The best answer is found in sports; Just do it. Stick with me here. We all get those times in our lives when it seems like no matter what we do there’s always more that comes our way to handle. It’s in those time that you need to start to think like an athlete. Your typical superstar athlete doesn’t just show up and win. He prepares. Both mentally as well as physically. The runner will put his running clothes, shoes and socks out the night before and consciously prep before running. The basketball player will go through his motions in his head; shots, passes, defense, offensive moves, before he plays a game. He will also take hundreds of practice shots. However, to him they’re not practice. The racecar driver will do hours upon hours of laps in his head before he hits the track to practice. So what does any of this have to do with overcoming procrastination?

Preparing mentally and planning your task before execution can help you eliminate your procrastination tendencies. Mapping out and planning what you intend to do before executing it will actually make you more likely to do the task. And do it well. It’s the same results whether the task is as small as taking out the “dreaded” garbage, or planning a presentation at work the next day.

Visualize all the actions needed to perform the task. Again, if it’s taking out the garbage, how many cans are there? Will you have to make more than one trip? Will you have to replace bags? Do you have replacement bags? Are the trashcans close by or all the way down the driveway? This may seem silly, but thinking about all of these things not only makes the task go quicker, when you pre-think all these details out in advance, you actually commit your mind to do it, and because you’ve prepared, the task is less daunting.

The same goes for a presentation at work. Where will you enter from when you come into the room? What will the lighting be like? How many people will be attending? Are you facing the exit are will your back be to the door? (this prepares you for surprise last-minute guest arrivals). Will you have a slide or Power Point presentation and are all the pieces in place? Do you have a back up copy of your presentation? Are there enough handouts for extra attendees?

Like the super athlete, the more you can visualize what will actually be taking place, before it takes place, the better prepared you will be and the greater your performance will become. You will actually look forward to it because you have planned for the execution rather than sweating about the outcome.

The best way to deal with and eliminate procrastination is through good preparation. The word “prepare” is in there for a reason. In the 16^th Century, the word today was written as two separate words; to-day. To make everything have greater excellence and impact, the athlete thinks “pro” (forward), “day” (this or this day). Change the word procrastinate to pro-day and you will see a difference in your attitude, execution, and completion.

8 Responses to “What is the best way to stop procrastinating?”