So many of us do it! We leave things till the last moment.
We put things off until we just can’t put them off any longer. Sometimes friends even get annoyed with us because we take on so many things and then don’t finish them – is this you? If it is don’t worry, you aren’t the only one. Lots of us procrastinate. It is hard to stop procrastinating but here’s a technique that can really help.
Stopping Procrastinating by Using Positive Self Talk
What is positive self talk? Well you know that voice you sometimes hear inside your head telling you to put something off? That’s negative self talk, so we’re going to just flip it on its head and make it more positive. You are going to talk yourself out of procrastinating! You see procrastination is “a way of doing things”. It’s a pattern that we have got used to. It’s just the way we are, as many would say. It’s got to the point where it is a habit, it’s easier to do it this way. In face most often we don’t even thing about procrastination we just do it!
By using positive self talk, you respond to what’s going on in your head. Let’s say you need to write a report that is due in two days time. You should start it today, but your mind says, heck I can start tomorrow. Now is the time to interrupt that thought and say hold on if I start it today I can give it more time and do it better. Weigh up the choices… start today and be more relaxed about it, or wait till tomorrow and all the others things you have to do and you’ll be more stressed. Yes it’s that simple just talk yourself out of the stress that will come tomorrow!
By thinking about the above when you start to procrastinate, you can draw up a list of reasons why you would star the project tomorrow and the consequences. Remember every action has a consequence.
Then begin to think about the advantages of starting the project now. In fact write down some positive statements you can say to yourself when you begin to procrastinate. These are often know as affirmations. Positive sentences that will help you push through the barrier of procrastination.
Self talk will allow you to do two things:
- interrupt your negative thoughts
- affirm the reason why it is best not to put things off.
If you stop procrastinating you will find that your life becomes less complicated and you are able to catch up with your projects and in most cases be one step ahead. Listen it’s worth a try if it works great, if not at least you’ve begun to talk about things and realise there is another way.
