planning

The best tip to not procrastinate!

It is easy, but as with anything, takes a little practice.

Try it now!

Identify the most important thing you have to do today. Decide to do just the first little part of it — just the first minute, or even 30 seconds of it. Getting started is the only thing in the world that matters.

Clear away distractions. Turn everything off. Close all programs. There should just be you, and your task.

Sit and focus on getting started. Not doing the whole task, just starting.

Pay attention to your mind, as it starts to have urges to switch to another task. You have an urge to check email or Facebook or Twitter or your favourite website. You want to play a game or make a call or do another task. Notice these urges.

But don’t move. Notice the urges, but sit still, and let them pass. Urges build up in intensity, then pass, like a wave. Let each one pass.

Notice also your mind trying to justify not doing the task. Also, let these self-rationalizing thoughts pass.

Now just take one small action to get started. As tiny a step as possible.

Get started, and the rest will flow.

 waves!

 

Many thanks to Leo Babauta for his inspiration.

 

 

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5 Comments

  1. Thanks, Arjenne! My brain has been all over the place of late, and I very much needed to hear this message today. Turning everything off now and setting my iphone timer for 5 minutes. Hopefully, after the monkey brain calms down, I’ll have a clearer picture of the most important thing for me to do next. Thanks!

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