I previously wrote about procrastination and its attributes. Of course, the content that I covered was biased toward my own life experiences. As I stated in my previous post, I am writing guidelines to remind myself what procrastination is and how I can beat it. Procrastination is the opposite of decision (indecision to be precise). But where ever there is indecision, doubt and fear soon follow. That is why it’s important to learn how to overcome indecision. The key to eliminating indecision and in turn eliminating procrastination lies in the power of decision.
“Indecision and procrastination are twin brothers. Where one is found, the other may usually be found also. Kill off this pair before they completely “hog-tie” you to the treadmill of FAILURE.”
Napoleon Hill — Think and Grow Rich
Those who wish to obtain the power to overcome procrastination, have to earnestly and persistently seek to master the power of decision. The richest and most successful people have displayed the particular habit of coming to decisions quickly and being very slow in changing those decisions if they ever decide to change them. To beat procrastination, you must be decisive in your decision-making. But this is a skill that will not come by chance, one must constantly and consciously make an effort to acquire and master it.
Think for yourself
Decision-making demands the ability of one to think for themselves. You cannot permit the newspapers, social media, and the neighbors’ gossiping to do the thinking for you. It is very crucial to keep your own counsel. Do not let the opinions of others influence your decisions because it will rob you of your own desires.
“Opinions are the cheapest commodities on earth. Everyone has a flock of opinions ready to be wished upon anyone who will accept them.”
Napoleon Hill — Think and Grow Rich.
If you want to gain more confidence and have power over your own decisions you must learn to keep your mouth shut and your eyes and ears open. When you talk too much you do very little of anything else. You reveal sensitive information to those who might envy you and wish to defeat you. And most importantly you display the extent of your knowledge or lack therefore. Do not let just anyone enter your confidence, be very selective about whom you chose to disclose things to. Millions of people walk with their heads down due to inferiority complexes inflicted on them by the advice or ridicule of some ignorant but well-meaning person.
“Close friends and relatives, while not meaning to do so, often handicap one through “opinions” and sometimes through ridicule, which is meant to be humorous.”
Napolean Hill — Think and Grow Rich.
Do not be mistaken, making decisions oftentimes calls for great courage. Therefore, I advise you to take at least 2–5 minutes of careful and deep introspection before making decisions. Ensure that you gather adequate information and facts without disclosing too much before making very big decisions. Most importantly, refrain from saying yes to every request for help. This can be tricky but trust me, your peace of mind, sincerity, and decisiveness are largely linked to your ability to say no (this merits an entire post of its own).
You have a brain of your own, use it, shut your mouth, open your eyes and ears and come to decisions for yourself.
Organized planning
Those who want to beat procrastination cannot escape organized planning. You have to learn to not only organize your goals but also learn to organize your day. Decisions become easier when there are not left to chance or “spontaneity” as people love to proclaim. Those who cling to spontaneity must recognize this one fact, organized planning liberates creativity and encourages spontaneity. As paradoxical as that might seem, just slowly let it sink in. When things are planned out you don’t have to worry about running the risk of your mind being clouded by unimportant tasks.
“A schedule defends from chaos and whim. A net for catching days.”
Annie Dillard
Always take the time to plan your day, to plan for that one important task that you must complete in the day to ensure that either your business grows or you grow. It is very important for humans to feel the sensation of accomplishment. Ticking that all-important task from the list is so satisfying and gives your mind room to continue to venture for more creativity and to become more decisive.
“Try to imagine a life without timekeeping. You probably can’t. You know the month, the year, the day of the week. There is a clock on your wall or the dashboard of your car. You have a schedule, a calendar, a time for dinner or a movie. Yet all around you, timekeeping is ignored. Birds are not late. A dog does not check its watch. Deer do not fret over passing birthdays. Man alone measures time. Man alone chimes the hour. And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out.”
Mitch Albom
The lack of organized planning is also the major cause of people feeling overwhelmed. Big projects and tasks will always seem impossible at first. They will always reveal to you your lack of knowledge and once you fall into the trap of thinking you can’t do it, then it’s over for you. But every big project or task can be broken up into little actionable tasks that even the most unskilled and unknowledged individual can complete. James Clear states that you can break up any habit into 2-minute actionable tasks. The 2-minute rule is a fantastic rule to live by and when you learn to use it correctly, no task will ever seem impossible.
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
Deuterononmy 30:19
Life and death are in the power of decision. To defeat humanity’s enemy, old man procrastination, you must call upon the powers of decision. Have the courage to think and make decisions for yourself. Imbue that with organized planning and you will free your mind from senseless worries allowing it to be sharp and ready to make crucial decisions. Remember that the power of decision is not something you can acquire overnight, you must work on it constantly.
