how to quit procrastinating!

Write a list, write a list, write a LIST! I can't stress this enough.

I am the worst procrastinator. Un-used items packaged and ready to be returned to the store, things that I would get money for, collected dust on tables. Checks went un-cashed. Mail piled up. It is a real psychological problem!

The only thing that saved me was the advice to write a to do list of the things I needed done. There was no other way. I already knew what I HAD to do, I just didn't DO it. Writing the lists down in black and white changed the way I approached the problem. You check off one by one what you've accomplished. Set your mobile phone or planner with an alarm and a list day by day. It will feel like you have your own little personal assistant. If you have one of those big boards with the wipe-off pens, even better.

It all started when I lost my job - I became severely depressed, staying up til 4am and sleeping til the afternoon. I waited til I ran out of all of my money before applying for assistance, when I could have done this earlier - saving me hundreds. But I didn't, because I procrastinated. I became hedonistic and only got up to eat and grudgingly apply for jobs.

Don't wait until you "feel like doing it" otherwise you'll never get it done. You have to force yourself to do the thing, even if you hate it. You can even say out loud: "Oh how I hate doing this!" but do it anyway, it will feel miserable but at least it will get done. One of my most hated chores is talking on the telephone. I could have saved money on my electric bill each month but I didn't want to call the company and apply for the discount. Procrastination!

If it's house hold chores you won't do, just imagine in your mind how pretty and neat everything will look after you've cleaned up a bit and put things away. Invite someone over to take a look at what you've done for your own little reward.

For mails, drag your pile over to the TV and go through them. Have a sack ready to toss out the garbage.

Maybe there is some real mental issue with a name on it for this problem. I don't know what it is, but I can only tell you what works for me. It is debilitating.

Re-cap: 

1. Write a list

2. Don't wait for yourself to want to do the list. Just do it.