There can be no momentum without an initial motion.
Let me share an example. I work out regularly for a target of 30 minutes of cardio, getting up at 5 am to do so. I don’t always feel like doing this or up to the task of 30 minutes on the exercise equipment. If I am really struggling, I tell myself that I only have to go and do 15-20 minutes; only enough to maintain my momentum and get my day started.
Once there and going, I almost always find that I can easily go the distance to my target.
It is impossible to take action while still trying to remain in the state of slumber. It is difficult to break Newton’s first law of motion (a body at rest tends to stay at rest…), but once an action is taken, the gravitational pull of the pillow is lessened. The further you get away from the bed, the better your chance to maintain your new momentum.
There is a total difference in feeling and attitude when you are 50 pounds overweight and doing nothing but getting worse versus being the same distance and making true daily progress. Procrastination is the failure to begin, to put off, to delay the start and ultimately leave your potential wasted. We all have difficulties with this at times. We must exert great effort to overcome the gravitational pull of the force keeping us from taking action on our journey.
Below are some tips to break the barrier and destroy procrastination:
10 Incremental Advantage Tips to Destroy Procrastination
1. Identify your list of things to do and write them down.
Many times we magnify how much we have to do and it shuts us down or overwhelms us. By writing it down you eliminate this in your imagination and take control over your tasks.
2. Prioritize your tasks so you know which has the highest potential payoff.
Strive to do the highest paid work first. It may be tempting to knock off a two dollar task that seems less intimidating than the thousand dollars one, but keep the payoff potential in mind.
3. Create deadlines for yourself and your tasks.
Having a deadline to be accountable to gives you urgency.
4. Break larger projects into smaller parts or action steps.
In just a few minutes, you could complete an action step that brings you closer to your goal.
5. Use your mood to your advantage.
Contrary to what I said in # 2 about the highest payoff, sometimes you are frustrated, tired, angry or in a state not conducive to your best output. This is the time to just continue to work. Even if it is not the highest payoff activity, sustained activity is better than no activity. Too often when we are not feeling like it is when we need to push through and maintain momentum for a better day.
6. Clear off your desk and concentrate only on one task.
Design your work area productively. Keep all those items you use or need for projects nearby.
7. Develop the habit of “Do it now!”
Especially with small tasks before they pile up.
8. Enjoy your time off
Always allow yourself to stay fresh for your project at hand.
9. Reward yourself along the way.
Combined, this refreshes you and continues a motivation cycle to maintain your progress. Delayed gratification for your final results is important, but small and targeted rewards can really help move you down your path. Target your rewards in line with your goals. If your goal is fitness, reward yourself with a new pair of running shoes as you progress.
10. Remember the concept of Incremental Advantage.
Add more time to your day for a slight edge. Get up a little earlier or take less of a lunch break and over time you will begin to accomplish more than you thought you could. Not only will you get more done, but you will feel better and more in control of your destiny. Adding 1 hour of productive time a day is 365 hours a year that could be invested in your future. This is the rough equivalent of an extra 2 weeks a year of productivity.
Successfully getting what you want or achieving a goal boils down to the following components: STACK– Set your course→Take Action→Accept results as the feedback→Correct course based on feedback→Keep on “Stacking The Logs!” Action is absolutely essential to this strategy.
A blueprint without construction does not produce a house, a roadmap without the travel keeps you separated from your destination and a goal without action stagnates your dreams to what might have been rather than what can be.
This post is an excerpt from the book Stack the Logs! written by Kahuna Business Group’s Founder/ CEO Frank F. Lunn.
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