If you want to write something - whether that's a novel, a self-help book or an email autoresponder campaign - there's one thing you have to do.
You have to put pen to paper, so to speak.
Because all the best writing skills and ideas won't get you very far. At some point, you have to create something.
But, for many folk, something inside blocks them.
They procrastinate.
The hypnotists among you will know this isn't always a big deal. Often I've procrastinated on something because my unconscious mind was telling me I wasn't ready yet. In fact, I'm procrastinating on a project like that right now.
Having said that, the hypnotists among you also know sometimes your unconscious mind "protects" you from failure by never letting you try.
I leave it to you to decide whether you're procrastinating for the right reasons or the wrong ones.
If it's the wrong ones, and you want to get down to work, then here's what's worked for me...
But before I get into that, why should you care what works for me?
Because I'm a natural procrastinator, easily distracted by shiny new ideas. It used to be so bad I could never do much I wasn't forced to. It's a lot better now, though that spectre isn't off my back. I still find myself goofing off, even when I have a deadline.
Even so, I've learned to sit down and churn out a lot of great content.
I'm not a naturally productive person, if there even is such a thing. I train my mind to create by facing the causes of procrastination head on:
Clarity
One of the causes of "good" procrastination can be one of the more frustrating:
A lack of clarity.
This is a strange thing. Often our ideas seem so clear to us. When you close your eyes, you can see it. Then, when you go to create it, you realise what you have in mind is just a phantom. What you had in mind was closer to a felt sense than a blueprint.
If you're procrastinating, this might be why. Your unconscious doesn't have a firm grasp of what you need to do yet, so it doesn't motivate you into taking action.
Even if it wanted to, it couldn't.
Solution: map out what you want to create. Explain it aloud to someone or at least yourself. You'll quickly notice any areas that need fleshing out.
Priority
Let's say you're now clear on what you need to do.
When you have a lot to do, it can be hard to know where to start.
You start thinking about designing your website... but maybe you should write the sales letter first so you know what it'll look like... hang on, have you done enough market research yet?
After clarity comes priority - you know what the end result will look like, but that doesn't mean you know how to get there.
When you have a hundred tasks that all need doing, where do you start? You could pick on at random... only to have your mind constantly interrupt.
"What about X?"
"Don't forget to do Y before you publish!"
With a head that noisy, no wonder you don't get much done.
Solution: you don't want to ignore these interruptions - they tell you vital things. Write them down. Make a note of what needs doing before what, and what has a deadline. Sort your tasks by priority and work your way through them.
Overwhelm
You're clear on what needs doing and when. But when you look at your list of tasks, you get this sinking feeling inside you.
It's common to procrastinate when there's just so much to do.
You might find the big picture overwhelming, thinking ahead to all that you need to accomplish.
Or you might look at today's list of tasks and think there's no way to get through them all.
If failure is inevitable, why fight it?
I won't indulge a broken premise. You haven't failed until you've quit.
Maybe your list of tasks needs tweaking. Or maybe you really do have to get through all this. Either way, you'll be surprised what you can accomplish once you get typing.
Solution: the best approach I've ever come across is the Pomodoro technique. Set a timer and work without distractions for 20 minutes. When the timer goes off, take a quick break. Stretch your legs, have a cup of tea. Then get back into it.
That's not all there is to teach you about your victory over procrastination. There are other causes of it, so there are other techniques for resolving it.
And there's more to learning to write like a demon than even all that.
You can learn everything you need right here, at no cost when you use my affiliate link:
https://skl.sh/2PymK9O
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/William_T_Batten/2522089
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10276210
No comments:
Post a Comment