Go Do It Now, Stop Procrastinating

By Chimfoun Dials

What is the difference between success and failure?

The answer can be found in OG Mandino’s The Greatest Salesman in the World. Mandino writes: 

“The only difference between those who have failed and those who have succeeded is the difference of their habits. Good habits are the key to all success. Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure.”

One of these bad habits is procrastination — not taking action immediately. 

So many people in the world think about things that they don’t do. They want to do it but never get it done. It’s hard for them to bring something from thought to action. 

Do you have great ideas, goals, or visions?

A trap you’re likely to fall into is the trap of overthinking these ideas, goals, and visions. The more you think, the more you procrastinate. The truth is you are not going to bring them to life by just thinking but by taking immediate action. This means you have to start from the simplest thing you can do. 

To stop a habit, you have to understand why you engage in it. So find out why you procrastinate. Reasons why you may procrastinate include laziness, lack of energy, lack of motivation, lack of perseverance, inability to stay focused for long, fear of failure, abstract goals, indecisiveness, feeling overwhelmed, anxiety, fear of negative feedback from others, etc.

Whatever reason you may have, there's always a solution.

• Laziness? - You don't need it, quit it.

• Lack of Energy? - Rest and get back to action.

• Lack of Motivation? - Movement beats Motivation. You don't need motivation to succeed; you need discipline. Like James Clear said, start with the part of least resistance. 

• Lack of perseverance? - No path is easy, hang on and keep taking action.

• Inability to stay focused for long? - Train yourself to stick with one thing at a time. Try mindfulness.

• Fear of failure? - Even if you fail, so what? Remember success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. 

• Abstract goals? - Set Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based (S.M.A.R.T) goals.

• Indecisiveness? - One thing at a time. Doing too many things at once can seem overwhelming and discouraging. 

• Anxiety? - Breathe. Be calm and have no fear. Just do it.

• Fear of negative feedback from others? - Never be afraid of criticisms. They sting, yes. But take them especially when they are constructive. 

The only time to act is now!

Climb over the obstacles and act. 

The clock is moving. Be like it. 

Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today.