5 Ways to Overcome Procrastination (and tackle this busy time of year)
It is that time of year- when your already busy life gets even busier. We almost feel like we don’t have time to breathe. Work tasks pile up. Travel plans kick up a notch. Holiday shopping lists grow. To-do lists get longer. It seems ridiculously overwhelming- and it is. Here are a few tips to help overcome the stress of OVERLOAD:
- Get Up Earlier: This may require you to go to bed earlier too as you still need your 6-8 hours of sleep- minimum. However, we are more productive in the early hours, with little to no interruptions.
- Do What You Hate-First: Yes this seems the opposite of what every cell in your body is telling you- but trust me- get the yuck out of the way first and you already feel tons lighter and more accomplished.
- Give Yourself a Reward: Complete a set number of ‘tasks’ and give yourself a reward- with no guilt. Perhaps it is a quick happy hour with friends (might be a good time to give them their gifts too!)
- Prioritize (and kick off!): Prioritize your lists- but more importantly, let go of some things. I saw a post on social media this week from a friend who basically admitted her annual Christmas card (that she has never NOT sent out in over 20 years) was being let go this year as it was causing more stress than needed due to other priorities. Sometimes, we need to let go of some things. Ask yourself this question: will this matter 5 years from now? If not, and it is not critical, you may need to let it go (did anyone else just hear the dang Frozen song in their head when they read that?).
- Disconnect: You may need to disconnect from social media for a time, and even from your phone in general a bit. Or, set a time (once per day) that you check your social media/texts, after you have completed a set of tasks. But don’t have it up on your screen, and delete the app so it is harder and less tempting.
Lastly, stop, at least once a day, to embrace gratitude, especially this time of year. Gratitude is what fuels us and enables us to bring more things in our life to be grateful for.
