Are you a slacker?

Please tell me I’m not alone…  You have your list of todos or you know what needs to happen during the week on Monday.  Tuesday you have already said I will do it tomorrow 3 times.  By Thursday you are sure it must get done tomorrow or you are out of luck.  On Saturday you wake up and wonder what happened that this task didn’t get accomplished?  I call that slacking off.  Do you do it too?I’ve been there.  I’m there right now.  I love staying in touch with YOU , my newsletter subscribers!  And my goal is to communicate with you every month.  Unfortunately, the above scenario happens all too often and my messaging doesn’t get out regularly.

But, on Friday I held myself accountable to a coaching buddy and everything changed!  I scheduled what needed to happen.  Then I showed up at the scheduled time.  I thought of ideas and formulated what I wanted to say and… poof!  It got done!

Everyone procrastinates at some time or another.  However, chronic procrastination occurs by about 20% of us and results in missed opportunities, frustration, and a sense that we aren’t getting anywhere.

Let me give you some tips for reducing or eliminating procrastination once and for all.

1. Get some accountability!  When you hold yourself accountable to someone else who will jerk your chain or otherwise make sure the task gets done you have turned procrastination on its head!
2. Schedule it! Put reminders in your phone or on your calendar that will force you to see what needs to happen.
3. Take inventory!  Assess what the most important tasks are before you even get started.  If you work on the most impactful items so you see immediate results quickly.
4. Create a “Done it” list instead of a todo list.  We always focus on what we need to do and rarely look at what we already accomplished.  Why not end your day on a high note by recording what really happened?  That could be just the motivation you need to complete even more tomorrow.
5. Get help!  Most of the time we can’t do it all on our own.  We need someone to give us insight, direction, and inspiration.  There is nothing wrong with that.  But you must admit it and seek the help you need.
6. Let go of perfectionism!  Sometimes we stop ourselves from beginning a task because we are afraid of messing up.  Well you will mess up!  We all do!  But should that rob you of the results you want to achieve?  Finish your task even if it isn’t perfect.  Moving forward imperfectly is better than standing perfectly still.
7. Outsource!  Can you take something off your plate and give it to someone else to do?  We can overload ourselves with tasks that maybe others do better.  Giving up the task affords you the time for more important work.

Don't be a slacker!  Don’t allow procrastination to stunt your growth, rob your future or keep you from being absolutely amazing!  Pick one of the above strategies and take charge of the tasks that have been weighing you down.

If there are financial tasks like budgeting, getting out of debt, or planning for your future that you have been putting off now is the time to get it done.  From now until the end of the year I will hold 30 minute 2014 Financial Strategy Sessions for anyone who is interested.  During these 30 minutes we will discuss what exactly has been holding you back from succeeding financially, what you can do about it, and we will uncover the one thing you can do right now to make a lasting impact in 2014.  Just click here to end your procrastination today!