4 Tips For Conquering Procrastination Before The Next Big Recession
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My name is David and I’m writing to tell you about the time procrastination almost cost me everything.
Because like many of us, I’ve been a chronic procrastinator all my life.
And I thought I could keep coasting by the way I was – but that almost proved to be a fatal mistake…
Because it not only nearly cost me my job – but my entire livelihood as well thanks to the looming recession on the way.
Thankfully, I discovered a simple yet incredibly effective fix that helped me kick my procrastination habit once and for all (even when nothing else worked for me.)
I’ll share this incredible resource with you in just a bit, but first I’d like to tell you about…
The Day That Changed Everything For Me
I walked into my boss’s office with sweaty palms and shaking knees.
“Have a seat,” he said.
Sitting down, I heard the words I’d been dreading all morning:
“I’m letting you know now that we expect there to be a few layoffs in the coming weeks.”
Immediately my heart rate shot up. My throat tightened.
My heart was beating so loud I was surprised my boss couldn’t hear it too!
Yet by some miracle I wasn’t let go that day.
And while I felt like a just dodged a bullet…
At the same time I felt like my days were numbered.
I had to get my act together or I’d be the next casualty of the worsening economic climate.
But that was easier said than done…
Because I stood out like a sore thumb compared to my colleagues.
I had trouble getting to work on time. My productivity was beyond poor. And don’t get me started on how many presentations I’ve put off until the day they were due.
But none of this was by choice. It’s not like I wanted to be lazy. It’s not like I underperformed intentionally.
It’s just that I felt like an old car whose engine would never start until the last second.
And if you’ve ever felt a similar way, then let me ask you:
Are You Part Of “The Club”?
The club I’m talking about is one that’s both free – yet more expensive than anything else.
We pay for it in lost time…lost opportunities…and lost happiness.
Worse yet, membership can last our whole lives.
And once we’re in, we usually can’t leave by choice.
The club I’m talking about is the Procrastinators’ Club.
But this club isn’t for those who “occasionally get started on some things late.”
This club is for those who have six months to get a paper done – but don’t start until the day before it’s due.
It’s for those who ignore their taxes until the date reads 4/15.
It’s for those who simply can’t get started no matter how pressing, urgent or important the task is.
Because for those of us in this club, procrastination isn’t optional.
And neither is the stress, guilt and shame we suffer through as we delay the things we know need to get done.
But if there’s one good thing about being in a club…it’s knowing that you’re not alone.
And by learning from the mistakes of other procrastinators, you can make massive progress in a short amount of time.
Luckily for you, I made every mistake in the book.
I’ve tried apps (habit trackers, content blockers, distraction killers), watched videos, done internet courses, and more.
But none of it helped me actually sit down and get the damn thing done.
But it was only by becoming an expert on what doesn’t work…that I was able to find out what does work.
I’ll share this in a second, but first let me quickly go back to that fateful day:
How I Turned My Life Around (And Left The Procrastinator’s Club Once And For All)
As I left my boss’s office with a near panic attack, I knew I needed to change – and fast.
I couldn’t afford to coast by while letting my procrastination continue to sabotage me.
If I did, I risked losing my job, my livelihood, and more.
So I searched far and wide for a solution that wasn’t the same stuff I’d always heard. Something that might actually work.
I watched hours of TED talks, scanned dozens of books looking for gold nuggets, and went through more scientific articles and studies than I can remember.
But the biggest difference came when I happened upon an old friend of mine from high school.
His name was Michael and he was the classic overachiever.
He told me how great things were going for him in his life and career.
He’d risen through the ranks of his company like a rocket and was now in line to be their next regional manager.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel jealous.
But what surprised me was what he said after:
“It wasn’t always this way. I used to be a mess.”
“What do you mean?”, I asked.
“I used to be a diehard procrastinator. I couldn’t stay employed for long, got evicted a few times and had to move back in with my parents for a while. I just couldn’t get my act together no matter how hard I tried.”
At once I recognized Michael as a fellow (and former) club member.
“Well, you’re doing great now. What changed?”
“Everything turned around when I started doing these four things. It didn’t happen all at once…but looking back, I can’t believe the progress I’ve made. I feel like a totally different person.”
I remember whipping out a notepad and taking down a few notes – and I’m glad I did.
Because these tips would go on to change everything for me as well.
And if you’ve been struggling to get procrastination under control your entire life…they may do the same for you too:
Tip #1: Find Out What Kind Of Procrastinator You Are
Did you know procrastination isn’t a one-size-fits-all?
Yet everyone gives out advice like it is.
This is why you can read about so many tips and watch so many videos…but still make no progress on beating your procrastination.
For example, some procrastinators are known as “Discomfort Dodgers.” They procrastinate because they fear being crushed by a failure…or just not performing the way they’d like.
Other people procrastinate because they lack intrinsic motivation, while others have a low frustration tolerance.
And for many it can be a combination of these factors.
But you’ll never get anywhere by following cookie-cutter approaches that don’t address these.
That’s why Michael told me about a short and simple quiz you can take to find out what kind of procrastinator you are.
It’s free, super easy and only takes a few minutes.
Yet once you figure out your specific procrastination tendencies, you can stop focusing on what doesn’t work for you…
And start making real progress with changes that stick.
Tip #2: Make Each Day A “Non-Zero” Day
A zero day is a day where absolutely nothing gets done.
A non-zero day is a day where something – anything – gets done (no matter how small).
The great thing about a non-zero day is that even the smallest step counts.
If you’re trying to get in shape, all it takes is to do one pushup to have a non-zero day.
If you’re trying to learn a new skill, all it takes is one minute of reading.
But the important thing is that you don’t stay at zero.
And the beauty is that these small steps are so easy they bypass our natural “procrastination sensors”.
This helps us stay consistent while racking up small wins that lead to big changes over time.
So if there’s something important you want to get started on, don’t make it big or complicated. And don’t try to do too much at once.
Just start with the smallest possible action and build momentum from there.
Tip #3: Focus On The ONE Most Important Thing
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when starting something new.
This is why most people never start – or give up just a few days in.
But you can eliminate overwhelm fast by identifying the most important task you need to get done.
This is also known as the 80/20 Principle – where 80% of your results will come from just 20% of your actions.
So if you’re trying to build a better network, this could be reaching out to one new contact a day.
If you’re trying to increase productivity, this could mean doing one pomodoro a day.
Just make sure you focus on nailing this one thing before moving on to anything else.
However, if your procrastination tendencies are too strong then you may want to tackle these first before anything else.
This means getting clear on the ONE thing that will help you beat your procrastination.
This short quiz can help you identify what that is so you can form a simple but powerful action plan that follows these principles.
Best of all, you can see huge changes in as little as five minutes a day. Just click here to learn more.
Tip #4: Use A System Instead Of A Goal
You always hear people talking about setting goals – and they can definitely help.
But they can also be a point of failure. Too far away in the distance. Or something you don’t really believe you’ll achieve.
That’s why it’s crucial to shift your thinking to using a system.
This is simply a process you follow each day.
And with this your success isn’t measured by some outcome you may or may not achieve (like with a goal).
Instead, your success is measured by whether you followed the system.
The reason this works is because as long as you follow the system the majority of the time, you’ll get the results you want (and sometimes far better).
Of course, following a proven and effective system can make the benefits exponentially better.
And for those of us struggling with procrastination, Virtue Map’s procrastination system is better than anything else I’ve found.
It’s designed by psychologists and wellness professionals to rewire your brain’s neurological pathways in as little as five minutes a day.
All you have to do is answer a few multiple-choice questions and you’ll get a customized three-month plan to help you beat your procrastination once and for all.
And if you’re feeling skeptical, I was too at first.
But my friend Michael swore by this – and after taking it and following the plan I could see why…
Because I was given specific action tasks and tools that helped me make huge progress by making small changes.
Everything felt easy and achievable while moving me forward at the same time.
And after just one month I started seeing dramatic progress.
I stopped coming in late to work. My productivity skyrocketed as I wasn’t afraid of starting on intimidating tasks. I even started to get compliments from my managers.
And the next time my boss called a number of us into his office, I wasn’t included.
In fact, I ended up getting a promotion not too long after – a total 180 from my previous predicament!
So if you’d like to finally get rid of procrastination from your life once and for all, I highly encourage you to take the same quiz I took.
It’s called the Virtue Map quiz and getting started is simple, free and easy. There’s no downside but massive upside.
Just answer some questions and you’ll be given a custom plan that makes overcoming procrastination so easy you won’t believe how much progress you’re making…
Until you look back in just a few months and struggle to believe the huge progress you’ve made.
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