How to stop procrastinating and get stuff done!

Whenever you find yourself resisting doing something and it shows up as busy work doing something else or laziness like lying on the couch binging on Netflix or cleaning out that closet, you’re possibly procrastinating for one of two reasons.

If you find yourself procrastinating start with one question: Am I procrastinating because I’m just not ready, exhausted and need a break from the go go go, or because I haven’t fully formulated my approach yet?

Try to understand the reason you’re making the choice not to move forward to get your project done or taking the next step versus berating yourself for not making progress.

If you do need a rest or need more time to explore the approach or idea, allow yourself the opportunity to do so. Take time to rest. To be lazy. To clean out that closet. Whatever is going to get you to the state so you can be better prepared to take that first—or next—step in your project.

However, if you’ve been lazy, cleaning out closets, binging on Netflix, etc., maybe there’s something else at the heart of why you’re not moving forward.

I’ll give you an example. I’ve been procrastinating posting on LinkedIn about my artwork and new mission of inspiring creative flow for the work-from-home professional (or anyone for that matter). I know that I want to do well on LinkedIn, as that’s where my largest audience is. I’ve been putting together some content and sharing it in my newsletter and a little sprinkling here and there on Instagram, but that’s about it.

Following my own coaching, I asked myself why am I procrastinating about starting to share on LinkedIn about my artwork? Here is what I discovered:

1. I like to have some sort of a plan for my content so I can sustain my message and a have a clear, consistent purpose that builds my evolved identity and what I’m doing now.

2. I also want to create value-based content, not just post pitchy or me-me-me content.

3. I like the process of creation, inspiration, and following my intuition. For example, just this morning I came across a video that inspired a new Stories episode that I can’t wait to record, which will be perfect for LinkedIn.

4. I also want to learn how to use a longer video (5+ minutes) and break it into segments to drop into social channels as teasers (that’s the tech stuff I love to learn).

So those are the “frontal lobe” logical responses to why I’m procrastinating. And, there’s an element of moving forward just by listing those items. Kind of felt good to identify them and write them down.

But if I dig deeper, yes, I have some “beliefs” that are acting as governors to slow down my progress—the actual posting on LI. Those include:

1. Will my LI audience even care about my artwork posts? Will they “get it?”

2. I am reluctant to “ask for sales” in my social media in general and never EVER want to appear all about the pitch—which is driven by my deep-seated desire not to be a “bother” to others.

3. Will people think it weird that I am selling oil paintings of seascapes to encourage creative flow for the work-from-home crowd? What even is that? LOL

Those are the big ones, especially number two. Here’s the funny thing and why I think this is a great exercise: As I explored my feelings and typed those out just now, I could feel their power over me soften, almost to the point of them sounding ridiculous. 

Like, “Terry, how silly to have those beliefs and allow them to stop you from moving forward.” And now, here’s the final step in this exercise: the big WHAT IF.

So once you acknowledge the reasons you’re not moving forward or procrastinating just by simply listing them, answer this question:

What if I did that thing? What would happen?

So for me, what if I started posting content on LinkedIn about my artwork and inspiring creative flow? What would happen?

1. I’d show up differently to my contacts who have known me for my past work and business which would drive curiosity and interest about my “new gig”

2. I’d entertain, inspire and create value for my audience

3. I’d share my life and in doing so make more resonant connections with others

4. I’d inspire others to their creative flow (MY WHOLE REASON FOR DOING THIS!)

5. I’d sell my beautiful paintings!!!

Now, I could have listed a TON more potentialities but you get my drift. And yes, you’ll start seeing me posting more on LinkedIn about my artwork—just doing this exercise for myself has opened up energy and flow and I don’t feel as much (if any) resistance around doing it. I’m even excited about doing it now!

So here’s a quick overview of this exercise:

1. Identify if your procrastination is due to you needing a rest or more clarity/percolation time. If yes, let yourself experience it and then move on when you’re complete. If it’s more stalling, do step two.

2. Write down the deeper beliefs you have around why you’re not moving forward with your project/goal. Write until they’re exhausted. Check in with how you feel after you’ve written them down. You may want to take a walk to let the energy settle before going on to step three.

3. Answer the question, “What if” to doing that thing or things you’ve been procrastinating about. What would happen if you actually did those things and moved forward into action regardless of your fears, beliefs or whatever is stopping you?

Check in with how you feel about and you may be amazed at how silly it all seems and that you’ve been the only thing in the way of moving forward into a new reality of joy, creative self expression and income. (Yes, income!)

Let me know how you’re doing with all of this and what you’ve realized as a result of doing this exercise. 😊