How To Beat Procrastination - Why "Why?" Is Not The Answer To Overcoming Procrastination

We all struggle from the effects of procrastination to some degree, whoever we are and however creative we are.

Even if we take the brave and honest step of admitting that we do procrastinate, and declare we're determined to overcome it's debilitating grip on our creativity, we nearly always fall at the next hurdle.

The most logical thought process is:

"OK, I admit, yes I do procrastinate.

Procrastinating drastically limits how much I create and the quality of what I create.

So I need a way to beat procrastination and free up my creativity more.

The best way to do this is look at WHY I procrastinate. Once I get the answer to that, my problems are solved, no more procrastination!"

Sounds like a good plan, doesn't it?

Except it doesn't work. Here's what tends to happen next:

"So maybe I procrastinate because I lack confidence in creating? Or maybe it's because I'm not really sure this is the right creative project to be working on right now? Or maybe I don't want to mess up so I avoid getting too involved with the project. Or could it be I feel I don't deserve to have the time and opportunity to create when there are others far more deserving and talented? So I sabotage my time by procrastinating."

For most of us, ALL of these are perfectly valid questions and have some truth and relevance to us. And, given a little time, I'm sure your creative mind could come up with many more reasons.

So, having the knowledge that yes there are probably about 35+ equally likely reasons WHY we procrastinate gives us the answer we need to beat procrastination! Right?

Er, no, unfortunately.

All that happens is we procrastinate MORE. We start to think: "Look at all these reasons stacked up against me! No WONDER I procrastinate! It's amazing I've ever created anything in my life!"

Here's the alternative approach that works:

Instead of endlessly analysing WHY you procrastinate, find out WHEN and HOW you're most likely to procrastinate.

What this gives you is an honest appraisal of the reality of your procrastinating habits. Maybe you procrastinate most when you actually have a spare few hours to create, and end up doing less than when you have short but energetic bursts of creating? Maybe you're favourite procrastination habits are checking your email, surfing the internet and watching repeats of TV shows you never really liked in the first place?

Gather the information without judgement. Forget about the "WHY?". Find out WHEN and HOW you procrastinate most.

It's only then that you really begin to take control and put yourself in the empowered position of being ready to overcome those procrastinating habits at last...

And if you're ready to beat procrastination and set your creativity free in the next 21 days, check out the powerful ecourse "7 Steps To Freedom: How To Beat Procrastination And Set Your Creativity Free" at http://www.HowToBeatProcrastination.com

For your free 7 article series on the first steps to beating procrastination, head over to http://www.CoachCreative.com/procrastinationarticles.html