3 Ways to Conquer Procrastination so you can reach your goals

Mar 13, 2024

2 min read

Updated: Oct 10

Find inspiration in an unlikely place and say goodbye to procrastination

I had my six year old grandson, Jude, tucked in his booster seat in the backseat of my car as we headed to my house.

It’s a thirty minute ride, and yes, he loves to play games on my phone, but I prefer to give him other options.

But today I forgot the travel bag at home.

So I reached for a notebook I keep in my car to jot ideas down - along with with an ink pen - and handed them back to Jude.

As he eyed the plain paper he gave me a grumpy look.

But when we got to my house ... I was amazed.

Six pages!

All from one notebook, one pen, and a thirty-minute car ride.

I'd handed Jude those supplies simply to keep him entertained. I certainly hadn't expected an entire collection of drawings.

And it got me thinking.

How often do we put off trying something because we don't have the right supplies, enough time, or even a clear idea of what we want to accomplish?

Jude didn't have a box of crayons, colored pencils, or a sketchbook. He had what was available.

And he used it.

Sometimes getting started doesn't require more preparation. It simply requires making something out of what we already have.

That car ride reminded me that creativity doesn't always begin with a grand idea. Sometimes it begins with a blank page and a pen.

A Frog, a Book, and the Art of Getting Started Here's my favorite book:

Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time Paperback – By Brian Tracy

The Mark Twain saying goes: if the first thing you do each morning is eat a live frog, then you’re done with the toughest thing for the day.

Eating that frog means tackling your most challenging task first thing. And sometimes it can also be the one that can have the greatest positive impact on your life.

Author Brian Tracy breaks it down to 3 essentials:

Decision
Discipline
Determination

Then Tracy shows you how in 21 simple techniques.

3. Set a Reward for when you reach your goal

While eating my frog for breakfast, I have a cup of coffee - a scrumptious chai latte to be specific.

When do I get the second cup?

After I've eaten those frog(s). That's right. Having a 'reward' when I cross off that item(s) on my to-do list is just what I need to not procrastinate.

And since I only allow myself two cups a coffee a day this is a BIG treat!