3 Steps You Can Use Right Now To Pulverize Procrastination

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3 Steps to Pulverize Procrastination

So here is a quick and simple life hack that allows you to move ahead with whatever you’ve been procrastinating on, with quickness.

I know procrastination has always been a nasty issues for myself and I’m betting it is for many people. (Maybe even you?) So if procrastination pisses you off and you’d like to whip it to the point where it’s running away with it’s tail between it’s legs then get ready.

I’ve got a reason I’m doing this myself and I’m walking the talk. I’ll tell you what that’s about here in just a minute.

Ok so on with it right?

Step 1 Of Punishing Procrastination

First you have to have your eye on the prize and give yourself a Deadline of when you’re going to accomplish said thing you’ve been putting off.

That’s right, a sense of urgency comes with deadline. The challenge is most people are given dead lines by someone else outside of themselves before they commit their full resources and become resourceful. Why not give yourself a self imposed deadline??

Have you ever given yourself one and not followed through? We’ll handle that one in Step 3.

I’ll give you a great example of a deadline you’ve had and happily met. Think about vacation or a trip you’ve been reeeeally been looking forward to! You took this exact formula and applied it! You had a deadline, you planned everything out and told everyone you were going.

So this brings up a great point. One of the keys here is to give yourself a reward for hitting the deadline. That’s right, reward yourself for reaching your objective!

On the other hand give yourself a price to pay if you don’t hit it! We’re going to talk about how to measure these in Step 2.

Step 2 of Pulverizing Procrastination

Now that you know when the deadline is and you know what the promise looks like you’re willing to pay the price of making it happen.

But wait!

You have to know what needs to be done and know how to measure your success along the way.

So here is step 2. Make a list of everything that needs to happen in order to make the deadline a reality. The good thing about this is that it’s always given me something to look at and remind me of what has to happen. However that’s not the biggest reason I enjoy step 2.

The real reason this is so powerful is that it allows you to visually measure your progress along the way! You can SEE your getting closer to your deadline! This is extremely motivating!

So if you have 10 steps that are required to reach your objective check them off as you go and celebrate each time you check something off! (I love white boards for this)

Step 3 of Paralyzing Procrastination

Step 3 is probably the scariest part but the most crucial.

You have to share your deadline and your desire with either someone you look up to or a group of your piers. The old saying goes Character is doing the thing when no one else is watching right?

Yeah well I’m not afraid of putting a little retainer on the fact that it gets done and a little self imposed leverage doesn’t hurt. It can only make you better! Not to mention you open yourself up to a lot more resources to pull from when others know what you have on the line.

You’d be surprised at the folks who will seriously support you in accomplishing your said deadline if you include them!

Don’t try and do steps 1 and 2 with out doing 3. I know, I know it’s scary. I get that but tell your ego to take a hike!

You’re ego flairs up and says, “but what if you don’t make it. You’ll look like a fool and you don’t want to look stupid do you??

Tell the ego to screw off. (That’s after you told it to take a hike too. It tends to be hard headed)

You can’t spend ego at the grocery store and with the kind of project I’m working on could buy a lot of groceries. Which leads me to my point. ;-)

In Conclusion

I believe I hear procrastination yelping out loud and running off into the sunset with it’s tail between it’s legs as we speak. How about you?

The bottom line is I’m sharing not only this little life hack with you but using it myself very soon and including you.

  1. I’m creating a deadline
  2. I’m listing out what needs to be done in order for it to be accomplished
  3. I’ll be sharing it amongst my piers so you can bomb this blog with comments to make sure I’ve done it

So there you have it.

Three Steps to Pulverize, Punish and Paralyze Procrastination.

Use this hack TODAY on something you’ve been putting off and share with me your success. More importantly I want to hear about what tried to get in your way that you found a way around, through or over!

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View Comments to 3 Steps You Can Use Right Now To Pulverize Procrastination
  1. mostafamazen (Mostafa Mazen)
    November 23, 2009 | 2:37 pm

    Twitter Comment



    RT @GuyKawasaki: 3 steps to end procrastination [link to post] (hint hint ;) )

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  2. rachelcurioso (Rachel Curioso)
    November 23, 2009 | 7:46 pm

    Twitter Comment


    se seu namorado mostra um artigo pra parar a procrastinação, é porque a coisa ta séria
    [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  3. Peter
    November 23, 2009 | 2:56 pm

    Hi There – here are some of the processes I use to overcome procrastination:
    1. Quickly assess whether I want to reject, delegate or accept any requests that come in.
    2. If I accept, then I ask myself – when will I do it? There is no real benefit in saying, I will find the time… define it then and there. It's almost more helpful to define when you will do something, than determining when it is due… almost.
    3. If I am in a mood for distraction, then I will fully immerse myself in the distraction – accept that I am distracted and come back to the task when I have run my course.
    4. Lists – get those things down and tick them off as you go… very helpful.
    5. If you can't get a particular thing done… ask yourself why? Be curious and see what comes up.

  4. Zoe Cohen
    November 23, 2009 | 3:10 pm

    Love it! Perfect timing as the holidays roll around and (my) procrastination perks up! Thank you.

  5. sextoysnus (Sex Toys N Us)
    November 23, 2009 | 3:26 pm

    Twitter Comment



    How to end procrastination [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  6. NortheasternCPS (Northeastern )
    November 23, 2009 | 3:45 pm

    Twitter Comment



    Are you guilty of procrastination? Here are 3 steps to nip it in the bud. RT @tweetmeme [link to post] #education #college #work

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  7. Tony Teegarden
    November 23, 2009 | 3:52 pm

    Glad you like it Zoe! Thanks for the participation :-)

  8. Tony Teegarden
    November 23, 2009 | 3:54 pm

    Peter,
    Fantastic feedback! I actually like the quickly assess whether I want to
    reject, delegate or accept any requests that come in. (Sounds like the 4
    Hour Work Week!)

    Thanks for sharing!

  9. Tony Teegarden
    November 23, 2009 | 3:57 pm

    Sanket,

    Thank you for the question:
    The reason this hack worked for me in the past is because I had already
    procrastinated past the “realistic deadline” point.

    Normally I'd say yes, the reverse would make more sense however when behind
    the gun on something the exact opposite worked for me better.

    It's my hack and it's worked for me in the past. Definitely make sure you
    test which one works best for you!

    Let me know your results please!

  10. Tony Teegarden
    November 23, 2009 | 3:57 pm

    Ravkraft,
    Noted my friend! I will implement today ;-)

  11. ateegarden (Tony Teegarden)
    November 23, 2009 | 4:06 pm

    Twitter Comment



    @Pedro_Romero Thanks for the RT Pedro! Much appreciated! [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  12. dancemarketing (Chad Michael Lawson)
    November 23, 2009 | 9:20 pm

    FriendFeed Comment


    3 Steps to Pulverize Procrastination [link to post] not that you have a problem with that right? ;) http://friendfeed.com/e/b81c9f74-901e-46c9-956f-c6bcbdc6833b

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  13. skinnyjeans (Stephanie Quilao)
    November 23, 2009 | 4:58 pm

    Twitter Comment



    Motivation boost: 3 Steps You Can Use Right Now To Pulverize Procrastination: [link to post] by @ateegarden

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  14. ateegarden (Tony Teegarden)
    November 23, 2009 | 5:38 pm

    Twitter Comment



    @skinnyjeans Thanks for the RT Stephanie! Much appreciated!

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  15. EvieStewart (Evie Stewart)
    November 23, 2009 | 5:39 pm

    Twitter Comment



    @skinnyjeans Thx 4 your post “Pulverize Procrastination”. I need to add that to my “To Do” list: http://bit.ly/77tHMB<br />
    Posted using Chat Catcher

  16. ajbarnett (Anthony J. Barnett)
    November 23, 2009 | 6:35 pm

    Twitter Comment



    RT @Ramikantari How to end procrastination [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  17. clabbur (clare burias)
    November 23, 2009 | 6:36 pm

    Twitter Comment



    start the day right and Pulverize #Procrastination! ; [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  18. Pedro_Romero (Pedro Romero Apr)
    November 23, 2009 | 6:41 pm

    Twitter Comment



    3 Steps You Can Use Right Now To Pulverize Procrastination [link to post] (Via @ateegarden)

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  19. amiedavis (amiedavis)
    November 23, 2009 | 6:42 pm

    Twitter Comment



    Great Article on Pulverizing Procrastination: [link to post] .. Deadlines, Lists, and Sharing!

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  20. Fredvasconcelos (Fred Vasconce)
    November 23, 2009 | 6:43 pm

    Twitter Comment



    RT @jynxplayware: Very useful! How to end procrastination? [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  21. lisa_simpsonlk (Elisa)
    November 23, 2009 | 6:44 pm

    Twitter Comment



    The old saying goes Character is doing the thing when no one else is watching right? from [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  22. mattsorr (Matthew Orr)
    November 23, 2009 | 6:44 pm

    Twitter Comment



    3 Tips on How to Fight Procrastination [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  23. rachelcurioso (Rachel Curioso)
    November 23, 2009 | 7:46 pm

    Twitter Comment



    se seu namorado mostra um artigo pra parar a procrastinação, é porque a coisa ta séria
    [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  24. dancemarketing (Chad Michael L)
    November 23, 2009 | 9:20 pm

    FriendFeed Comment



    3 Steps to Pulverize Procrastination [link to post] not that you have a problem with that right? ;) http://friendfeed.com/e/b81c9f74-901e-46c9-956f... />
    Posted using Chat Catcher

  25. arturfm (Artur Mittelbach)
    November 24, 2009 | 3:49 pm

    Twitter Comment


    Vai ser bem util agora! [link to post] 3 Steps to Pulverize Procrastination

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  26. arturfm (Artur Mittelbach)
    November 24, 2009 | 3:50 pm

    Twitter Comment



    Vai ser bem util agora! [link to post] 3 Steps to Pulverize Procrastination

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  27. Lacshan (Lacshan)
    December 23, 2009 | 7:55 pm

    Twitter Comment


    3 Steps to Pulverize Procrastination – [link to post] #motivational #thought

    Posted using Chat Catcher

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  1. 3 Steps You Can Use Right Now To Pulverize Procrastination « VirtualExec-Assist Blog
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  3. 3 Steps You Can Use Right Now To Pulverize Procrastination « Encourager
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