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Is your procrastination related to a project? or
is it a habit?
To remedy procrastination:
Begin with one, modest project
Answer these basic questions
Keep the answers before you as you mark your progress:
What do you want to do?
-
What is the final objective, the end result?
It may be obvious, or not
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What are the major steps to get there?
Don't get too detailed: think big
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What have you done so far?
Acknowledge that you are already part of the way,
even if it is through thinking!
The longest journey begins with a first step
Why do you want to do this?
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What is your biggest motivation?
Do not concern yourself if your motivation is negative!
This is honest and a good beginning.
However, if your motivation is negative,
re-phrase and re-work it until it is phrased positively
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What other positive results will flow from
achieving your goal?
Identifying these will help you uncover
benefits that you may be avoiding: Dare to dream!
List out what stands in your way
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What is in your power to change?
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What resources outside yourself do you need?
Resources are not all physical (i.e. tools and money),
and include time, people/professionals/elders, even attitude
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What will happen if you don't progress?
It won't hurt to scare yourself a little...
Develop your plan, list
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Major, realistic steps
A project is easier when it is built in stages;
Start small;
Add detail and complexity as you achieve and grow
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How much time each will take
A schedule helps you keep a progress chart
and reinforce that there are way-stations on your path
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What time of day, week, etc. you
dedicate yourself
to work. This helps you
develop a new habit of working,
build a good work environment, and
distance distractions (It is much easier to enjoy your
project when distractions are set aside.)
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Rewards you will have at each
station
and also what you will deny yourself until you arrive at each
station
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Build in time for review
Find a trusted friend, elder, or expert to help you
motivate yourself or monitor progress
Admit to:
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False starts and mistakes as
learning experiences
They can be more important than successes,
and give meaning to "experience"
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Distractions and escapes
Do not deny they exist, but deny their temptation
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Emotion
Admit to frustration when things don't seem to be going right
Admit that you have had a problem, but also that you are doing
something about it
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Fantasy
See yourself succeeding
Finally: if procrastination is a
habit of yours, forget it.
Focus on the tasks and project at hand, and build from there!
See also: Avoiding
Procrastination, Learning Center, University of Texas at Austin,
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The Study Guides and Strategies web site was created and is
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Landsberger,
academic web site developer at the University
of St. Thomas (UST), St. Paul, Minnesota. It is collaboratively
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