How to overcome procrastination.

"Procrastination usually means you never get started. The inability to finish something is also a form of procrastination." - Jim Rohn

That is the most direct and clear explanation. But what causes a person to procrastinate? What is it that makes a person hesitates and delay in taking a certain action even though he knows that he has to do it.

• Fear of failure.

The fear of failure is quite an obvious reason. You wait and hesitate because you are afraid that your actions might not produce the result that you expect. When you fail, you will feel disappointed and you try your best to avoid that emotion.

• Fear of success.

Though you wish for success, a part of you is afraid that you may get carried away and become a different person. You have been comfortable with the way life has turn out and you dread the thought that you will have to adapt and change.

• Insufficient reasons to finish your task or goal.

When you don't have good enough reasons, you may lose track and forget why you are doing what you are doing. You lose the motivation to continue and notice too many challenges facing you ahead.

• The goal belongs to someone else.

Whatever you plan out to do or have started doing has to relate to your own desires and needs. If you do something to please someone else, you may stop short when the person you intend to please is no longer your object of desire.

• Unwillingness to change.

To create something new, you may have to discard some of the old habits, attitudes, behaviors and pattern of thinking. To continue a task that is not producing the desired result may require you to change your strategy or direction. If you are unwilling to change, you may have to feel contend with how your life will turn out.

• Doubt, timidity and indifference.

Doubts, timidity and having an attitude of indifference cause you to falter and flounder. To overcome procrastination, you must have the ability to make quick decisions and say "No" to certain things.

• Associating your thoughts with the negatives and the barriers.

When you think about your task, you picture and imaging the process that you need to take instead of the finished product. The thoughts overwhelm you because you start to think of the tremendous amount of time and efforts that have to put in.

How then do you go about conquering procrastination?

• State your reasons why you should start or finish your project or goal.

Your reasons should excite and compel you to take action. Your big reasons will keep you awake at night, inspire and motivate.

Knowing what you want to have, to do and to achieve puts you in a state of determination to produce results.

• Change your mindset.

Firstly, change how you view yourself. Your have to start questioning and challenging your limiting beliefs.You need to justify yourself differently and get rid of all your excuses.

Start seeing yourself as a different person. A desirable positive image will help you switch your thinking. Changing just one core belief is sufficient to give you a different perspective.

• Get rid of all fears and anxieties.

Ignorance leads to fear. Read, learn, ask questions and gather the information that you need. Then do what you must do.

One of the ways to get rid of fears and anxieties is to go head on and take action. No matter how small the action that you take, you will get consequences.

• Chunk down the tasks.

Break your tasks into manageable solution. Then take action no matter how pathetic it seems. When you break down the things you want to accomplish, you will feel less overwhelmed and in better control.

• Write down what you have to do.

A "things to do" or action list will help you get things done. Write down the actions that you need to take and do something from the list each day. Put first things first and soon you will finish and may even develop the habit.

• Associate your task with pleasant experiences.

Picture yourself having accomplished what you have set out to do. Include all your five senses and put yourself in the picture. A picture of your accomplishments will direct your mind toward making things happen.

Choose any one or all of the books and programs mentioned below to help you change your attitude about time, overcome procrastination and gain the motivation to take action.

• The Silva Method helps you first to get into the alpha state and then guide you with the techniques to solve your problems.

• The Einstein's Mind puts you in an energized state of mind and harness your whole-brain thinking.

• Download a free eBook of James Allen's "As A Man Thinketh." This book should make you change the way you have been thinking and doing things.

• Subscribing to Jim Rohn's one year success plan is like having a personal coach. The weekly lessons will make you take action.

• Randy Gage offers a 30-day step-by-step training program to help you develop, grow and acquire the Midas Mentality.

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