Procrastination Elimination

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PROCRASTINATION

ELIMINATION 101 TIPS AND STRATEGIES FOR GETTING RID

OF PROCRASTINATION ONCE AND FOR ALL

Copyright © Felix Mack. All rights reserved

You can connect with Felix at http://FelixMack.Net



Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 4

Acknowledge Procrastination ................................................................................................................... 6 Identifying Your Procrastination Style .................................................................................................... 8 101 Tips and Strategies ............................................................................................................................ 11

Prioritize ................................................................................................................................................ 12 Schedule................................................................................................................................................. 15 Organize ................................................................................................................................................. 17 Reminders ............................................................................................................................................. 19 Task Management ................................................................................................................................ 22

Accountability ....................................................................................................................................... 26 Just a Game ........................................................................................................................................... 29

Association ............................................................................................................................................ 32 Mindset .................................................................................................................................................. 33 Get Social ............................................................................................................................................... 38 Core Habits ........................................................................................................................................... 39 Motivation ............................................................................................................................................. 42

Get Rid of Procrastination Once and For All ........................................................................................ 45 Additional Resources ............................................................................................................................... 46



Introduction

“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left

undone.”~Pablo Picasso

Are you always putting off things you have to get done? Do you often

avoid doing tasks because you feel stuck, stressed or overwhelmed by the

need to finish them? Do you wait until the last minute to complete tasks?

Welcome to the world of procrastination. You are one of thousands of

people who take joy in the expression, “Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?” This includes personal chores, completing projects at

work, doing assignments, going to the gym and just about every other task

you want or need to complete.

The feeling to needlessly delay things or skip out on tasks is

something most of us deal with every day. “I’ll do it some other time” may

seem like a harmless statement. However, when you have built a habit of not getting things done, procrastination can have a significant impact on

your happiness and success. In fact, procrastination may not only affect you

but also those who depend on you to complete a task. At its worst, the habit

of procrastinating can become so dangerous that it may have a negative

impact on your relationships, wealth, and even your health.

Because you are reading this book and likely already know that youprocrastinate, my objective is to focus on solutions rather than the

consequences of procrastinating. This book will explore numerous tips and

strategies for eliminating the procrastination habit.



You may be asking yourself, “How can I change m y procrastinating

habit?”or “Can I really stop procrast inat ing?”

The fact that you downloaded this book is evidence that you are ready

to stop procrastinating. As you read on, keep in mind that there is

practically nothing that is impossible if you are willing to put in the effort to

accomplish it. Indeed, you were not born a procrastinator and you have

within you the ability to stop procrastinating. It is a habit we develop by

continuously putting things off one day after another, one task after

another.

In order to reverse that trend and do away with procrastination, once

and for all, we need to:

• Acknowledge that we have a procrastination habit.

• Identify and recognize the reasons we procrastinate.

• Implement simple strategies to help minimize and eliminate

procrastination.

Acknowledgement is half the battle, so you are already ahead of the

game. Many people simply do not admit they procrastinate and therefore

are not able to attack the root of the problem. Once you acknowledge, you

can then identify and recognize your reasons for procrastinating. Next, you

can implement some of the simple strategies in this book specific to your

own reasons for procrastinating.

My goal is for this book to empower you with the best ideas and

strategies to move forward in life, without procrastinating. So let us dive

right in and get things done!



Acknowledge Procrastination

Procrastination is a habit, which means you do it regularly, in such a

way that it feels like a normal way of doing things. In fact, some people do

not even recognize they are doing it. Yet, excuses and running away from

responsibilities and accomplishing tasks dictate their day-to-day actions.

The first step for eliminating procrastination once and for all is for

you to take charge and accept complete responsibility for where you are

today. Forget about excuses or taking a defensive attitude when it comes to

procrastination. When you find yourself putting off a task or falling into the

procrastination trap, accept that you are procrastinating. Only then can you

easily move on to identifying the reasons why and move forward toward a

solution.

The following are warning signs that procrastination is sneaking in.

Know the warning signs so that you can instinctively understand when you

are procrastinating:

• Meeting a project deadline or accomplishing a task makes you feel

burdened, and you begin to believe it cannot be done. You feel

powerless or no sense of control over a specific task. You consider

putting off the activity a better choice than the little time or effort it

takes to cross it off your to-do list.

• You seem unable to manage time. When thinking about your list of

tasks or things you need to do, it seems there is not enough time on

your hands to get them done. You are constantly in conflict with the

time on the clock.



• You are indecisive about a task. You may think, “It may or may not

really need to be done.” You are unable to make strong commitments

about a task, losing focus and shifting easily from one to the other.

• You get worried, frustrated or depressed about getting something

done. There is a feeling that things will not get done as expected or

the results will not be to your satisfaction.

The bottom line is that when you understand and acknowledge the

warning signs of procrastination, you become better and better at

anticipating them and can develop a plan of attack. This understanding

has a strong influence on your thinking and mental attitude. It will also

have an effect on how much effort you put into actually identifying the

underlying reasons and subsequently applying solutions.



Identifying Your Procrastination Style

Procrastination comes in a number of different styles. After you have

acknowledged that procrastination is taking place, the next step is toidentify the underlying reasons. This varies depending on the individual.

However, one way to quickly identify your reasons for the habit is to briefly

learn about the different procrastination styles. In which of these styles do

you find yourself?

The Perfectionist

If you are hesitant to start or finish a task only because you want a

perfect result, you are likely a perfection ist procrast inator . You expect that

everything will be accomplished to perfection and you work hard to set a

high criterion for getting things done.

While it is normal to feel particular about your tasks and feel like you

can achieve perfection in everything you do, sometimes a perfectionist

attitude will get in the way of completing something due to the tiniest

details. This may cause repetition of tasks, taking several times to improve

further and further while refusing to finally accept the results.

The Rebel

A rebel procrastinator believes that following someone else’s rules

and deadlines makes them powerless. Although you can rebel against your

own will, this procrastination style mostly applies to tasks you need to

accomplish for someone else. If you are given a particular set of actions for

completing a task, you may decide to set your own time tables and

expectations for the task, and in turn delay its completion.



Do you often put things off because you feel that doing something will

give someone else power over you? Perhaps you have been asked by a

family member, friend or coworker to do something for them. However,

doing it may give you a feeling that they are in control over you, which gives you cause to procrastinate.

The Fearful

A fearful procrastinator may be afraid, anxious or worried about how

to do a task or failing at it. If you delay your assignments and other

important tasks because you are unsure about the outcome, you may be

procrastinating because of fear.

Another characteristic of fearful procrastination is the assumption

that you cannot compete with others. You avoid leaving your comfort zone,

and the fear of failure holds you back from doing something that you feel

others do exceptionally well.

The DreamerDaydreaming may compel you to sit idly instead of working toward

accomplishing something. In this particular style, you may always find

yourself drifting off and getting distracted when you are working on a task.

Daydreamers fail to get in “the zone.”

Focus and concentration are the main factors that are a challenge for

“dreaming procrastinators.” In fact, for many of us, the lack of focus and

concentration is the root cause of ineffectiveness and lack of productivity.

When you identify these factors as your cause for procrastination, you can

work on precise strategies and find specific resources to help you better

develop these habits.



The Over-doer

This procrastination style takes on a lot more work and tasks than can

actually be accomplished. As an over-doer, you overwhelm yourself with

too many tasks, never saying “no” to adding items to your to-do list. As a

result, these items are either half-done or not completed at all.

Another characteristic of the over-doer is the tendency to “multitask”

and the lack of prioritization. There is a feeling that working on multiple

items at the same time can actually accomplish a lot more, when the

absolute opposite is true. Additionally, there is a tendency to jump from

one task to the other mainly because there is rarely a sense of what needs to

be done first.

While procrastination styles can be grouped into even more

categories, I have found that most of us procrastinate for reasons within

these particular styles. Do you identify with any of these more than the

others? Knowing why you procrastinate is important because you may be

able to choose tips and solutions geared toward a particular style as

opposed to attempting to solve procrastination with strategies that do not

fit your specific reasons. For example, if you are an over-doer, then task

management solutions will apply most to the reasons you procrastinate.

In the next chapter, let’s begin exploring the numerous ways in which

we can attack the procrastination habit.



101 Tips and Strategies

Eliminating the procrastination habit will require a consistent and

sustained effort on your part. In short, you have to replace the

procrastination habit with the action-oriented habit. When implemented,

these quick strategies can help you in that effort.

Some of the strategies may seem silly, unreasonable or even

challenging. Others may seem almost redundant or out of context. And that

is OK. I simply wanted to give you as many tips and strategies as possible.

Go through all of them and choose some of the best strategies that you feel

will work in your own fight against procrastination.



Pr io r i t i ze

1. Com pr eh en s ive Li fe P lan

This is where it all begins. Knowing where you want to go and what road you want to take to get there has the potential of running over

procrastination when it shows up. Design your life and go live it, as opposed

to drifting aimlessly each day. This gives you power and control over your

actions, a sense of purpose, and a procrastination-free life journey.

2 . Checkl is t

This is one of the main weapons in your fight against procrastination. If youare not using lists (checklists, to-do lists), you are simply setting yourself up

for failure. Trying to keep every single item you have to get done in your

head clouds the mind, increases inefficiency and breeds procrastination.

3 . D o On e Ta sk P e r D a y

Huh? If the objective is to not put things off, then why only one task in a

day? Because we want to build a habit of getting things done! You can get

something done in a day, right? You may find this difficult to do, especially

if you are an over-doer by nature, but give it a try! Commit yourself to a

single task in one day. This should be the most critical task you have in a

master to-do list. When you complete the task, reward yourself. Feel free to

work on other tasks, but don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t get

something else done. Do this for a couple of days, and then move to two

tasks per day. Make it fun and see how long it takes you to build up to at

least a 10-item checklist.

4 . Q u i ck W in s



Do you use tasks that take long to complete as excuses for not completing

smaller tasks? Go for the quick wins first. On your to-do list, identify those

tasks that will be easiest to complete and get those over with at the

beginning of your day.

5. Tack le th e Cha l len ge F ir s t

On the other hand, if you find that you procrastinate on tasks because they

seem insurmountable, get to work on those first. With these tasks, the key

is to get started and implement some of the accountability and tracking

strategies to ensure you get the job done.

6 . Cr i t ica l Tas ks F i r s t

When everything is urgent, you become disorganized and overwhelmed.

This is why prioritizing your tasks is a must. When you prioritize your

tasks, identifying and working on what is absolutely critical first can help

you control procrastination. Looking at a to-do list with all the items having

similar importance will only confuse and delay.

7. D u e D a t e

We all have things that we work on from day to day. However, for those

tasks that are not part of a daily routine, assign a due date so that you know

when it must be completed. Ideally, you will work on those items that have

a closer due date.

8 . W h at I s th e Objec t ive?

Avoid working on tasks that do not align with a larger goal or objective.

There are tasks that we may have to complete on a regular basis (such as



laundry or car maintenance, for example) that are not part of a larger goal.

However, for items that fall outside of this category, be sure they align with

your goal of exercising, spending more time with family, starting a

business, or any other goal that you have set for yourself.

9 . H ow Lon g Wi ll It Take?

If I know a task will take 1 hour to complete, I would rather work on that

task first, as opposed to one that will take me 10 minutes. For others, it may

be the other way around, and that is OK. Just implement a system and stick

to it. If working on items that are quick to finish makes you more effective,

then go ahead and implement that strategy and move forward!



S c h e d u l e

10 . St ick to the Sched u le

As you know, being disorganized can cause chaos. It can also impedeprogress and bring on procrastination. An effective way to stay organized is

to stick to a schedule. When someone or something threatens to disrupt

your focus, always refer to your schedule in order to stay on track.

11. H a v e a D e a d li n e

Your goals and objectives, along with associated tasks, should have a

deadline. If you find that your procrastination habits continue despite

having deadlines, be sure to combine this with some sort of accountability.

12. Tim e Blocks

This is a common technique often suggested to help manage time and boost

productivity. The idea is to set aside a continuous block of time to complete

a specific task. For example, you might block 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. to finally complete that report you have been procrastinating on for the past two

weeks. Consequently, you know your focus during that time should be

nothing else but that specific task. Schedule your tasks and begin using

time blocking as another strategy to help win the battle against

procrastination.

13. Tim e Re a l lo c a t io n : Th e 1 H o u r P r io r S tr a t e g y

What time do you typically wake up in the morning? If you have a specific

task you keep procrastinating on, set an alarm for one hour before the time



you typically wake up, just to work on that task. In fact, you effectively add

an entire hour to your day as an additional benefit.

14 . Tim e Re a l lo c a t io n : Th e 1 Mo r e H o u r S t r a t e g y

Perhaps you do not like to wake up an hour earlier. If that is the case, when

you get to the end of your day, add the extra hour there instead. Set a timer

for 1 hour and commit to only working on that one task that keeps getting

delayed by procrastination.

15. P o s t p o n e L u n c h

Procrastination loves to creep in when other “scheduled” activities, such as

lunch, are approaching. Develop the habit of beating procrastination at this

game. How? Commit and continue to work on items until they are finished

before going to lunch (or dinner). A technique that helps in this area is

working on tasks that will actually be completed before lunch. If you usually

go to lunch at noon, and you begin a task that takes 1 hour at 11:30, you are

setting yourself up to procrastinate.

16 . Avoid th a t Du e Da te

Strive for completing tasks prior to their due date. Procrastination does not

even appear when you get into the habit of early completion. In fact, when

you assign a due date to specific tasks or to-do items, make it a day earlier

from the actual day it must be completed.



Organ ize

17. Br e a k I t U p

For example, if you have “start a website” on your to-do list, you can break it down into several tasks such as “get a domain name,” “find a web hosting

company,” “find a designer,” “select a website template,” and other tasks

that relate to launching your website. As you achieve each milestone,

celebrate success, cross it off the list and move on. Procrastination is much

more likely to leave you alone when you approach tasks in smaller, focused

segments.

18 . Gr o u p T a s k s

In addition to helping you get things done, this can help you get them done

faster and become more efficient. Do all your emails at the same time, all

your phone calls together, all your writing in one sitting. When you bunch

tasks together, you increase your focus and get rid of any worries about

going back to similar tasks.

19 . Tr a c k Yo u r P r o g r e s s

With ongoing projects or action items that require multiple sub-tasks, use a

tracking sheet to chart your progress. Being able to see yourself moving

closer to an objective may reverse any procrastination trends when you are

working on a major goal.

2 0 . Delega te Task s

Handing off a task to someone else not only shrinks your to-do list and

improves your time management, but it also prevents you from



procrastinating. After all, can you procrastinate on a task if you are not the

one doing it?

2 1. El i m i n a t e

Look through your master list of action items. Are there tasks that actually

seem unnecessary? Because I constantly offload things I have to get done

from my head onto a master list, I often find that some of those “things” are

actually passing thoughts that do not require action. If it is something that

does not really need to get done, get rid of it. If you get rid of it, you cannot

put off doing it!

2 2 . Conso l ida te

This is a technique I use to reduce the number of items on my to-do list.

Take a look at what action items can actually be combined into one. For

example, you may have “wash the car” and “change car oil” on your to-do

list. You can consolidate these items (and delegate at the same time) by

taking your car to a location that will take care of both! This eliminates the

tendency to procrastinate on one of these tasks.

2 3 . Ch a n ge t h e R o u t in e

Do you have routine tasks that you always procrastinate on? For example,

do you have to take out the trash on Wednesdays but always fail to do it

because of procrastination? Change your routine and take out the trash onTuesdays instead. A little change in your schedule can spark a new habit of

getting things done.



R e m i n d e r s

2 4 . You r Own Voice

A bona fide “remind yourself” technique! That is, the sound of your own voice. Are you the auditory type? Do you prefer hearing things rather than

feeling or seeing them? Record your to-do list and put it on your CD, iPod,

mobile phone, laptop, tablet, desktop computer or home stereo! Don’t like

your voice? Even better!

2 5. Alar m Clock

Nowadays, if you have a mobile phone, you have an alarm clock. Use it as a

strategy to wipe out procrastination. Set the alarm to keep reminding you of

that task you absolutely have to get done. Commit to not using the snooze

button more than 3 times. When you complete a task, set the alarm

reminder for the next task!

2 6 . U s e Ca le n d a r R e m in d e r s

Yes, they are not just there to tell you the date of a particular birthday or

holiday. Add action items to your calendar on the date it must be completed

along with a reminder/alert to notify you of the event. Adding items to your

calendar helps cement the item into your subconscious and get you into

action mode!

2 7. E m a il R em in d e r s

You likely use it every day! Send yourself emails that remind you to stop

procrastinating on specific tasks. If you find yourself deleting those emails



(bad procrastinator!), put a system in place that sends you emails every 30,

15 or even 5 minutes!

2 8 . Text Aler t s

As if calendar and email reminders were not enough, you can also set up

alerts to be sent to your mobile phone. If you are prone to procrastination,

take advantage of every means of technology at your disposal! A text

reminder can be the difference between you getting that small task done or

letting it linger another day on your to-do list.

2 9 . A Sm al l S t r in g

When procrastination starts to take hold of a particular task, tie a small

string to your index finger until the task is done. Unless you like walking

around with a string tied to your finger, you will no doubt work to finish

that task, without procrastinating.

3 0 . Car r y An I t em

It could be a rock, a few pennies, a marker, or anything else. Carry

something in your pocket or hold it in your hand and commit to not

releasing it until the task is done. Of course, this works best for tasks that

will not take hours to complete!

3 1. U se Yo u r Mi r r o r

Keep what you have to do in front of you, literally! If you look at yourself in

the mirror every morning or evening, that will be an excellent place to put

up a notice to yourself. In fact, sometimes writing your to-do list ON the

mirror can be an effective strategy to smother procrastination.



3 2 . Th e Re f r i ge r a t o r

Take the fight to the kitchen. That is, to the refrigerator, where you post all

those pictures and grocery lists. Make some space for your to-do list andmake it bigger than everything else on the fridge. The bigger, the better.

Ideally, you will get sick and tired of looking at items left undone every time

you need something from the refrigerator.

3 3 . Do You Dr ive?

If you own and drive a car, use the dashboard as a Post-it note repository!

Especially with those tasks that you find yourself putting off time and time

again. In fact, make it a rule that every time you do not complete a task, you

(or someone you assign) will add another note to the dashboard! Make it a

goal to keep your dashboard Post-it note-free.



Ta s k M a n a g e m e n t

3 4 . Switch i t Up

Procrastination can sometimes kick in when you feel that a task is takingtoo long to complete. If you pause, procrastination sets in and you have a

hard time getting back to the task. When you are faced with this situation,

switch to a different task on your checklist that you are able to complete

more quickly. Often, the good feeling of crossing something else off your

checklist will give you the boost needed to move forward on the original

task.

3 5. B en d t h e R u le s

Explore different ways of accomplishing a task. If something needs to be

done a particular way, it may cause you to procrastinate. But if you find a

more exciting way of doing that same task, you may find yourself jumping

at the opportunity to get it done. When you feel like saying: “I don’t want to

do this now,” ask yourself, “Is there a way I can do this differently so I canget it over with right now?”

3 6 . Rese t t h e Clock

Remain flexible about your deadlines to help avoid stress and

procrastination. When you come upon a deadline for a task, too much

worry about finishing can lead to a total shutdown on your productivity and

cause you to “give up.” Rather than stress about it, move the deadline an

hour or two and keep working on the task.

3 7. Take On th e Ach ievab le



Seemingly insurmountable action items can often lead to procrastination.

Imagine you have to lose 100 pounds. While this would be a fantastic goal

that in itself is very achievable, a goal of first losing 5 or 10 pounds may lead

to more action and less procrastination!

3 8 . U n d e r s t a n d t h e O u t co m e

Know exactly what you are working toward. When you know the outcome

(or desired outcome) of doing a particular task, you have a sense of

direction and a better chance at avoiding procrastination. Avoid doing

things “just because” you think they need to be done. Know your purpose.

3 9 . B e P r e p a r e d

Unpreparedness leads to interruptions and eventually procrastination. You

can prevent this by having everything you need available to you in order to

complete a task. When you begin doing something from your to-do list, you

want to avoid having to stop because you were not prepared. Action-

oriented individuals have a plan and are prepared, and as a result they

execute efficiently and avoid procrastination.

4 0 . S t o p Mu lt it a sk i n g

The fact is, so-called “multitasking” is not a realistic method for creating

efficiency. When you attempt to do two or more things at once, you are

actually shifting your attention from one task to the other. In doing so, youlose momentum, effectiveness and productivity. When you begin to lose

any of those three factors, procrastination sneaks in to make sure tasks are

left undone. Prevent this from happening by focusing on one task at a time.



4 1. G e t I n t o a Rh yt h m

It becomes easier to complete a task when you get into motion and build up

to a consistent rhythm. When you stop or experience a disruption, you

often have to start all over again. This is when procrastination will attack.Build a habit of staying in rhythm until a task is complete. This not only

helps beat procrastination, but also increases your effectiveness and

productivity.

4 2 . Th i n k P h a s e s

If you are a perfectionist, one strategy you can employ is phases. When you

finish a task but are not satisfied with the result, think about it as Phase 1,

or Alpha. Then, add Phase 2 (or Beta) to your to-do list and move on to

something else. Always keep moving forward and keep the momentum

going. If you keep going back to the same task because it is not perfect, you

will find yourself on the same task or project month after month without

progress.

4 3 . Next S tep

Sometimes, procrastination comes from not knowing what to do next. Keep

the next step in front of you, or at least know what it is. If you have broken

down your task into different steps, forgetting what they are will cause you

to use this as an excuse to delay and put off completing action items.

4 4 . Don ’t Look Back

As mentioned in the “Think Phases” strategies, do not look back once you

get started on a task. There may be times when you do so, but for the most

part, keep moving forward until the task is complete. This minimizes the



tendency to tack on additional milestones to your task, which could lead to

procrastination.

4 5. P l a y t o Yo u r S t r e n g th s

Do what you do best and let the experts do the rest. When you focus on

your strengths and let others handle the rest, you remove the possibility of

procrastinating on those tasks.



Accountabi l i ty

4 6 . Self-Accountabi l i ty

Hold yourself accountable for getting it done. Ask yourself, “Why didn’t Iget this done?” Listen to yourself as you come up with a number of excuses,

and then refute them! Don’t go jumping off a bridge. However, if you didn’t

finish a task, hold off on watching that favorite TV show you wanted to

watch so badly, or skip that movie you needed to see this weekend. As you

consistently hold yourself more accountable, your attitude and approach

toward completing tasks will change dramatically.

4 7. P a r t n e r Ac co u n t a b i lit y

Find someone who will hold you accountable to completing tasks,

preferably someone you look up to. The fact that you have to answer to

someone may give you that extra push you need to finally get it done. Tip:

Meet once a week with your accountability partner and let them know

exactly what will be done by the following week.

4 8 . H i r e a Co a ch

If you have a job, you probably have a boss. If you play sports (or played

sports in the past), you have a coach that pushes you to practice hard. Your

chances of procrastinating on tasks given to you by your boss or coach are

usually pretty slim. Similarly, having a personal, relationship, spiritual or

fitness coach can increase your chances of success dramatically in any of

those areas and help you eliminate procrastination once and for all.

4 9 . M a s te r m in d G r o u p



If you are in business, find or create a small Mastermind group. Similar to

having an accountability partner, the group is composed of a few members

that meet regularly and hold each other accountable for accomplishing

their objective.

50 . W h a t ’s Yo u r G r a d e ?

Give your procrastination a daily grade and make it public. It could be an A,

B, C, D, or F or it could be on a 1-5 or 1-10 scale. Give yourself an honest

grade at the end of the day. If you see a 1 or an F, you will only want to get

better the next day. Work yourself up to straight As or 10s!

51. Be co m e a n Ac co u n t a b i li ty P a r t n e r

If you know someone who procrastinates, just like you do, offer to be their

“referee.” When you start to hold someone else accountable for their tasks,

you may begin “checking yourself” and taking your own procrastination

issues more seriously.

52 . H e a d o f t h e Cla s s

There are classes and small courses available to help you build better habits

or increase productivity. If you are a chronic procrastinator, completing one

of these training sessions or courses can launch you on the road to recovery.

53 . S to p t h e S h o w e r s

Commit yourself to not taking a shower until a particular task (or list of

tasks) is completely done and crossed off your list. If you do not get it done

today, you do not take a shower tomorrow. If you do not get it done



tomorrow, you do not shower the next day. How long can you go without

taking a shower? Let’s get it done.

54 . Today’s Them e

A fun strategy you can implement from time to time to help reduce

procrastination is the idea of “theme days.” For example, for this week,

Monday is to work on website tasks only. Or, Tuesday’s focus is on house

tasks and nothing else. Sprinkle in a theme day every now and then to

knock off some related tasks that have been lingering in your

procrastination bucket.

55. Te a c h i n g

A simple strategy that motivates and eradicates procrastination is teaching

someone else the very same activity that you need to get done. For example,

if you need to change the oil in your car, but you keep procrastinating, why

not teach someone how to do it? You can cross the item off your list and

spend some time teaching someone else the task at the same time!

56 . W a t c h M e

A similar strategy to teaching someone—you can just ask someone to

physically watch you complete what you have to get done. This strategy may

not work for you if you are easily pressured or annoyed by someone’s

presence when you are trying to get work done!



J u s t a Ga m e

57. Ra i se t h e S t a k e s

How much are you willing to bet you will get that done? $10, $50, $100?Put your money where your to-do list is! Determine how much you are not

willing to lose and give that money to a close friend or family member. If

you get the task done, you get the money back. If not, they keep the money.

As an example, my wife recently committed to losing two pounds every

week until she reaches her goal weight. I then challenged her to pay me $10

for every week that she does not lose two pounds and she accepted the

challenge! She absolutely does not want to pay me, so she is now extra-

motivated to achieve her goal.

58 . Beat th e Clock

Grab a stopwatch and set the countdown for five minutes. Begin a small

task and see how much you can get done within those five minutes. If you

complete the task, cross it off the list! Set the clock for 10 minutes. Can youcomplete another task within those 10 minutes? Awesome—how much can

you get done in 15 minutes? Work yourself up to an hour and keep trying to

beat that clock!

59 . Ma k e I t a F r i e n d ly G a m e

Like to have fun? Entertain yourself while getting things done and forget

about procrastination by keeping score. In fact, many of the strategies on

this list can actually be turned into friendly games that motivate you to get

things done. For example, if you have to make phone calls or write blog



posts, find someone who has similar tasks and keep score on who gets more

done. Loser buys dinner.

6 0 . A Less -Fr i end ly Gam e

Find a true competitor that stirs up your emotions when they get things

done and you do not. Procrastination has a funny way of disappearing when

you want to beat someone else by getting something done before they do!

6 1. R e w a r d Yo u r R e s u lt s

Create a reward system for getting things done. It could be something as

little as your favorite foods or watching 30 minutes of television. However,

if you have a significant milestone that you have achieved, celebrate the

success! Have a party, show off that completed to-do list, brag about your

results and build fun memories that you can recall as motivation when

working on the next checklist!

6 2 . The Ant i -Ch ar i ty Pen a l ty

Is there an organization or charity you absolutely dislike? Commit to

donating to that organization if you procrastinate and do not get something

done. Perhaps you are a cat lover, but not so much dogs. Find the biggest

dog charity you can contribute to whenever you miss an objective!

6 3 . Sol i tude

Procrastinate on procrastination by putting yourself on timeout! If

socialization is your main distraction and reason for idleness, isolate

yourself into a home office or work area and commit to not coming out until



the task is done. Easier said than done? Have someone lock the door from

the outside!



Associa t ion

6 4 . Soar wi th Eag les

Instead of hanging out with crows, find and surround yourself with people who fly higher and get things done. Find those who are action-oriented and

who either have similar goals or have already accomplished what you are

pursuing. For the most part, procrastination lives outside of these circles,

so you will be more likely to also become more action-oriented and get

things done!

6 5. P r o t e c t Yo u r E n v ir o n m e n t

Your surroundings can have a significant impact on how much you get

done. When we are constantly surrounded by distractions and mental

interruptions, we tend to lose focus and get nothing done. This includes

physical distractions such as noises (television or radio), people distractions

and mental distractions such as daydreaming. Distractions are a friend to

procrastination. They hang out together. When you eliminate distractions,

you will see less procrastination.



M i n d s e t

6 6 . M in d P r o gr a m m in g a n d Affir m a t io n s

When it comes to procrastination, every tool in your arsenal should beleveraged. This includes programming your subconscious mind to get

things done through affirmations. Whatever you affirm, with strong belief

and confidence, will come to pass. A simple method is to affirm to yourself

the night prior to when something must be done. Talk to yourself about

what is going to be done. An example might be: “I finished writing that

report.” Although exploring the ins and outs of affirmations is not in the

scope of this book, there are numerous resources available that expand on

this subject. I will point you to a few resources at the end of this book.

6 7. Co n s i d e r I t D o n e

When you get a task, put it into your mind that you have already

accomplished it. This is of course in conflict with your subconscious mind if

you have not done it already. For example, if you have to take your dog,

Buster, to the groomer but you keep procrastinating, just keep repeating to

yourself, “I took Buster to the groomer.” Soon enough, your action will

match your “consider it done” attitude.

6 8 . Say No to New

Refuse to add new items to your checklists. I have implemented a system

where a checklist of no more than 10 prioritized items must be completed

on any particular day. If something else comes up during the day, it will not

make it on that list unless every other task has been completed, or the item



has a significant impact to my bottom line or relationships. This increases

your clarity and focus, resulting in less procrastinating.

6 9 . M in im ize P e o p l e I n t e r r u p t io n s

Are you someone who constantly gets interrupted by others with a “quick

question” or “Hey, can I ask you something?” These “brief” interruptions

can quickly add up to an hour or more of time that could have been used to

complete a task. When someone asks you if you have time for a quick

question, say, “Yes, I do—but not right now,” and let them know you will get

back to them when you finish your task.

70 . Visual iza t ion

This strategy can go hand in hand with “Consider It Done.” Imagine what

the completed task looks like and take a mental picture. Fixate your mind

on how good it feels to complete that task and picture it crossed off your

checklist. In fact, visualize yourself as an action-oriented individual who

constantly gets things done!

71. Take Fu ll Respon s ib i li ty

It is your choices and decisions that will affect how much and what you get

done. Know this and accept full responsibility for those choices. Do not

allow blame and excuses to become part of your world, as they only boost

and promote procrastination!

72 . O fflo a d Yo u r D a yd r e a m in g

Sometimes, daydreaming can interrupt our strongest effort to get a task

done. When that’s the case, write it down! Quickly come back to reality and



offload your thoughts onto a diary, journal, or task list. Offloading your

thoughts will help you get back on track and stop procrastination in its

tracks.

73 . Elim ina te Lim i t ing Bel iefs

Unfounded beliefs about yourself or your ability to accomplish certain

things are known as “limiting beliefs.” There are numerous limiting beliefs

that hold people back and cause them to procrastinate. Beliefs such as “I

can’t do that,” “I’m too short,” “I’m too old,” or “I’m just not good enough”

are the result of negative conditioning as you are growing up or going

through certain life experiences. When you procrastinate because of a

limiting belief (for example, “I just don’t know what to do”), recognize it

and immediately question the thought. Eliminate it by affirming the

opposite and debunking any ideas that seem to support the belief.

74 . Ta k e P a u s e

Rather than give in to procrastination, allow yourself to take pause without

putting off action. If you are building momentum, I recommend you keep

going. However, if you are stuck in a particular area, take a breather or

small pause to build clarity and come back to the task with even more

determination.

75 . Mak e a Dec i s ion

When you get or think of new things that need to be done, make an

immediate decision. Choose to: 1. Do it now, 2. Delegate it, or 3. Add it to a

prioritized list. Making an immediate decision on new tasks gets it off your

mind and reduces the chance that procrastination will take over.



76 . R e m a i n Co o l

At times, frustration and procrastination go hand in hand. Frustration can

set in when you fail to achieve a certain outcome or any time things do notgo as expected. This can lead to a feeling of putting your efforts on hold or

giving up entirely. To avoid getting to that point, learn to take pause during

frustrating situations. Sit back, relax and slowly count to 10. Then, give

procrastination no thought and get back to the task at hand.

77. Re c o gn i ze P r o c r a s t i n a t io n

Because procrastination is a habit, we may not recognize it when we do it.

In many ways, putting things off has become a matter of routine.

Consequently, one of the first things we should learn to do is recognize and

acknowledge this bad habit.

78 . Value You r Tim e

This is a change in mindset as much as a strategy against procrastination.

Change your views about time. Look at time as something you cannot get

back. The fact is, time cannot be saved or bought. It can only be spent. You

can reallocate time, but once it is gone, it is gone. When you change your

perspective on time and start to look at it from this viewpoint, you will

begin to value it more, treasure it, and take more definite action toward

your goals and objectives.

79 . At t i tud e Cou n t s

Optimism and positive thinking changes the way you approach everyday

life. Only you know if you need to improve in this area. If you do, making



the shift can have a significant impact on not only your way of life, but also

on your habits, including procrastination.

8 0 . Stop Ly in g to You r se l f

Be honest with yourself when it comes to the communications going on

inside your head. If you know a task is just not doable, then change your

approach and cross it off your list, instead of remaining hostage to

procrastination.



Get Socia l

8 1. F a c e b o o k I t

Is procrastination hitting you hard? Update your Facebook status with what you have to get done, and by when. We generally like to be seen as credible.

When you let everyone in your “friend list” know that you are on a mission

to accomplish something, you will probably want to make sure the next

related status talks about your success. You may even get some supporters

and accountability partners along the way.

8 2 . Vid e o S u p e r s t a r

If you are a big YouTube or Vimeo user, consider creating and posting a

video (or series of videos) related to what you have to get done. This

increases your “action mode” and pushes you to keep moving forward. For

example, if you want to lose 20 pounds, consider creating a weekly video

that tracks your progress. Throughout the week, you will consciously think

about your food and exercise choices knowing that you have to create a

video.

8 3 . Tweet Twee t

Are you procrastinating on going to the gym? As you get your day started,

send a Tweet to your Twitter followers letting them know you will be going

today. It could be as simple as, “Going to the gym today. Running 2 miles.”

Do not underestimate this technique, especially if you have many followers.

Similar to writing your goals, this will help cement into your mind that you

have to visit the gym today. Tweet away your procrastination!



Co r e H a b i t s

8 4 . Bu i ld a H a b i t

As you work to eliminate procrastination once and for all, your ultimategoal is to build the action habit. You build a habit by doing an activity over

and over again, day after day, until the point where it becomes a routine

and you do not even have to think about doing the activity. So, if you

continually use a to-do list and get in the habit of completing the items on

your to-do list every day, you will start to build the action habit.

8 5. Re d u c e S t r e s s

Procrastination causes stress, as the pressures of getting things done get to

us. At the same time, stress and anxiety can be catalysts for procrastination.

And while it is a challenge for most of us to eliminate it completely, we can

minimize it by having an organized schedule that includes “time out” for

fun and relaxation. Explore ways and solutions to deal with stress, and as a

consequence you will also minimize procrastination.

8 6 . Elim in a t e O ve r - Co m m i tm e n t

Committing to too many projects or activities leads to being overwhelmed,

disorganization, and ultimately procrastination. If you find that you

procrastinate because you simply have too much to do, work to reduce or

eliminate the level of commitments you currently have.

8 7. Bui ld Con fiden ce

Lack of confidence is often a core reason for procrastinators. The thought of

not succeeding or completing the task to your (or others’) satisfaction may



cause you to lose confidence. Procrastination is then used as a coping

mechanism for this lack of confidence. You help build self-confidence and

assertiveness in your approach by acquiring the necessary skills to

accomplish your tasks and becoming very good at what you do. Focus onthis area if you procrastinate due to lack of confidence.

8 8 . Bu r y Yo u r F e a r s

Similar to lack of confidence, fear often holds you back from getting things

done and going after what you want in life. With regard to procrastination,

people often fear the outcome of doing a particular task. For example, you

may procrastinate on calling someone back because you fear the particular

results of the conversation. As simplistic as it sounds, the way to get over

your fears is to confront them. In fact, there is no other way to soundly

defeat fear and stop procrastinating because of it.

8 9 . I n c r e a se Kn o w l e d ge

An increase in knowledge and understanding can become a procrastination

show stopper. Many people procrastinate because they simply do not know

what to do. Perhaps you do not know how to install a blog, which is the

reason you procrastinate on getting one started. In this case, you may

delegate or outsource this task, or increase your knowledge. When you

know what to do, procrastination retreats!

9 0 . Ge t S o m e E n e r gy

Lack of energy levels can be cause for procrastination (and laziness!).

Elevate your energy and become more active by exercising regularly and



eating a proper diet. A sense of liveliness might be just what you need to do

away with procrastination once and for all.

9 1. Self-Discipl ine

In many ways, procrastination boils down to a lack of self-discipline.

Making yourself do w hat you do not w ant to do—this is self-discipline. So

to neutralize procrastination, work on building the self-discipline habit.

You can start by finding the motivation and inspiration you need (within

you or externally) to consistently complete tasks, even when you do not

want to do them.

9 2 . Elim i n a t e Ti m e -W a s t e r s

Minimize mindless entertainment as a distraction, such as television, video

games, or social media. At times, these may provide a good break and relief

from stress. However, for the most part, they contribute greatly to

procrastination and can lead you to wasting hours and hours of otherwise

productive activity.



Motivat ion

9 3 . I s i t I n t e r e s t in g ?

Everything you do is by choice. Choose to work on things that are of interest to you. If doing your own taxes excites you, then you will have no

problem with procrastination. On the other hand, if the thought of doing

your own taxes gives you a headache, you may want to consider delegating

that task to a professional rather than procrastinating and stressing about

getting it done.

9 4 . W h a t M o t iva t e s Yo u ?

Procrastination cannot override your motivation. Find items that not only

interest you (such as a hobby or industry), but that also motivate you—such

as raising funds for a particular cause. For example, if you are extremely

motivated to start a website that will share ideas you are passionate about,

you are more likely to get it done as opposed to a website that covers

something you do not enjoy.

9 5. Tell 3 Peop le

Tell at least 3 people some of the items you will knock off your checklist

today. This is a variation of the accountability partner and mastermind

techniques. Although they are not holding you accountable, just telling 3

people what you need to do and when you will get it done adds a little more

“oomph” to your determination.

9 6 . Th i n k Co n s e q u e n c e s



In the end, you want to say “I did it” instead of “I wish I did.” When you

realize you are procrastinating on a specific task or set of tasks on your

checklist, take out a pencil and a piece of paper and write down the

consequences for not completing the task. What will delaying a task do to your overall bottom line? How much further are you moving away from

your goals? Is it really worth it?

9 7. Mu si c t o Yo u r Ea r s

While it may be a distraction for many people, some personalities work

better and faster while listening to music. As weird as it sounds, some of us

even concentrate better with music on! If that’s you, use it to your

advantage as a tool to get things done and crush the procrastination habit.

9 8 . R id e t h e M o m e n t u m

I have hinted at this point throughout many of the strategies in this book.

When you get going, keep going. Action is the killer of procrastination.

When you have built momentum and are constantly taking action, there is

no way you can stop to procrastinate. Ride that momentum!

9 9 . Adjus t Cou r se

Even when you fail to adhere to a schedule, you can keep moving forward

by adjusting your course. The key is to keep moving forward. If you dwell

on distractions that have come up to take you off course, then you willremain off course. Adjust your sail and keep moving forward to avoid

procrastination.

1 0 0 . Ma k e a Mo v e



When you want to procrastinate, think, “Just Move.” It may sound simple,

but if you have a task that requires physically taking action, just move! For

example, if you have to write a document but you keep procrastinating, just

put your hand on your keyboard and start hitting keys. If you have to mow the yard, grab a hold of the lawnmower and start moving it back and forth.

Eventually, your brain will catch up with your body movement. So get

moving.

10 1. G e t s ta r t e d . N OW .

Seriously, go get it done. Select a few of these strategies and go get rid of

procrastination, once and for all.



Get Rid of Procrastination Once and For All

One of the reasons many people do not eliminate or even reduce their

procrastination is because of lack of action. If you are sick and tired of procrastination taking hold of your life, then you have to make a conscious

decision to change and then take action. I have presented you with at least

100 ideas that you can begin to implement and being the journey to

Procrastination Elimination.

I challenge you to make a commitment, starting right now, to replace

procrastination once and for all with the action habit. Here are your action

steps:

• Acknowledge procrastination and make the commitment to get rid

of it starting today.

• Understand your reasons for procrastinating. What truly is keeping

you from getting into action, consistently?

• Identify at least 3 to 5 strategies outlined in this book that you can

begin implementing into your daily life.

• When one of these ideas help you succeed in your Procrastination

Elimination journey, send me your success story!



Additional Resources

The following resources are relevant and can further assist you in your

Procrast ination Elim ination journey:

Recommended Books:

The Now Habit by Neil Fiore

Getting Things Done by David Allen

The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson

The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy

The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz

Recommended Technology Resources:

www.rememberthemilk.com – Online to-do list and task management.

www.evernote.com – Robust online note-taking application to help you

save notes and ideas.

www.Astrid.com – To-do list manager for Android, iPhone and other

mobile devices.

www.Stickk.com – Online commitment and accountability system.

These are just a few of the numerous technology tools available to help you

manage tasks and eliminate procrastination. Thank you for reading!

Procrastination Elimination

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