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Hey, this is Laura Jones. Welcome to another episode of Link to Yourself coffee chat, your
weekly dose of wisdom and empowerment to help you create the vibrant life you deserve. TOday
we're going to be talking about procrastination, something we all struggle with a little too
much. Here is what you need to keep in mind about procrastination. It is completely, 100%,
natural and human. DOn't think that you're any less capable of getting stuff done than
the person who does not struggle with it as much as you do. The only reason why they can
get more done and waste less time is because they have learned how to handle their triggers
better than you have. And now, with this video, you're going to learn how to do the same.
The first thing to do is, be prepared. Know your triggers! Is it Facebook, is it the internet,
is it just making sure the desk is 100% clean? Is it watching just one more episode of your
favorite TV show? Whatever it is, know what it is, first, and then, learn how to deal
with it. So the first thing that you can do is just eliminate it completely, either by
saying I'm done, I'm going to do it by cutting internet access altogether (there are a lot
of computer programs and phone apps that can do that) or by turning it into a reward. So,
how do you do that? YOu set up a currency system where the work that you do earns you
various units of whatever else you procrastinate on. So, if you're trying to get a book written
but you just can't get off that Facebook, then set it up so that, for every 500 words
that you write, you earn 5 minutes of Facebook. Now here's why it's important to set it up
as a currency system, instead of simply saying after 500 words I can go and spend time on
Facebook. Chances are, after having written 500 words, you'll be in that creative juicy
mode when you really are getting stuff done, and taking a break right then and there to
check Facebook is probably not the best idea. Instead, by setting it up as a currency system,
you're making sure that, once you finish 500 words, if you're in that creative mode and
you just want to keep going, then you can keep going and, if all you've done today is
750 words, then, my friend, you have earned 7.5 minutes of Facebook break. So, the first
step is just be prepared, learn how to deal with it. The second step is break it down!
Make small chunks that you can do every single day, either chunks of work, like I'm going
to get at least one page written, or chunks of time, like I'm going to sit down for half
an hour, and during this half an hour, I can stare at the wall or write, and these are
the only two things that I can do. What is the third thing you can do? Make sure that
you keep dreaming. Now I don't mean spend your time dreaming away while you're supposed
to be working. I mean dream of where you want to be once you're done. Here's the thing:
you procrastinate because part of you believes it's a lot more valuable to just get instant
gratification right now, get what you want, rather than waiting and get what you really
want, but a little later. What you need to do is think about what do you really want?
You want to have your book done and be free? You want to have such a clean house that you
can just sit back and relax? What is it that this is really going to bring you? An A on
your paper? Honors? A great job? Think of that! And before you sit down and get to work
take some time, just 5 minutes, and really feel yourself having achieved that thing that
you're working for. Then it'll be so impregnated into your mind at that point, it will be so
present for you, that you will not help but be motivated and get stuff done. Step number
4 is very easy. As Lucille Ball said, if you want to get something done, give it to someone
who's already busy. The busier you are, the more you get done. Now, I paraphrased that
quote just a little but, but you get the gist. Stay busy. I always find that, whenever I'm
busy, I get more stuff done, I get it done faster, I don't waste as much time. Why is
that? It's simple, inertia! once you're in a state of getting things done, you're not
staying, you're not dreaming, you're not thinking about things, you're not worrying, you're
just getting stuff done. Once you're in that mode, it's easy, you can just keep going.
It's always easier to stay in the same state of mind that you're in, such as when you're
writing a book and you're not going to take a 5 minute Facebook break that's going to
turn into 15 minutes, so it's the same thing with being busy. The busier you are, the more
you're going to get done, faster and better. So, my friend, this was your quick course
on procrastination. I really hope that it helped you. If you have any further questions,
please email me at laura@linktoyourself.com, or via the contact page on my website, linktoyourself.com.
Head on over to the article that I'm linking to below on YouTube, or, if you're already
on my website, head on in the comments and tell me, do you struggle with procrastination?
I know we all do! What do you use to get yourself going? So, I hope you liked this, if you did,
please like it, subscribe to my channel and share it so your friends can benefit from
it too. And I will see you next week at Link to Yourself coffee chat. Bye bye!