Procrastination is the Monster Preventing YOU from Achieving Your Goals!
I imagine my procrastination monster to be dark green, oozing goo from the inside-out, 8-foot-tall, monster. When I find myself in a match-off with procrastination, I imagine my Procrastination monster chasing after me. BUT, you can control the monster and make him look like a 10-inch deep pancake on a floor that you can easily walk over.
Here are a 3 scientific behavioral concepts broken down to help you maximize efficiency to achieve your goals!
1) Make SMART goals
Rather than setting your goal to “I want to write a book”- try breaking it down using the following:
a. Specific- How can you reword your goal so you know exactly what is needed? Create the table of contents
b. Measurable- How will you know if you met this goal? When I have the entire table of contents
c. Attainable- Can you actually achieve this goal?
d. Realistic- Does this goal seem realistic? (it depends and you will know yourself best!) Setting my goal to become an NBA player is not very realistic for me, unfortunately. This will leave me feeling extremely disappointed!
e. Time Sensitive– If the goal is too far out, the Procrastination Monster will crawl into your mind. Complete within 3 weeks
2. Accountability
When you tell another person about your goal, then you are held more accountable to follow through.
3) Reward Yourself
Premack Principle-Quick-and-dirty definition: In order to increase the amount of time you spend on less frequent, less rewarding behaviors (like working on a side project or doing administration work for my job), you pair it with a higher frequency, more rewarding behavior (watching TV).
Premack Principle-Quick-and-dirty definition: In order to increase the amount of time you spend on less frequent, less rewarding behaviors (like working on a side project or doing administration work for my job), you pair it with a higher frequency, more rewarding behavior (watching TV).
For example, If I am going to write a book, I will spend an hour writing a chapter and then reward myself with listening to a 20-minute podcast.
Is the procrastination monster is interfering with your ability to reach your goals? Follow this 3-step process to appropriately set and reach your goals.
