REMEMBER YOUR GOALS

To overcome procrastination, you should also remember your goals. Why are you doing this particular thing? What do you hope to accomplish? What will the end result look like?

Concentrating on the end product will mean you're taking your mind off the unpleasant task at hand. If your mind can focus on the end result it will not be so focused on the distraction of what you're doing now.

You can help yourself by making a list or writing out those goals or end results. For some, you can even cut out pictures in magazines or use other visual aids. If you're procrastinating when it comes to diet and exercise, find pictures of those with great physiques and keep them handy. If you procrastinate when it comes to cleaning out your basement or attic, find pictures of nicely organized rooms and have them in front of you constantly.

You can even purchase small items that remind you of your goals. Suppose you're procrastinating about organizing your finances but you know you must to save for retirement, when you plan on spending your days fishing. Buy a nice fishing rod and put it in a corner of your office so you remember why you're working on your checkbook.

When you keep yourself focused on what's ahead of you and not what's in front of you, then you can be better able to overcome the procrastination that's keeping you from properly managing and maximizing your time.

JUST DO IT

This phrase isn't just a Nike slogan; it's also a good piece of advice when you're procrastinating. Very often people wait until they "want" to do something or "feel like" doing something before they even begin. But this means just more procrastination! Chances are you'll never "want" to go back to school or "feel like" cleaning out the attic or getting on the treadmill, which means you may never do these things.

So instead, don't wait until your feelings are in order before you begin. Don't wait until you feel impelled or motivated. Instead, just get up and do it. Shut out your mind if you must, use music to get you going, daydream about something else if appropriate. Do whatever you need to do to get yourself off the couch and working toward your goal. Just don't wait for something else to get you moving!

Using these excuses of not feeling like doing something or not wanting to do something can mean putting that thing off indefinitely, so keep this in mind as well. What makes you think you'll feel like doing it tomorrow or will be motivated to do something next week? Chances are that just won't happen, so don't wait for it to happen. Just get up and start doing!