A raw vegan since 2010, Irene has been a personal growth and success coach, teaching about personal freedom and empowerment with groups and one-on-one, since 1987. Her mission has been to teach people to break through the struggle and self-sabotage that holds them back so they can live more fulfilling and successful lives. Irene has measured her success by the powerful shifts and changes that her clients have achieved in every area. She finds it a privilege and an inspiration to watch people go beyond old limitations to truly become what they are capable of being. She works with an international audience, is based in Philadelphia and teaches throughout the United States in person and via Skype. Visit ReturnToCenter.com or contact Irene by e-mail or phone at 215–483–6519.
Popular Reasons We Procrastinate
- It will be unpleasant.
- It will take too long.
- It will be too hard.
- I might fail or do it badly.
If you find those reasons as the explanation for why something isn’t getting done, you’re procrastinating!
The Voices of Procrastination …
- “I’ll do it later.”
- “I don’t feel like it.”
- “It’s too hard.”
- “I don’t have time.”
- “I don’t want to.”
- “It won’t make a difference anyway.”
- “It won’t work.”
- “I’ll look bad.”
We avoid, put off or abandon tasks and projects for the aforementioned reasons. Have you noticed? What’s been on your to-do list for way too long?
Then we feel guilt, blame and shame while it nags us, undone, in the background. It creates disapproval and disappointment and erodes our integrity, which increases the negative cycle. It’s not good!
What to Do …
- Picture the completed task. See a picture in your mind’s eye of the finished task so you can connect with and get psyched about the payoff of doing it.
- Break the task down into short, simple action steps and just do one at a time. It will feel easy, take a short time and build momentum.
- Be accountable to yourself or another person by setting an appointment for a specific time you will do that task and then report your follow through on it (or admit the resistance that came up so you can get support and identify a solution).
- Say no. Set boundaries to free up your time for what matters most to you. Then allocate that scheduled time to those important things.
- Don’t wait until you feel like it, do it on schedule. Allowing your feelings to run your actions is ineffective and like letting a 4-year-old plan your day. And a 4-year-old doesn’t have the same priorities as you do! (Doing short simple action steps are easier to do, especially in such cases).
- Love yourself no matter what. Beating yourself up perpetuates the cycle in the wrong direction. Catch it immediately and turn it around simply by repeating to yourself: “I love you. I love you no matter what. I really love you.” This actually quiets the ego mind so that a new perspective or approach can become evident. Shift happens in the presence of love more so than in the presence of disapproval. You are opening up to your Infinite Self through self-love. Try it and prove it to yourself.
Apply these tips for a simple to-do item on your list today. Don’t put it off for later!
Check out Irene’s transformation story!
Hungry for more? Check out Irene’s Tomato Celery Soup recipe!
