Humans have the capacity to envision complex outcomes. We dream of traveling to the stars. We plan for unknowable futures. We strive for god-like powers. And often, fail to fold the laundry when it comes out of the dryer.
For me, having good ideas is easy. Implementing them is hard.
When I was younger I had a lazy streak. I would watch T.V. for hours. If that wasn't an option I would sit in my room and listen to music. I would do just about anything- or nothing at all- to avoid work. Even the things I wanted to do, like learning to play guitar, would often be put off for no apparent reason.
Though I worked hard to break that habit, procrastination can still set in. I’m convinced I could be far more productive than I am. But I’ve learned a lot about myself, and that’s provided me with some tools for progress. This is the key. Learning about yourself. Because what works for some, isn't likely to work for all. I've had to develop my own methods for setting goals and avoiding the pitfalls of procrastination.
If you struggle as I have, perhaps these tips can help. At the very least, I hope to show you that there is no "one way" to make progress on your plans. Know thyself.
Then, discover your methods.
I’m pretty sure we’ve evolved to try to conserve energy. If you have water, food, shelter, and companionship, there’s not a big biological emergency to go do anything. Those big long-term plans aren’t usually enough to keep you going when the going gets mundane. Sometimes life is tough, but often that’s not what derails us. Sometimes it’s just freaking boring. Work can be monotonous, and work takes energy. If you’ve found yourself putting off the work, give yourself a break - emotionally speaking. No need to feel guilty. Just get moving.
Make some space- both physical, mental, and schedule-wise that is only open for the task you’ve been putting off. Reduce the “prep” time as much as possible. Often preparing to do something is just a form of procrastination to avoid actually doing the thing. Getting ready to get ready to get ready...
Fake-it-till-you-make-it is best applied to your own emotional state. Act like you’re motivated by just starting in on the task, and often the motivation to do it will rise along with your activity. Set a timer and hit the start button. Sometimes that’s like a magic switch that gets me moving. Once I’m going, then I feel like going.
Yes, it feels great when we pay off a debt. We high-five. But real congratulations happen when we work on the habits and processes that get us closer to the vision. Paying off a debt is just a milestone that shows us we’re heading in the right direction. The real victory is in the work earning the money, the budgeting that we spend time on, and the opportunities we take to save money. We keep our focus on the habits, processes, and practices that we think will help us be the type of people who are debt free.
We’re not waiting to be financially successful until we are debt free. We are financially successful every time we cook at home, take on extra work, pay into our planned budget.
I’m not waiting to be a writer until I publish my book. I’m a writer every day that I sit down and write.
It’s easy to congratulate the weightlifter as they are presented with a medal on a podium. But that’s not the moment they won. They were winning that all along the months and years of training. It was a series of many, many wins. Every day the athlete takes the time to show up in the gym, put on the gear, and pick up the barbell- that’s a win. If we recognize these practices as the wins that they are, it’s easier to live in a sense of victory. It’s easier to want to pick up the pen, or the barbell, or the extra shift.
Be willing to let go of the outcomes. The results will come on their own terms. Most of the time you can’t control results, but you can control your own efforts. So make your work the goal and know that every step is a win. Start celebrating the work you do and the work you have to do will be a lot more enticing.
Forgive. Smooth it out. Set a timer and go. Congratulations! We did something. Imperfect progress is the only kind I know of.
Hello!
My name is Cody Limbaugh. If you liked this, you might also like my other content.
I write for 5 different blogs. To keep up with the best of my work, contact me directly, and get exclusive content:
Providing value is important to me, so I often write about techniques that I've found to work well in my life.
I think having rich experiences is a critical component of living well, so I often share my travels.
It's important to me to develop a deep sense of curiosity and relentless personal development, so I also write about learning and various topics and skills that I'm currently working on.
I've been a fitness coach for the past 13 years. I now write for three fitness sites.
I believe that authenticity is critical to living a good life, so I strive to rise above cultural norms and expectations.
