This article on how to stop procrastination is intended to outline an approach based on who you are. Procrastination, motivation, core values (the things that are most important to you), and your dreams and desires are all intertwined. Let me give you an example.

Imagine your life was just full of the things that are most important to you and are passionate about. Everything you did you loved doing and are excited about and you’re making a difference in the world. Do you think you’d need an alarm clock to get out of bed? Or do you think perhaps you’d leap out each day when you finish sleeping, to get on with what you really want to do?

When you only do what you want to do, then procrastination isn’t an issue. May I suggest that when you find yourself procrastinating, it’s because the life you’re currently living isn’t in alignment with who you are?

Sometimes new clients who come to me say they’ve set clear and precise goals, yet they’re procrastinating about doing what has to be done. These people feel that because they’ve gone to the lengths of setting out precise goals and working things out in detail, this is what they really want. But this isn’t necessarily true.

It’s quite possible to go through detailed goal setting (and there are many strategies and formulae for this) but it’s rare that these address who you are at a deep level. Who you are does tend to get a little buried over time but it’s actually quite easy to uncover it and start bringing it to life. However, many goal-setting strategies out there are no more than project management.

In the business world a project manager and a visionary leader are both important – but both are also different. Without a vision the project has no heart. This is true of your life.

If you become clear about who you are and what dreams and desires you have in alignment with that, then goal setting becomes less important. You find yourself naturally doing things that need to be done.

There are many techniques and strategies available to help you temporarily overcome procrastination. And for sure they have their value. This will be especially true as you transform your life from something that you didn’t design into something that is in alignment with you. This transition period will require some gentle guidance and some effective techniques.

As procrastination disappears from your life, then stress levels will drop. This is what I have referred to elsewhere as ‘working in the gap.’ That’s the gap between where you think life is right now for you, and where you feel it should be.

Procrastination then can be a very good tool for highlighting that what you’re doing isn’t quite yet in alignment with who you are. Procrastination also has another use in giving you valuable information about yourself.

If there’s something you’re not doing and you’re struggling and unhappy with this, then perhaps there’s some type of block. Sometimes it may feel like driving a car with one foot on the brake and the other on the accelerator. For some reason you’re keeping your foot on the brake.

Now it doesn’t matter why you have your foot on the brake, the question is - how do you take it off? (A note of caution here: there seems to be a natural human tendency to want to analyse why things are the way they are. This, of course, could be interesting, but quite often when it comes to personal change, analysing doesn’t help us make the transition required.)

Let me give you an example. We’ll say you’re climbing a tree and let’s say that, unknown to you, one of the branches is rotten. As you put your weight on it the branch breaks and you fall and break a leg.

The broken leg is now your problem or block. Analysis shows the cause was that you fell out of a tree. However, would putting you back in the tree fix your broken leg? Of course not! The solution to a broken leg is to go to hospital and get it treated. The cause of a problem and the solution to a problem can be very different, so even when you know the cause of the problem that doesn’t necessarily mean you have a solution.

When blocks are causing procrastination it can be very valuable to have someone ask you some simple questions to help you find a route around that block or, even better, to remove the block altogether. It’s likely that, because you’ve been living with this block for so long, you’re too close and can’t see the route for yourself. A good friend who can be impartial about your situation may be all you need to assist you at this stage.

In summary, if you want to stop procrastination then you need to look at the two areas it could be highlighting for you. Firstly, are you living a life in alignment with who you are? Secondly, what blocks and limitations do you need to navigate around?

[tags]core values, motivation, procrastination, dreams and desires, how to stop procrastination, goal setting, article, problem, solution, business, life, heart, [/tags]