Thibaut Meurisse - Immediate Action : A 7-Day Plan to Overcome Procrastination and Regain Your Motivation (Productivity Series Book 2)

Neither a wise nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.

Dwight. D. Eisenhower, former President of the United States.

How many diseases have yet to be cured, how many inventions are still to be discovered and how many dreams have not been realized due to procrastination?

The cost of procrastination is astronomical. It has undoubtedly destroyed more dreams than anything else on this planet. Procrastination is the insidious feeling that leads us to shy away from what we know we should be doing. Yet, it is precisely our ability to do what we should do, when we should do it, and whether or not we like it, that determines most of what we are able to accomplish in our lifetime.

So why are we letting procrastination steal our future and destroy our potential? Why are we allowing it to stand between us and our dreams? Perhaps, it is because were afraid of what were truly capable of achieving. As the author Marianne Williamson wrote, Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.

The fear of discovering what were truly capable of achieving may lead us to put a brake on developing our skills, abilities, and talents. It may lead us to play a role, trying to convince each other we are powerless creatures with no real talent or special abilities.

But is this truly the case?

What about you? Are you letting the invisible force, procrastination, prevent you from leaving your mark on the world?

If so, perhaps it is time you did something about it and took action now, instead of waiting until a mythical tomorrow.

In Immediate Action, well discover together how to deal with procrastination in a healthy way. I have intentionally kept this book short. Reading yet another 300-page book is unlikely to help you overcome procrastination anyway.

In this book, Ill provide you with daily exercises that will move you toward one simple goal:

In just seven days, you will improve your understanding of procrastination and learn to overcome itor at least to deal with it more effectively.

Here is what well go over together.

On Day 1Declutter your mind, youll discover how to declutter your mind to help you build momentum and move toward your goals. If you currently feel stuck, youll find Day 1 particularly useful.

On Day 2Identify the reason you procrastinate, well look at the specific reasons you procrastinate and begin to create a simple plan to overcome your tendency to put things off.

On Day 3Deepen your understanding of procrastination, well explain how procrastination works and explore what you can do to boost your motivation and complete your key tasks.

On Day 4Gain clarity, youll learn why clarity is key. As you gain more clarity regarding your tasks, youll reduce your tendency to procrastinate.

On Day 5Develop laser-sharp focus, youll discover that one of the biggest reasons you end up procrastinating over your most important tasks is due to overstimulation. Well see in detail how to develop deeper focus which will help you can tackle your tasks with greater ease.

On Day 6Release your fear, well discuss the biggest fears that lead you to procrastinate, and well reveal a few simple tips to help you lessen those fears.

Finally, on Day 7Implement a daily routine and build consistency, youll create a daily routine that will boost your productivity dramatically, while reducing the odds of you procrastinating. Ill challenge you to stick to this routine for the next thirty days.

Sounds good?

If so, lets not procrastinate any further and get started, shall we?

In this section, were going to have a brief look at what procrastination is. Later, well discuss all the reasons you procrastinate to help you overcome this disempowering habit.

Put simply, procrastination is knowing there is a task you should be undertaking but finding yourself unable to do it. This isnt something to feel ashamed of since procrastination is a phenomenon experienced by everyone, including the most successful people on the planet. As such, the goal is not to try to eradicate itwhich would be impossiblebut to tame it.

Another way to look at procrastination is as a signal your brain sends you. It is likely telling you the following:

It seems as though you either dont want to or cant work on this particular task. Perhaps you should look at the underlying reasons for feeling this way.

From a biological perspective, our brain is largely designed to ensure that we survive and reproduce. It hates wasting energy or taking risks unless it is absolutely necessary. When you feel the need to put things off, its often because your brain perceives the task as either a waste of energy or a risky move.

In other words, procrastination can be seen as a protection mechanism created by your mind to increase your chances of surviving and reproducing.