How to stop procrastinating According to studies, about 95% of people report that procrastinating is a problem for them at least some of the time. Those same studies show that for around 25% of people it is actually a major problem. One which dramatically impacts on their life to a point where they accept they need procrastination help.

There are many causes of procrastination and probably just as many approaches to overcoming procrastination. In this article I’ll deal with one cause and approach to overcoming procrastination.

Procrastination & Perfectionism One common cause of procrastination is the thinking error of perfectionism. If you think that anything you do must be perfect then it’s not surprising that you end up associating stress with the task which in turn means you end up training yourself to avoid it.

So you end up delaying the task until the last minute which in turn gives you an escape from the trap you have set yourself. At the last minute there isn’t enough to time to deliver perfection so you’ve given yourself a convenient excuse – “I could have done better if I’d had enough time.”

If you run this same strategy for tasks with no deadline your perfectionism can mean the task is put off indefinitely!

To cure yourself of perfectionism you just need to allow yourself to be human. Very few things are perfect in every way – ever come across a perfect piece of software? I’d be very surprised if you had.

Constantly remind yourself that a job 80% complete and delivered today is way better than a perfect job that never arrives.

Perfectionism can also strike if you focus on the overwhelming totality of a project. Instead of thinking of the project as a whole (and one which of course “must be perfect” mustn’t it) – try thinking of just the next small (and imperfect) step. The first step of any project can be a very rough draft.

The important thing is to get started. You can always revise it later.

For example, assuming you need to produce a 5000-word article, your first step might be just a 100 word outline.

I admit that these ideas can be hard to put into practice, but they do work so they it is worth persevering. If you really want to learn how to beat procrastination, you need a lot more than motivational platitudes.

Your procrastination problem isn’t going to disappear of its own accord. You have to take charge.

On the positive side, taking control of your procrastination will really boost your self-esteem and help you grow as a person. It will help you become more focused, more confident, more disciplined and ultimately more powerful and more successful. When viewed in the context of a lifetime, these qualities can make a massive difference to your success and happiness. So why not look at your procrastination challenge as a blessing in disguise?

Tackle your procrastination now and you will grow stronger. And your future self will thank you for it.

For another 19 research-based strategies to show you how to stop procrastinating take a look at www.fix-procrastination.com