Stop Procrastinating With One Question

Hey, great post man. It really sums up the problem and a really good potential solution to it.

-Nitroviper

Interesting post. Do I really want this? Procrastination is something I practice on a daily basis. I’ll have to try your method. Let’s see if it works.

Yes, very helpful. It is hard when the preparation for a goal is so extensive and the goal is months or years away, but actually being in that moment I think can really help.

For instance I love performing. I would love nothing more than to be a concert pianist, or to be in an orchestra. Thinking of that moment, sitting at a piano on stage in front of thousands of people, really inspires me. I think I will start using that vision.

I was led indirectly to this method through another article I read, called The Types of Nemesis.

See, there’s a piano concerto competition in October, that I have been preparing for for a little over a year now, off and on. I’ve had a lot of trouble with motivation, because I was so afraid of failure that I couldn’t bring myself to put a lot into it. I have put hundreds of hours into this piece already, but I know that I can work a lot harder on it.

That article I just linked to, specifically the part on rivals, made me imagine it as though someone else had won the competition, and how I would feel. I just cannot let that happen, and that immediately ignited my motivation to work a lot harder at it. So that’s an alternative form to the method you talked about. I know that I really want to win this, because it would be great for me in so many ways. I know that I will win it.

So anyway, I do agree with your post.

I think that’s an awesome question, always a good reality check, to see if you’re on the right track.

I was laughing when I read the title, because I actually made a videopost a few days ago about one question you can ask yourself to stop procrastinating.

If you’re interested, you can check it out here

Very nice !

Also its about setting your priorities when you ask youself “Do I want this”. I guess some things you will want but only to a mild degree, and then it’s best to decide if it is really what you want or if its better to go after what your heart really wants:)

Add some affiliate products on your page:)

Peace !

Useful question. Now the challenge is to remember to ask myself this as I go about my daily procrastination.

I like your addition to the question, especially the “it’s up to me” part. Taking responsibility for making success (or failure) in our lives is essential.

really great post and a great question too! i will definitely start asking myself that more often.

So funny because i have an exam tomorrow and i’m reading this to procrastinate!

great stuff
well done!
m*

Do I want this.

Simple and genius!

I do something a little different.

If I get frustrated or start to procrastinate, I simply count to ten and ask myself whether I want to do what I’m doing.

It’s pretty much the same as your approach except I add in the 10 second countdown. This particularly works with junkfood as after I’m finished counting down 99% of the time I don’t indulge.

Congrats on the blog, it looks great!

Liam McIvor Martin

The close your eye and feel like how you feel when you have completed this task is great. When I don’t feel like studying (which happens pretty often ) I do this and it works great for me.

Good post Alex!

Love it. Very simple, yet effective advice. I guess that’s what’s kept me motivated to keep writing every single day. I keep asking myself do I want to be free of the need to find a job and work for somebody else.

Alex Alex Alex…… this is so cool… sorry for the lack of a better description…. I had to ready my 1007th article on the Lions Tour and see Ronaldo in shorts, pearls and a flower attached to his head…. hmmm

But I love the question: Do I really want this

Great stuff, MR!!

Thank you for your post. Procrastination is something I really struggle with. I sometimes overcome it, and often (like now) I don’t.

1. I find that it helps to let go of the need to do something completely, or perfectly, or in one sitting. I read somewhere that just tell yourself you will work on it for 5-10 min. Or you will just write 50 words. Or you’re just going to create a rough draft. Often it’s better to finish something than not finish anything at all. It helps me get started.

2. I have noticed that nine times out of ten when I am procrastinating it is because I have not defined my goals and sub-goals clearly enough. Clarity helps.

3. Sometimes it is because I am emotionally overwhelmed. Then I just try to do something else till I feel a little better – talk to my parents, watch something funny, read blogs or listen to music.

veryyy intresting coz i suffer big time from procrastinating…..
with this attitude you’ll def reach your dreams and become some1 successful…

p.s. hopefully bump into you in longstreet or garden center

Thanks for this post. I’ve found procrastination, like you suggest, only occurs on things I don’t want to do – the dishes, the laundry, etc, etc. For things like that, I normally just sit down, and forbid myself to do anything. Just stare at the wall for 10 minutes. I never make it to 10, I’ll just get up and do my dishes then Let me know if you try this technique haha!

Hey there, first of nice blog. I think this is mayor sticking point in all of self help. Its the doing that brings the results, im not saying im a champ or anything, because this information will certainly help me

I actually use Lame life sometimes, and the answer is always the same Shocking

Cheers

I’ve found that procastination is useful in its own way. When I want to evade facing that one important task, I do a thousand other
less-important-but-necessary-nonetheless tasks that need my attention. And only when I run out of things in that league, do I find myself with nothing between me and that goal. It’s always been a process with me; its usefulness happens to be a by-product though. The aim has always been to – well – procastrinate.

Next time, which is going to be in 15 minutes, I’m going to try your friend’s method! Thanks for sharing!

I think this is the most succinct post I’ve ever read on procrastination. And it’s certainly powerful. I’m going to practice that on myself too for my future goals. Thanks Alex!

I like this post. In case you’re still looking for techniques, I wanted to share this.. It’s a bit from a lifehacker article “Jerry Seinfeld’s productivity secret”.. I personally use this technique for battling procrastination, and general motivation and found it to be effective.

Years ago when Seinfeld was a new television show, Jerry Seinfeld was still a touring comic. At the time, I was hanging around clubs doing open mic nights and trying to learn the ropes. One night I was in the club where Seinfeld was working, and before he went on stage, I saw my chance. I had to ask Seinfeld if he had any tips for a young comic. What he told me was something that would benefit me a lifetime…

He said the way to be a better comic was to create better jokes and the way to create better jokes was to write every day. But his advice was better than that. He had a gem of a leverage technique he used on himself and you can use it to motivate yourself—even when you don’t feel like it.

He revealed a unique calendar system he uses to pressure himself to write. Here’s how it works.

He told me to get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step was to get a big red magic marker.

He said for each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day. “After a few days you’ll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain.”

“Don’t break the chain,” he said again for emphasis.

http://lifehacker.com/281626/jerry-seinfelds-productivity-secret

Hey Alex,

Beat procrastination by analyzing what the most important task is to get your goal done, then just do it.

Start. Ignore the rest. Focus on the one task. That’s all you need to do. It’s the 20% that will give you 80% results. Do it and you got the essential accomplished.

Of course, you ask yourself if the goal is important to you in the first place

Great succinct article,
Oleg

Yo Al, your work is cool!

I like what I read very much. You to the point and illustrate to many what we know but dont acknowledge. A point in the right direction is always needed.
Keep up what you doing, progress is difined by success!

Peace
-Chad