Let’s say you have a large project which is going to take several weeks of constant work to achieve (I write software so this is always the case for me). Sometimes i will feel guilty about planning the project if it takes too much time, but deep down I know that it is absolutely essential to plan the project thoroughly.

For instance, in a four week project I might want to spend a whole week with pen and paper, just analysing the project and breaking it down into small components. I know that if i have these small bite-sized pieces then it is easy to kill procrastination dead as a small daily task is easily quantifiable and most importantly there is an end-game. I know before I start when the end will be reached and what the result will look like!

So my top tip is: don’t be afraid to spend time planning. Once you have a plan, it can always change but you can’t change a plan which does not exist yet!!

I want to zoom in to just one task, and take ACTION.

I purchased a timer, after reading about the ” chicken” timer.

Now I can utilize both ideas, and surprise myself with the results.

Keep up the good work
( I bet you are enjoying not having to read peoples thoughts about your spelling, or politically correct wordings !! )

It seems so simple, and so obvious, but that’s really what you need to do. Sometimes our minds can be chaotic, just stressed on so much to do, I need to do this and this and that, but HOW? Sometimes it works just to cool down for a moment and think “whats next? What’s the next specific action?” You can let your mind have a mind of its own and take you for a ride, but you need to notice it, and stop, and see what’s realistic and next.

Ofcourse there might be a variety of reasons why I’m so often stuck. I think having vague goals or steps is a big one though. Other issues I have are wanting to do too much that I sometimes don’t know how to prioritise things. Or being really motivated to one goal and focusing on just that for a while, but then losing steam on it, or getting stuck, and then moving onto another goal for a while. This makes it feel like I’m always bouncing around before I ever get anything finish. I don’t remember the last time I’ve finished something. And as a creative person, this really really hurts…. I have the habit of failure, rather than success, so I forget what success feels like!

Thanks Anth for your simple advice. it’s really good to just stop spinning out of control, and ask yourself, “what is the very next specific action I can take?” I realise now that moving slowly towards a goal will reach success alot quicker than being frozen and not doing anything, ever.

Erica