Pro-cras-tin-ation
Procrastination. Good Grief.
Even just saying the word makes me want to do something else.
You know the drill. You have a really great idea and the thought of it is just devine, you may as well place a patent on the darn thing now. Except when you come round to putting your ass into gear - you end up doing any imaginable task OTHER than the actual thing you’re supposed to be doing. I mean it’s different for everyone right. Let’s take James, my husband. His procrastination involves sitting on the toilet for an extended period of time with his phone. Mine is a little more hygienic, literally. I like to clean. Towel cupboards, make-up brushes, cutlery drawers, socks and pants and so on. Makes the house tidy, but that really good idea I have, it sits on the (not so dusty shelf) and waits. What if I told you that there’s far more to procrastination than just a simple ‘lack of motivation’? What if I told you (Ladies) that at some points during the month, you should steer clear from certain types tasks? What if I told you that procrastination has far more to do with your state of mind than it does the actual task?
Well, fear not friends, because in this post I’m going to break down my 5 Fundamentals to shifting out of procrastination.
The Fundamental Five
To shift your way out of procrastination and lean into getting shit done. It’s time to break free from self sabotage and become more effective.
Let’s Get Started
This Fundamental Five will give you that rocket boost to achieve more and to move yourself from that holding pattern. Synergy is your friend. And working smart (not hard) is your ticket to success. Once you make these five shifts, you will become motivated, inspired and will be able to set clear goals. There is nothing stopping you from showing up and being your unapologetic authentic self. But before we begin, I’d like you to have an honest conversation with yourself. The little you, that has a big impact. Yes that’s right. Your mind. DUN DUN DUNNNNN. I’d like for you to take out a pen and paper. Yes go on. Take some action. STOP PROCRASTINATING. And answer these questions.
Ask yourself these questions…
What narrative are you playing to yourself right now that is causing you to self-sabotage?
Why are you not being as effective as you should be? (Shoulda, Woulda, Couldn’t - But Didn’t?!)
How are you getting in your own way?
What behaviours are you acting out that is blocking you from moving forward?
Are you becomming involved in other people’s drama too often that your own?
Is your environment setting you up for failure?
Shift #1
Self Mastery beats Knowledge Mastery
Ever heard the saying “Formal Education will makes you a living. Self Education will make you a fortune.” Nope? Well it’s all about how to be the master of your self, to understand who you really are and to recognize your position in the world. Once you align with self-awareness, self-knowledge and self-development, it becomes possible to achieve self-mastery. It provides a person with the will that can assist in realizing their vision for the future.
Just because you know it, doesn’t mean you practice it.
Let me put this into an example. Because who doesn’t love a good metaphor?! A larger than your average person isn’t overweight because they eat too much. No. They are overweight because they haven’t mastered their relationship with food. READ THAT AGAIN. They haven’t mastered their relationship with food, they haven’t fulfilled the self-awareness. The facts are out there. Nutrition. Free Workouts on YouTube. In this day and age - the resources are plentiful, the knowledge is plentiful. It is the self-mastery that is lacking. This first shift of the 5 fundamentals speaks to your self-mastery. Go back through those questions and dig deep on how well you master yourself. Are you relying on knowledge far more than you are your own self-development and awareness?
Shift #2
Release the Subconscious Breaks
This is the number 1 enemy to success. Want to clean that cupboard? There’s your brakes. It’s not that you have OCD (Well, you might have) it’s more so to do with science. And the way our brains work, neuroscience to be precise. The main command center to our brain is the neocortex, think of it as the CEO, the critical thinker with zero sense of humour, and operates on Beta Frequency between 12-18 Hz. It comes into action when we turn 7 years old. Before Beta, our brains were in a Theta frequency, between 4-7 Hz, and this is also the frequency that we enter when we dream. What do children and dream states have in common, you ask? That’s right. Unicorns? Hmm Not quite, but nearly! In actual fact, whilst in the Theta Frequency we accept information without questioning it. How much does our outer world actions follow our inner world beliefs? And how much are we questioning?
Let’s take the story of the ant. For the sake of storytelling we shall call him Percy. Now Percy has one task everyday and that’s to make his way North. Everyday. Just. HEAD. North. It is of the upmost importance to him, nothing else really matters and he doesn’t question anything else around him. Little does Percy know that he is actually on an elephants back, who is heading South.
So, you may feel that cleaning out that cupboard is of the upmost importance to you - but how clear is your awareness? Do you recognise that the cleaning of the cupboard is actually your subconscious break? When you become into awareness of these patterns and behaviours, then you can start to eliminate them and accelerate towards your goals.
Shift #3
Break the Cycle
When it comes to procrastination - there’s a lot more that can be said than simply ‘laziness’ but more so - SCIENCE! Inertia is the tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged - and when we have moments or episodes of feeling down or tiredness, the cells in our bodies become accustomed to that feeling. We have over 50 trillion cells, give or take, and they are all governed by the same law using receptors in our bodies. We experience internal chemistry as we expose ourselves to activities, foods, sensations and so on…! For example when we exercise we release endorphins, seeing a loved one can heighten our Oxytocin and eating chocolate can release dopamine - let’s call these feelings of elation and happiness, Summer! Our cells therefore become accustomed to wearing shorts, T-Shirts and itsy bitsy bikini’s - the summer wardrobe.
When we finally decide that enough’s enough of feeling down in the dumps - your 50 trillion cells already have a completely different programming. If you’ve been feeling down in the dumps - then your cells would have been conditioned to feeling of anxiety, excessive thinking, negative thought patterns - let’s call this winter. And so when you go to change your outlook on things, start a new gym routine or even get back into your business, there’s more going on than meets the surface! Your 50 trillion cells have to change wardrobes, and they seem quite cosy in their winter jumpers.
Therefore when overcoming procrastination - we must break the cycle. We have to change wardrobes. Breaking the cycle can take form in many ways for different people. For me it’s all about positive affirmations and daily practices to little by little change break those old habits.
Shift #4
Become aware of your conditioning
Engaged neural conditioning is the practice of retraining the brain, to form a new habit. We’re not just changing our clothes to suit the season - we’re moving to Fiji baby - no but really - we’re becoming aware of our conditioning and retraining our brain. This retraining may not always take form in how we think, but can also be, how we do, or WHERE we do. If you spent a day at the gym and a day at McDonalds - your body is going to feel very different! It’s the same with our own environment. If you know that your default conditioning is to clean the cupboards then perhaps choose a different location to do your work. If your default conditioning to endlessly scroll on The Gram, it might be an idea to put your phone in your bag. Become aware of your procrastination and change it!
Shift #5
No Quick Fixes
Commit yourself to making long-term effective action. The key here is to know what action is effective for YOU and keep at it! You can be busy but not productive. Use purpose and momentum to get you to where you want to go. The same actions, expecting different results is insanity. So spend your time creating long-lasting changes and conditioning - rather than searching for the quick fix!
Remember, you have a choice
Procrastination can be a frustrating thing, but once you become aware of it and act little by little each day to condition yourself towards what you want to achieve - everything will click into place. Don’t be so hard yourself. If it’s meant to be, you’ll make it happen.
