Saying “I don’t have time” is like saying “it’s not a priority”.

How many years of income tax returns do you have that are still not filed? Until the cost of not filling in those forms and sending them off is greater than doing it, you will continue to procrastinate.

Are you driving yourself crazy, wasting precious time thinking about the task by putting projects off over and over again?

Are you a last minute person? How’s that working for you?

Procrastination can come in many different disguises but it always includes waiting until the last possible moment to do something.  Most people feel stressed in these situations and the people around them are usually feeling stressed as well. They generally feel bad about themselves and their actions.

You are not alone.  Most people struggle with procrastination at least some of time (if not most of the time).If a task is not of interest or importance it can be easy to procrastinate however what is that costing you?

Watch this short video and then check out Getting It Togethers Top 5 Tips on How To Conquering Procrastination Once And For All

Tip#1 Getting and staying motivated.

Set a specific goal or a desire to succeed. A must vs. a should. Ask a friend or family member to join you in this new journey of not procrastinating. Sign up for a free daily motivational email to remind you of your goal or do you need to work with a coach to get you on track?

Tip#2 Set deadlines.

Setting realistic deadlines are important in getting out of the procrastination hole. Deadlines provide you a sense of urgency.  Meeting deadlines will also help you in getting and staying motivated. You’ll feel good about yourself once you have met the deadline. Harnessing these good feelings will help you to want to continue in succeeding. And then you can reward yourself with a fancy coffee

Tip#3 Take one step at a time.

Break your “to-do’s” down into smaller manageable steps/tasks. When you start to see some progress, or your list becoming smaller, you will want to continue on and will have the motivation to keep going.

Tip#4 Focus on your goals and tasks.

Focusing on one task or goal at a time is a major point when you are clearing the clutter and getting organized.  Craft a “master to-do list” of all the things you would like to accomplish, and then break it down into smaller, more manageable “to-do’s”. Begin with what is most important and those items only you can complete. Notice if there are some items on your list that you can delegate. Set actual tasks in your calendar. For example if you need to do your taxes, set aside one hour to collect all the information needed. Once you have completed that task, set aside another block of time to fill in the tax return form.

Ask yourself:

How does completing this task contribute toward my long term goals?

What issue do I have with this task and not completing it?

What actions do I need to take to accomplish this task?

Tip#5 Getting organized.

This is my favorite tip of all. It is a challenge to work or live in a disorganized space. Being disorganized can lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed, of stress, and that feeling of wanting to give up. Being disorganized is the number one factor in procrastination. When you have systems in place and know where everything is, you will see how much better you feel about doing your taxes on time, your projects or finishing your goals.

PS: Do you need an accountability partner? Check out our coaching/mentoring program. Maybe it is what you need to get yourself started on the right track www.gettingittogether.ca/services