: Engage your mind with something meaningful.
4. Check your agenda for the day: Now you’re ready to engage in the five key steps.
Commit to this routine for two weeks, and you’ll see that the 5 steps we'll cover next week naturally fall into place. The most effective time to establish your mindset is right after waking up, before you open your phone or laptop. It's crucial to make the most of this period. Train yourself to delay checking your phone until your mindset is firmly set during this important window of time.
Follow this protocol for two weeks, noting how you feel and how the flow of your day changes. You’re always free to return to your previous routine if you choose, but you may find that this approach leads to greater focus, less stress, and more consistent productivity.
Preview of the 5 Steps
Here is a preview of the 5 key steps to overcoming procrastination that we’ll cover next week in Part 2:
1. Planning and Prioritization
2. Self-Discipline
3. Time Management
4. Taking Initiative
5. Consistent Action
By establishing a supportive mindset each morning, these steps will become more natural and sustainable, leading to a more productive and fulfilling life.
Resource
In my next blog I’ll expand on the 5 key steps that are the opposite of procrastination. If you are interested in the unique reasons why we procrastinate, then read my 3-part series on what lay under our propensity to put things off.
Procrastination is just one of the things I work on with clients to help them craft calmer, more peaceful lives while enhancing the productivity they seek. The coaching I promote and teach effects so much more than business, it beautifully influences the personal side of their lives as well. Ready to move past DIY? Then schedule a 30-minute cost-free strategy call.
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