Excellence with G.O.P.T.A.© Series: Part 104 (Strategies to overcome procrastination when the task appears so overwhelming)

By: Dr. Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Sr. Associate Editor, ICN Group

(In the past article, we know about ‘Procrastination’. Today, we will know about the strategy to overcome procrastination when the task appears so overwhelming.)

Strategies to overcome procrastination when the task appears so overwhelming  

Sometimes, even if the task is not unpleasant but the size of the project and estimated time required for completion of the project seems overwhelming that you could not decide, when to start; from where to start; and how to start. You doubt whether you have the skills or resources essential for doing this task or not. Following strategies may be of much use:-

  • List the benefits of completing the project. 
  • Divide the whole process in the easily manageable steps – Decide that you will do at least something daily. Remember, once you start, don’t lose the momentum and keep doing it as long as your concentration allows you. Once you divide the whole project into small manageable steps, adopt backward planning. Start with a deadline and allocate time periods for small portions of the project. Ask yourself a question, “can I work with undivided attention on this task for at least one hour at a time?” Believe me, once you start answering affirmatively, you will start doing work on your project for one hour. Next time, when you will ask the same question, your previous experience will give extra boost to your ‘yes’. Keep doing work for one hour at a time and it will be finished at its own pace. 
  • Find a peaceful place – Some activities require concentration and peaceful atmosphere. Find a place for these types of works at home and your workplace and for this particular work, go there. You can even take a vacation from your work and go to a peaceful place; say, any hill station. 
  • Remember, while you make a journey of 100 kilometres from one place to another, you move in a definite direction, one kilometre after another and you reach destination. During your journey, there are some kilometres, where roads are good; there are some kilometres, where roads are not so good; you take stops for having tea etc. You will notice that the time taken for travelling each kilometre in a long journey is different but since you know that you are moving in the direction of your destination, you are not much bothered about the remaining distance, as you know your destination; have started towards it; and taking regular action continuously reducing the distance remaining till destination.  

So, while dealing with overwhelming tasks, the key lies in moving your focus from the overall magnitude of the task on the small portions of the task and devote one hour of undivided attention at a time to the small portion of task.   

(In the next article, I will share about the strategy to overcome procrastination when the task seems difficult. I believe that you are enjoying the journey towards the future of your dreams with me. If yes, please stay tuned. Happy G.O.P.T.A.) 

Dr. Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Creator & trademark holder of the concept G.O.P.T.A.TM is an Author, Certified NLP Lifestyle Trainer, Strategic Interventionist, Corporate Trainer & Transformational Life Coach. (http://bit.ly/Signature-Workshops-Sanjay-Kumar-Agarwal) and recipient of Honorary Doctorate of Excellence (Management) by prestigious Young Scientist University, California, USA. He is Founder of ‘International GOPTA NLP Academy’ and is popularly known among his fans & followers across the globe as ‘Time and Goal Guru’.

 

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