Welcome to the Stop Sabotaging Your Success Podcast, episode eighty-six. I’m your host, Cindy Esliger. This is the podcast focusing on what we can do today to take control of our careers and overcome the inevitable barriers to success that we encounter along the way. 

Waiting for the perfect time can often be a form of procrastination that holds you back from achieving your goals. The truth is, there may never be a perfect time to start and waiting for everything to be just right can lead to missed opportunities and regrets. It’s important to take action and start before you feel fully prepared as this is often the best way to learn and grow. Even if you make mistakes along the way, you’ll be making progress and moving forward towards your goals. It’s better to start imperfectly than to never start at all. 

In this episode, we look at why we tend to procrastinate and the importance of taking that first step in order to get yourself unstuck. There are some common obstacles that keep us from taking action and strategies that might help you overcome these roadblocks in order to get back on track and doing the things you said you were going to do.

Contrary to popular belief, procrastination is not laziness or bad time management. It’s more than just voluntarily delaying what you need to get done. When we procrastinate, we’re not only aware that we’re avoiding the task in question, but also that doing so is probably a bad idea. And yet, we do it anyway. 

Procrastination isn’t a mysterious curse on your ability to manage time or a serious character flaw. It’s your way of coping with challenging negative emotions like boredom, frustration, resentment, self-doubt, confusion, and overwhelm, among others. It’s more of a coping mechanism to avoid dealing with how we’re feeling than it is a time management problem. 

Procrastination is the act of unnecessarily postponing decisions or actions. It can be caused by stress in our lives or unfounded negative beliefs we have about ourselves. If you have a tendency to procrastinate, don’t be too hard on yourself. Ask yourself whether this may be a response to the amount of focus and effort you know is required to accomplish that task. Maybe you have some doubt as to whether you will be able to complete the task at hand as well as you’d like it to be done, or as well as you know it needs to be done. Perhaps there’s some fear surrounding what comes next, once this task is done, because maybe it’s just the first step that puts you on a path towards something you’re dreading. 

The particular nature of our aversion depends on the given task or situation. Acknowledge that there may be something inherently unpleasant about the task itself. Not everything we know needs to be done is fun to do. Some tasks also stir up feelings of self-doubt, anxiety, insecurity, or inadequacy. These feelings come from thoughts like, “I’m not good enough to do this the way I know it needs to be done. What if I do a bad job? What will people think of me then?” It’s no wonder this leads us to avoid the tasks and do just about anything else instead. 

Many people procrastinate knowing that it’s hurting them, but doing it anyway, while really wishing they could do things differently. In order to overcome procrastination, it helps to understand what’s causing it in the first place. We procrastinate because our drive to delay is irrationally stronger than our drive to act. Our ability to push ourselves to take action in the moment depends on our level of self-control and motivation, which has to surpass our desire to feel good in the short term by simply avoiding those negative emotions. 

Here are three strategies for overcoming procrastination and taking action: 

1. Breaking things down
2. Embracing imperfection
3. Taking that first step

The first thing to recognize when you’re struggling to accomplish what’s on your to-do list is that those tasks you’ve listed might actually be projects that encompass many smaller tasks, disguised as a single to-do item. This might feel very daunting because it isn’t clear what you actually need to do. Break down your tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces. By focusing on one step at a time, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed by eliminating any resistance you have to actually doing the thing that’s on your list. This can do wonders for increasing your motivation to take action. You might also want to explore using a variety of tools beyond just your to-do list like calendars, planners, and timers to help you stay on track and hold yourself accountable. 

The next thing to consider is that your mindset might be holding you back. Do you expect that everything you do needs to be done perfectly? Are you letting this perfectionism keep you from even starting? It’s time to set yourself straight and acknowledge that you may not be able to do everything perfectly and that’s okay. Not everything needs to be done with that level of precision. By letting go of that need to be perfect, you can reduce the fear and anxiety that often leads to procrastination. Instead, focus on making progress and learning from your mistakes along the way. Aim instead for good enough and let yourself be satisfied with that, if you can. 

Then, carefully choose which task you do first. Some people want to get the most unpleasant tasks out of the way, while others try to psych themselves up by doing the smaller things first. It’s a matter of personal preference and knowing yourself. If in doubt, start small and build up to the most daunting task of the day so you eliminate much of the resistance to just getting started right now. 

Do what you can to convince yourself to do just one thing, right now. Bribe yourself if you have to. No judgment here. Make the task on your list so small and easy that there’s no reason why you can’t do it. You can get started right now even if you don’t feel fully prepared or motivated. By starting with a small, easy step, you can build momentum and increase your confidence to take on bigger challenges. Remember that the hardest part is often getting started and that the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Now let’s dig a little deeper into each of these three strategies, beginning with the first one. 

Strategy #1 – Breaking things down

Breaking your goals into manageable steps is crucial because it helps to reduce feelings of overwhelm and prevent procrastination. When a goal or task feels too big or complex, it can be challenging to know where to begin or even to start at all. This can lead to a sense of paralysis where you feel stuck and unable to make progress. 

For example, imagine you have a goal to write a book. The idea of writing an entire book may feel daunting and overwhelming causing you to procrastinate and avoid starting. However, if you break this goal down into smaller, more manageable steps such as brainstorming ideas, creating an outline, writing a certain number of pages per day, or even just writing for ten minutes each day, it becomes much more feasible and less intimidating. 

By breaking your goal into smaller steps, you can create a clear path forward and a sense of momentum as you complete each step. This can also help build your confidence and motivation as you start to see progress and move closer to your goal.

Furthermore, breaking down your goals into manageable steps can also help you anticipate any potential roadblocks or challenges that may arise along the way and make a plan for how you will overcome them. This can help you stay on track and make adjustments as needed rather than getting derailed by unexpected obstacles. 

Breaking your goal into manageable steps is an effective way to overcome feelings of overwhelm, reduce procrastination, and increase your chances of success. 

Here are four tips for creating a clear and achievable action plan: 

1. Start with the end goal in mind: When creating an action plan, it’s important to begin by identifying your intended outcome. What is it that you want to achieve? Be specific and clear about what you want to accomplish and make sure that your goal is measurable and realistic.
2. Ensure each step is clear and actionable: Once you have your end goal in mind, breaking it down into smaller manageable steps will reduce the resistance you are feeling to even getting started. You don’t need to know every step that will be required, even just the first step will suffice. As you go, this will help you create a clear roadmap of what needs to be done and will make your goal feel less daunting. Be sure to prioritize the steps that will have the most impact towards achieving your goal and do those first. 
3. Set deadlines and milestones: To keep yourself accountable and motivated, it’s important to set an interim goal for each step in your action plan. These mini goals will help you stay on track and measure your progress along the way. Make sure your deadlines are realistic but also challenging enough to keep you motivated.
4. Review and adjust your plan as needed: Your action plan should be a living document that you review and adjust as needed. Don’t be afraid to make changes if something isn’t working or if your circumstances change. Stay flexible and be willing to adapt your plan to ensure you stay on track towards your goal. 

Strategy #2 – Embracing imperfection

Perfection can lead to procrastination and hold you back from taking action because the fear of not being able to achieve perfection can be paralyzing. When you set impossibly high standards for yourself, it can create a sense of anxiety and overwhelm that can lead to procrastination. You may find yourself putting off tasks or projects because you are afraid of not being able to meet your own expectations.

Successful people have often learned to embrace imperfection and recognize that it is not always possible to achieve perfection. Instead of being paralyzed by their fears of failure, they take action and learn from their mistakes along the way. 

Here are four tips for reframing mistakes and failures as opportunities for growth: 

1. Change your perspective: Instead of seeing mistakes and failures as negative, try to view them as opportunities for growth and learning. Reframe your mindset to see mistakes as a necessary part of the learning process and a chance to improve. 
2. Focus on the lesson learned: When something doesn’t go as planned, try to focus on what you can learn from the experience. Ask yourself what you can do differently next time and how you can use this experience to grow and improve.
3. Practice self-compassion: It’s important to be kind to yourself when you make mistakes or experience failure by acknowledging that everyone makes mistakes and that it’s okay to fail sometimes. Be gentle with yourself and avoid negative self-talk. 
4. Use your mistakes and failures as motivation: Take the lessons you have learned and apply them to your future actions to help you improve more quickly and increase your confidence and resilience.

Reframing mistakes and failures as opportunities for growth can be a powerful tool for personal and professional development. By changing your perspective, focusing on the lesson learned, and practicing self-compassion, you can turn setbacks into opportunities for growth and achieve greater success in the future. 

Strategy #3 – Taking that first step

Taking action, even if it’s a small step, is important because it can build momentum and increase your confidence, which in turn can lead to greater success. When you take action towards your goals, you begin to create a sense of forward motion and progress, which can be very motivating. 

When you have been procrastinating on a task, taking even a small step towards it can be a big accomplishment. This can help you to overcome that sense of overwhelm and resistance that may be holding you back and build the momentum you need to continue. You might begin to see progress and improvement in your skills. This can give you the confidence to continue learning and developing your abilities. It gives you that sense of accomplishment, and this can help you stay motivated to achieve your larger goals. 

Here are four tips to getting started and overcoming procrastination: 

1. Commit to a fixed time: One of the best ways to get started is to set a limited amount of time for yourself to work on just one task. This will create a sense of urgency to get it done in that window of time so that you can move on to something else once it’s done. 
2. Create accountability: Another way to get started is to share your goal with a friend, family member, or mentor, and ask them to help you hold yourself accountable. 
3. Commit to taking just one small step each day: If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck, try doing something that moves you towards your goal every single day. This could be something as simple as doing some research or brainstorming ideas. Taking these small steps consistently will lead to more sustainable progress over time. 
4. Eliminate distractions: If you’re having trouble getting started, try turning off your phone, closing applications on your computer, or finding a quiet workspace where you can focus without interruptions. Creating a distraction-free environment can help you stay focused and get started on your task. 

Starting before you feel ready and overcoming procrastination is more about taking small, consistent steps than it is about making big leaps forward. Rather than waiting until we feel fully prepared or motivated to take action, it can be helpful to focus on breaking down your goals into smaller, more manageable tasks that we can then tackle one step at a time. This not only helps to build momentum, but also allows us to build skills and confidence along the way, which can help us feel more prepared and capable as we progress toward our goals. 

Additionally, achieving career success requires a willingness to take risks, embrace uncertainty, and persist through challenges and setbacks even when we don’t feel fully prepared or motivated to do so. So, overcoming procrastination on your personal projects will also help with this. 

In order to overcome procrastination and begin taking action on your goals, break them down into manageable steps so they feel less overwhelming and more achievable. Embrace the idea of taking imperfect action because taking action is crucial to achieving your goals, even if it’s just one small step. Waiting for the perfect time or waiting until you feel ready can hold you back from achieving the things you say you want.

So, ready or not, just start. Take responsibility for your own success. Don’t wait for the perfect time. Don’t wait for someone else to give you permission to start. No one else is going to make things happen for you. 

And that’s it for this episode of Stop Sabotaging Your Success. Remember to download your Guide to Overcoming Procrastination at cindyesliger.com/podcast, episode eighty-six.

Thank you to our producer, Alex Hochhausen and everyone at Astronomic Audio. Get in touch, I’m on Instagram @cindyesliger and my email address is info@cindyesliger.com.

If you enjoy listening to this podcast, you have to come check out The Confidence Collective. It’s my monthly coaching program where we dig a little deeper into what’s holding you back in your career, and we find the workarounds. We help you overcome the barriers and create the career you want. Join me over at cindyesliger.com/join. I’d love to have you join me in The Confidence Collective. 

Until next week, I’m Cindy Esliger. Thanks for listening.