Monday, October 24, 2005

What is Procrastination?

People often wonder, what is procrastination? There are many degrees to the condition so that the question of what is procrastination can become a confusing one.

The best way to determine what is procrastination is to look at the effects of a behavior. The effects of procrastination and the root causes tend to be similar form person to person, such that they become a diagnostic guide to determining what is procrastination.

You can look at the following list of concepts and symptoms to determine if you are dealing with a case of procrastination and to evaluate how severe the situation is.

- Putting off a project until the last moment is procrastination. Procrastinating dramatically cuts down on the preparation time and the perfection time for a project.

Often, people who procrastinate feel they are flying by the proverbial seat of their pants, and their priority is getting something down on paper but not necessarily the best something they can produce. Procrastination is the opposite of proactive.

Proactive people start a project ahead of time to complete it ahead of time, allowing themselves enough space to complete their tasks at a pace that is comfortable. The pace of procrastination goes from zero to sixty the night before deadline, and this switch can be very stressful.

- Procrastination results from feelings of stress and anxiety. People who are anxious or overwhelmed may procrastinate due to fear of failure or a paralysis at the scope of the task at hand.

Sadly, the stress and anxiety that cause procrastination result in even more stress and anxiety. Procrastination is a self-perpetuating art until a person makes a commitment to be more disciplined.

- Procrastination does not always equate to poor performance. There are many people who have done amazing things, and they did them at the very last minute. You cannot look at a poor project and assume procrastination is the cause of the trouble.

Likewise, a fabulous project does not always mean hours of preparation and hard work begun weeks in advance in anticipation of the deadline. Quality is not always indicative of the presence of procrastination.

- Procrastination is a habit, and like any habit can be replaced by one that is more beneficial to you and your circumstances. You cannot quit being procrastination without replacing the procrastination with new habits that help you complete your tasks in a more timely and relaxed manner.

Procrastination is an elusive concept sometimes, because people can work very hard and be very successful at hiding their tendencies to procrastinate.

Taking on more than you can handle, failing to organize and a lot your time effectively, and taking too little time to relax when it is appropriate can all result in procrastination like feelings that will wreak havoc on your work schedule and your peace of mind.

Decide today to combat procrastination in your own life, and begin to take the small and easy steps to control this habit. Once you have answered what is procrastination in your life, determine ways you can address these situations to decrease your stress level and increase your amount of free time.

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert.
He recently produced a very popular free report that
reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting
motivation. Apply now because it is available for a
limited time only at:

http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

The Biggest Motivation Mistake You Make

Look at the winners in life and ask yourself: what are they
doing so differently to everyone else? What is their secret?

The secret is staring you in the face. And as soon as you
recognize how blindingly obvious it is you are all set to
join the winners.

The winners circle is populated by men and women who have
control over their negative emotions. Unlike the general
population they don´t view rejection, frustration or
laziness as reasons to stop.

High achievers use negative emotions as feedback i.e. what
I am doing is not working so I need to find a better way.
This attitude transforms problems into opportunities and
lets you live in a world of wonderful possibilities.

You can do the same!

Do not expect negative emotions to go away. You will never
get rid of so called negative emotions so view them in a
different light and start using them to get ahead. This is
what highly successful people do. Why not join them?

The key is to view frustrations as signals to try a
different approach. Clearly, you only get frustrated when
your current approach is not working. And if you keep doing
what does not work you will only become more stressed and
overwhelmed.

Imagine what your life could be life if rejection didn´t
bother you. What would it be like if procrastination was
just another way to get ahead? Procrastination is simply a
signal you need to pay attention to.

Sometimes procrastination means you need time out but a lot
of the time it means - change your working style. Without
realizing it you may have set your life up in a way that
stops you from being a winner.

Many people put themselves under extreme pressure to do
things they don´t want to do, then fail and then beat
themselves up for falling short again. Life quickly becomes
a series of obstacles you avoid and dread. Does this sound
like you?

If instead you´d like to be a winner again all you need to
do is learn how winners stay motivated. Do exactly what
they do and you´ll take your place in the winners circle.

What do you need to know to become a winner again?

It´s simple really. You must develop the ability to see how
you put off doing what really matters and change this
program to your own personal motivation blueprint - the
motivation style that is right for you.

When you do this you´ll become an achiever again and get
much more done with far greater ease and enjoyment. You´ll
regain control of your life and start to see a very bright
light at the end of the tunnel you were stuck in.

Now, there is a hard way and an easy way to get back on
track. The difficult way could take years and a lot of
effort with no guarantee of success as you attempt to
analyze how you stop yourself from being a winner.

The easy way is to use my step by step system. All the hard
work has been done for you. As long as you are of at least
average intelligence and you follow through you will
quickly rediscover your sense of self motivation and
purpose.

Click here now and test my system today:


http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/


Have Fun,

Peter Murphy

P.S. Here´s what one person had to say after using my
motivation system....

"Peter, you've got a way of showing simply, exactly and
directly how real people can get the results they've been
wanting for so long --- and get 'em now.

No more long waits for the changes we want, and no more
dependence on the gurus. Finally, true Do-It-Yourself comes
to Self-Help! Brilliantly done." -- Charles Burke

To take your place in the winners circle click here now:


http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Up Success Mountain Backwards

Sometimes when you get stuck all you need is a new angle to
get motivated again. At times like these it can be a good
idea to climb success mountain backwards.

Sound unusual? It is...

There are three steps:

1. Start with the final outcome in mind

Imagine you have already achieved your goal or finished the
tasks before you. Pretend you are already the successful
person you want to be. Enjoy the deep feelings of success
and achievement Hear people complementing you on your new
success.

This step helps you to believe you can do it while also
giving your brain a crystal clear goal to aim for.

2. Identify the steps to success

In this stage we map out all the actions that will take you
to the top. Only we start at the finishing point and work
backwards to the starting line. The 500 foot mark is before
the 400 foot mark, the 300 foot mark, etc.

Doing it in this way helps to break you out of the rut you
are in.

You start to see the obvious steps instead of getting
caught up in negative thoughts. All you need is enough
major steps to get started and to get a sense of the
direction you need to move in.

You do not need to map out each individual step to
perfection. If you wait until you have every single element
of the plan worked out the opportunity will have passed you
by.

You only need enough preparation to get started. Expect to
fill in more of the jigsaw pieces as you move ahead.

3. Sustain the feelings of motivation

At this stage you need to ensure you feel sufficiently
motivated and inspired to follow through. This can be
harder or easier than you think.

Want the easy way?

Use the Motivation Accelerator Process on page 79 of my
book. This strategy will help you to focus on what you want
to do in the day ahead, it will get you motivated and also
help you to let go of any internal resistance to getting
started.

Spend 10-15 minutes a day using this strategy and you will
be amazed at how motivated you will feel. This is the
crucial step as you will already know exactly what you want
and how to get it.

Now take a moment to reserve your 365 day trial by clicking
here:

http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/

Have Fun,

Peter Murphy

Bear in mind... the year is moving ahead with you or
without you. If you let things slide like you did last
year we will be having the same conversation in 12
months time. How much will that hurt?

All you need to do now is unlock your personal motivation
style - the step by step formula that works best for you
and your lifestyle.

Do that and 2005 will be the year you took control of your
life and felt secure and at peace like never before. Now
imagine how good you will feel about yourself.

Follow my step by step motivation system and you will enjoy
a renewed vitality for life... I explain the five steps to
finding the best way to ensure lasting self-motivation in
my course.

Click here to test it now:

http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Read An Article On Self Motivation

Want to read an article on self motivation? This blog is the perfect starting point for anyone who wants an article on self motivation.

Use the article menu on the right hand side of this site to select articles on motivation - practical tips you can apply right away.

Sometimes you don´t need more theories, long explanations or long winded ideas. All you need is an article on self motivation that gets straight to the point. That is what you´ll find at this site.

Getting motivated is all about unlocking your personal motivation style - find the combination that works best for you. A little adjustment to what you are already doing can much a huge difference to you. Take time to read articles on motivation and you´ll notice important changes in how you think and feel.

As these new distinctions sink in you´ll develop a lasting motivation based on an approach that works for you in your busy life.

Start today with an article on self motivation from the selection on the right hand side of the site.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Overcome Procrastination Like The Rich Do!

Do you want to know how the super successful overcome
procrastination?

One fascinating hallmark of all highly motivated
millionaires is their strongly held conviction that they
will succeed. They do whatever it takes despite any
challenges that crop up.

How do they overcome procrastination? People who are
inspired by their dreams believe with certainty they will
achieve their goals even if they do not know how all the
details will work out.

This sense of certainty is due in part to their empowering
belief system and also to the way they represent their
goals to themselves inside their minds.

Have you ever got excited about your goals and then slowly
over time lost your enthusiasm? Most people do. The
difference is that the winners in life are able to relight
that passion and desire to keep on going until they get
what they want.

What are these rich and successful people doing differently
to everyone else? They know how to build an internal state
of certainty that they will succeed despite any short-term
challenges. This overcomes procrastination.

You can have this same sense of certainty by visualizing
your top five goals as already achieved at least once a
day. Picture your goals as already achieved and enjoy the
feelings of satisfaction. Hear people complimenting you on
your success and really soak up the feelings of success.

Make the pictures, sounds and feelings as lifelike as
possible. Keep going until you feel with certainty that you
will achieve this goal -- as sure as the sun will rise in
the morning!

If the success of the goal seems uncertain play with the
picture in your mind until it does feel certain. Compare
how you picture, hear and see your goal with your
expectation that the sun will rise tomorrow.

Making the picture bigger, closer, brighter and more
colorful usually helps to make it seem more realistic.

When you do this each day you are telling your unconscious
mind to keep searching for ways to achieve your goal and
you will consistently be motivated. You will also find that
your intuition guides you and presents you with ideas that
will help you to move ahead.

It used to bother me picturing my goals as already achieved
to the point of certainty... I feared that it would make me
lazy since my brain would believe the goal would just turn
up.

And I used to think if I thought of the goal as certain I
would be fooling myself into believing I would achieve it
despite immediate evidence to the contrary.

However the opposite is true. That sense of certainty
propels you forward to create what you are imagining. Plus
when you are off target it stands out a mile because your
results are so inconsistent with your expectations.

You are then compelled to get back on track. Like an artist
expressing himself with paints you can become an artist
creating your goals in the world around you from the
inspiration inside your mind.

You will never have a 100% guarantee that you will succeed
however the more certain you feel about your future the
more energy you will invest in achieving your goals. And
the corresponding actions you take will naturally improve
your chances of success.

A number of years ago I saw Donald Trump getting
interviewed on TV. I paid close attention to the way he
communicated as well as to what he said.

He positively exuded certainty when he spoke about his next
big development. Every fiber of his being proclaimed that
the new venture would be a huge success.

Trump exudes certainty and this success aura attracts
investors and encourages other people to believe in his
vision. You can be sure that when he pictures his goals he
does so with certainty.

Start small if you like and as your confidence grows build
up to bigger goals. Remember to make this a daily habit and
you will be able to keep on going even at times when you
face setbacks.

Now...

When you align the certainty principle with your desires,
beliefs and expectations you will become unstoppable. I
cover this in step 1 in my book at:

http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/

Of course, to really have success with this key principle
you need to make sure you set goals correctly and most
people think they know how but then don´t do it properly. I
show you how the best way to set goals that work for you in
step 2 of my 5 Step Motivation System.

Click here now for full details:

http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/

Have Fun,

Peter Murphy

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. His 5 Step
Motivation System reveals how you can crush procrastination
and sustain lasting motivation. Apply now for your 365 day
test drive at:

http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/

P.S. Why not take the 365 day trial of my step-by-step
motivation system. And take 10 minutes a day to use The
Motivation Accelerator Process on page 79.

Give yourself 10 minutes each day to improve the quality of
your life. Do this and you will be stunned by your
sustained motivation and renewed zest for life.

Go here now to reserve your 365 day trial:

http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

3 Reasons Why Goal Setting Never Works For You

by Peter Murphy

Although goal setting is fundamental to achieving greater
success and happiness, most people make the same goal
setting mistakes.

Here are the three mistakes that can prevent you from
having the success and happiness you deserve:


1. Setting goals that do not inspire you

This is the biggest mistake I see people making. Instead of
setting a goal to live in their dream home they instead aim
a little lower and hope to pay the rent on time next month.

This is a mistake because paying bills will never inspire
you to get up early and stay up late. Getting by does not
require you to be all you can be and in fact it tires you
and leaves you feeling exhausted at the end of each day.

2. Trying to use money as a motivator

A related mistake is focusing on money. It´s hard to get
excited about numbers on a financial statement. Your
intelligence will not let you work harder for the sake of
improving a list of numbers.

People who get a lot done rarely work just for the money.
They have inspiring reasons to improve their lives and they
use money as a tool to get things done and to get what they
want. Money itself is not the ultimate goal.

3. Avoiding regular progress reviews

The vast majority of people set goals once a year in
January, forget about them and repeat the process 12 months
later. This is a recipe for failure.

Unless you review your goals and measure your progress or
lack of it there is no way you can correct a lack of action
or identify actions that are taking you further from your
goals.

The failure to plan leads to poor results while the failure
to track your progress leads to frustration and the false
hope that your dreams will come true.

What is the solution?

1. Set bigger goals that excite you, goals that you can
see, hear and touch in your mind´s eye. Then, imagine these
goals as real. This makes it much easier to hold in mind
what you want and to make your dreams come true.

2. Aim to get things that exist in the world and to enjoy
time with people you care about - use money as a
facilitator that enables you to make these goals happen.

Keep your attention on the ultimate end results and staying
motivated become much easier. e.g. a beautiful home and
happy family rather than a million bucks in the bank.

3. Finally, on a weekly and monthly basis track your
progress against your most important goals. Unless you
measure and assess your effectiveness you have no
opportunity to adjust your approach when you are off track.

Objectively notice what you are doing well and what you are
neglecting. Then make improvements to your approach as
required.

Now, stop using goal setting the wrong way and start
enjoying more success with these three powerful solutions
to the most common goal setting mistakes.

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert.
He recently produced a very popular free report that
reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting
motivation. Apply now because it is available for a
limited time only at:
http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm

Thursday, June 09, 2005

How The Donald Stays Motivated

by Peter Murphy

Even highly successful people need to keep an eye on
self-motivation. When thousands of people are looking to
you for leadership, guidance and inspiration you cannot
say: "I don´t feel up to it today".

Even Donald Trump, successful and driven as he is, has
moments when he needs to pause, refocus and consciously get
motivated.

In his best selling book, How to Get Rich, Donald Trump
revealed a clever way to stay motivated. And it won´t cost
you a billion dollars to use this motivation strategy.

Trump describes in his book how he sometimes reviews
previous successes. This is a great way he can inspire
himself to achieve even more.

How does he actually do this?

He keeps a box in his office crammed with newspaper
clippings and letters that serve as reminders of his
success to date. He can sift through the contents of the
box and relive those special moments from his past.

By reading newspaper and magazine articles about his
achievements he can quickly and easily motivate himself to
achieve even bigger goals.

And by re-reading letters from people he respects he can
once again enjoy their endorsement of what he does and what
he has achieved.

This simple act of reviewing previous successes is a
powerful way to shift how you think and feel - to renew
your sense of what is possible and to get you into inspired
action.

The more you condition your mind to focus on what you are
capable of - the more of your abilities you can tap into.
And when you activate more of your potential you will
succeed much more often.

How can you apply this motivation secret today?

1. Surround your work area with evidence of your previous
successes. Place certificates, awards and photos in a
prominent location. Don´t leave them gathering dust in a
drawer.

2. Keep letters and newspaper clippings that highlight your
achievements. e.g. customer testimonials, trade magazine
articles about new developments you are involved in, notes
of promotions or bonuses you have earned.

3. Review your previous successes on a regular basis. When
you do so you will be conditioning your mind to expect and
create even more success in the future.

As you begin to remind yourself of what you are capable of
you will naturally start to demand more of yourself and
you´ll feel inspired to achieve greater results.

Your motivation will soar and each little success will
build on the previous success to create an unstoppable
motivation that transforms the quality of your life.

Although this motivation secret sounds too simple to be of
any value it really does work. After all, if Donald Trump
pays attention to it, don´t you think you could benefit
from doing the same?

Enjoy!

Peter Murphy

P.S. You already know what procrastination and low
motivation is costing you. And you know deep down
that nothing is going to change for the better until
YOU do.

My suggestion for you today....

Take the 365 day trial of my step-by-step motivation
system. And take 10 minutes a day to use The Motivation
Accelerator Process on page 79. Give yourself 10 minutes
each day to improve the quality of your life. Do this and
you will be stunned by your sustained motivation and
renewed zest for life.

Go here now to reserve your 365 day trial:

http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

7 Helpful Ways To Stop Procrastination

Stopping procrastination can be extremely hard for some
individuals. With some simple planning and organization you
can be better equipped in stopping procrastination and have
the time to get a lot more done during your day.

The following are some simple ways you can start stopping
procrastination in its tracks.

1. Setting priorities for what you need to get done during
the day is an excellent start in stopping procrastination.

What are the most important things to get done for the day?
By prioritizing your to do list you will not be overloading
yourself with to many things to get done in a day.

2. Writing things down, making lists, and leaving reminders
around the house for you to see can be a huge help in
stopping procrastination.

This can be accomplished by purchasing a day planner to
write appointments and project deadlines in, you can also
do the same on the calendars in your home.

Post it Notes are another option for keeping track of
things. It will be hard to procrastinate when there are
constant reminders around your home of tasks that need to
be completed.

3. A timer is a wonderful weapon in the fight to end
procrastination. This could be an egg timer or the timer on
your watch or stove. Set your timer for fifteen minutes at
a time a work quickly to complete a task.

It could be cleaning the bathroom, folding and putting away
a load of laundry, or paying a few bills. You could also
find a friend to be cleaning buddies with you.

Work for fifteen minutes then take a small break and call
each other to see how much each of you has accomplished. It
will make cleaning fun and you can keep each other in check
so you both complete everything that needs to be done
around the house.

This will break down your work into smaller sections making
it progress a lot faster for you. If you are able to access
the internet regularly there are many websites geared
toward this method of organizing and completing projects.

4. Set you alarm clock so you wake up an hour or so before
you need to start getting ready to begin your day. Use this
time to prepare that evening’s dinner to cook in your crock
pot, clean the bathroom or straighten up your entry way.

5. Getting rid of the clutter and organizing your home is
an excellent way to stop procrastination. If your home is
clear of things you don’t really need and you are organized
it will be much easier to clear and will also free you to
be working on other things.

6. Another thing you can do to in an effort to stop
procrastination is reward yourself for tasks completed. It
will be make things a lot more enjoyable to do if you know
there is something special waiting for you when you finish.

7. You also need to allow time for relaxation. You need to
try and have an even balance of things you need to do and
things you want to do.

By implementing any of the items mentioned above you will
be well on your way to stopping procrastination in your
life.

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert.
He recently produced a very popular free report that
reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting
motivation. Apply now because it is available for a
limited time only at:
http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

How To Procrastinate!

There are certain skills required when learning how to
procrastinate. It isn’t enough just to know how to
procrastinate, but one needs to know why and when to do it.

In this article you can find suggestions on how to
procrastinate and the reasons behind choosing this option.

Eventually, with practice this can become a skill and a
person will no longer need to know how to procrastinate but
can put their knowledge into action.

There are reasons why people procrastinate, and to know how
to procrastinate purposefully it is important to know what
the main reasons for choosing this option are:

1. Poor time management.

2. Inability to prioritise.

3. An overload of tasks (integral in deciding how to
procrastinate and choose which task to leave longest).

4. Task anxiety, will it be a success or a failure?

5. Feeling overwhelmed, bored, any kind of negative feeling.

There is an old saying, "You know you’re getting old when
it takes to much effort to procrastinate." This infers
that it requires some effort to learn how to procrastinate,
which is not necessarily always the case.

How to procrastinate is a choice of the procrastinator not
the situation, there are various methods or distractions a
person can employ to procrastinate successfully:

1. Time filling. The most important thing when learning
how to procrastinate is to replace the time that should
have been used doing one task by doing something more
appealing to the would-be procrastinator.

2. Goal completion. Knowing how to procrastinate well does
not mean time should be spent sitting doing nothing but
breathing. Having a goal with a set amount of time means a
level of procrastination can be permitted without harm to
the task.

3. Schedule clashes. Often one piece of previous
procrastination can be used as an excuse for another bout
of procrastination. A more tedious task can be supplanted
by a less tedious one that had already suffered from delay
previously.

4. Money or friends? Which comes first? In learning how
to procrastinate a person has to decide which is most
important and which can be put off for a period of time. A
friendless rich man or a broke popular person, which is
more appealing?

5. Clear thinking and justification. When deciding how to
procrastinate it is important to choose how to qualify the
procrastination, if you cannot justify it to yourself then
you are not learning how to procrastinate properly.

The dictionary definition of ‘procrastinate’ is "To put off
doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or
laziness."

When learning how to procrastinate only the former part of
that definition is true, the act does not have to be due to
‘carelessness’ or ‘laziness’.

Being able to know how to procrastinate does not have to
have negative connotations, it can mean a person is good at
time delegation and work prioritising, both important
skills in business and education.

So tips to remember:

1. Prioritise. Procrastinate with care.

2. Fill your time. Don’t waste an act of procrastination.

3. Perspective. Don’t let procrastination affect money,
friends or health if possible.

4. Keep a goal in sight. Be realistic in time management
so procrastination is possible.

5. Know how to procrastinate and feel positive about it.

Finally it is not just a skill to know how to procrastinate
but when to do it, some things just can not be left till
later or tomorrow, again this depends on circumstance and
the individual. Knowing how to procrastinate is a useful
tool in a busy world.

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert.
He recently produced a very popular free report that
reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting
motivation. Apply now because it is available for a
limited time only at:
http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm

Monday, May 02, 2005

Procrastination Help

If you are a procrastinator and need procrastination help
don’t despair there is hope. With only a little work on
your part and a determined mindset you can overcome
procrastination, help yourself and start getting things
done. Procrastination help is on the way.

Here are a few simple strategies.

1. Admitting there’s a problem - The first thing that will
help you overcome procrastination is to admit that you have
a problem. You cannot help yourself overcome
procrastination unless you first realize that you are a
procrastinator.

By admitting to yourself that you are a procrastinator you
have taken the first and most important step in helping
yourself overcome the problem of procrastination.

2. Make A List – Making a to-do list will help you organize
and prioritize those things that you have put off doing by
procrastinating about them.

If you have felt overwhelmed by the things you need to do,
but have not done, putting them down on a list allows you
some control over what might seem an out of control
situation.

Also, you will receive a sense of satisfaction when you
cross off completed tasks. Making a list puts you in
charge of your efforts to help yourself overcome
procrastination.

3. Self-talk - The way you talk to yourself about a task
can either help or hinder you in overcoming procrastination.

If you tell yourself that the task is simply dreadful,
horrible, too difficult, etc. you will be more likely to
procrastinate about it.

However, if you tell yourself that the task is really not
that bad, will only take a few minutes, will make you feel
better about yourself, etc. it will be easier to overcome
the temptation to procrastinate about it.

Positive self-talk can make a world of difference in
helping you overcome procrastination.

4. Accountability - Making yourself accountable to someone
can also help you overcome procrastination. Enlist your
family and friends and ask them to hold you accountable for
the tasks you have been procrastinating about.

Accountability should not be confused with nagging.
Accountability means someone you care about will simply ask
if the task has been completed or not.

Nagging, on the other hand, is a demand that the task be
completed, and often serves to make the procrastinator
procrastinate even longer.

By making yourself accountable to someone else, you help
yourself overcome procrastination by sharing your
responsibilities with others.

5. Rewards - As any psychologist knows rewards encourage
positive behavior. This is especially true with
procrastinators and can significantly help you overcome
procrastination.

The rewards don’t have to be costly or time consuming.
They can be as simple as allowing yourself to watch a
favorite television show only after you have completed one
of the tasks on the to-do list.

Or, it could be allowing yourself a dish of ice cream, a
phone call to a friend, or just about anything you would
rather be doing instead of the tasks on your list.

If you consistently reward yourself for each completed task
you will find that you have helped yourself overcome
procrastination in a positive and fun manner.

Procrastination can be a serious problem and frequently has
long-term, negative consequences. You can overcome
procrastination, help yourself gets things done, and become
more successful simply by making up your mind to take the
first step today. Don’t wait and do it tomorrow. Do it
today and give yourself some procrastination help.

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert.
He recently produced a very popular free report that
reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting
motivation. Apply now because it is available for a
limited time only at:
http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm

Monday, April 18, 2005

Beating Procrastination One Step At A Time

Yes, that’s right – we said you can beat procrastination.
Don’t worry – we’re not going to ask you to take a 6-week
course on the art of how to beat procrastination.

Instead, we’re going to give you some simple, brief hints
that you can jot on Post-It notes around the house, in the
car, or at your desk at work. Soon, you’ll be remembering
these tips on hwo to beat procrastination, and will learn
to employ them in your every day routine.

So, here goes. Stay with us now – and most importantly, do
NOT procrastinate reading these hints.

1. Set your priorities – and then leave an open notepad on
your desk – or file on your computer, labeled simply with
“To Do.” It doesn’t have to be formal, and don’t try to
force yourself to make a big list at once – THAT kind of
chore is one that’s begging to be procrastinated.

Remember, our point here is to help you BEAT that
procrastination habit that we ALL have at one time or
another! Just jot things on the list throughout the day, as
you think of them.

2. Eat your spinach first! (Yes, this does relate to
beating procrastination, believe it or not.) Every day,
look at the one or two “must dos” that you’re
procrastinating – even dreading – the most.

Do those first, if your time priorities allow. This
accomplishes two things: one, it frees up your mind from
spending your whole day thinking, “Drat, I still have to
write that report!

I’m never going to get it done!” and two, it gives you the
momentum to get more done, since you’ve gotten the “big
thing” out of the way. Think of it as if you’re a child,
and you’re eating the yuckiest thing off your plate first.

3. Set a timer for 15 minutes. Now, look at some of the
quick things you need to do – mailing out bills, clipping
an article to read later, straightening the top of your
desk, tossing out the trash. Make it a race against the
clock to see how much you can get done.

4. Divide and conquer. If a project is still overwhelming,
then break it into smaller parts. Conquer the pieces one at
a time.

5. Remove distractions. For some people, this means
turning off the TV or radio. For others, it means clearing
your work area of all clutter, so you don’t get trapped
into shifting your attention from one task to another,
while not actually accomplishing anything. Remember, you’re
trying to BEAT procrastination, not encourage it to be
worse!

Repeat after us, “DO IT NOW!” Now, follow your own advice!

Well, what are you waiting for? You can beat
procrastination – so get moving!

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert.
He recently produced a very popular free report that
reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting
motivation. Apply now because it is available for a
limited time only at:
http://www.procrastinatorhelp.com/

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Don't Procrastinate! Get Things Done Now...

In the fast paced setting of the modern world, it's pretty
tempting at times to procrastinate. We've all had moments
in our lives where the urge to procrastinate is
overwhelming.

Putting things off or choosing to procrastinate rather than
actually getting work done can lead to serious problems in
the long run. If you procrastinate and want some quick tips
for getting the tasks at hand done when you get them, look
no further.

1. Break it up: Perhaps you've wanted to reorganize your
closet, but it's such a huge project you procrastinate and
are reluctant to begin.

If this is the case, then break up that large task into to
smaller increments so you can't really procrastinate. Not
only will it seem doable, but you'll find yourself with a
clean closet in a relatively short amount of time and won't
procrastinate!

However you break up the process is up to you, but I've
found sorting through clothes on one day and shoes on
another is a quite effective method to help me not
procrastinate.

2. Lighten up: Another helpful tip in combating
procrastination includes changing your mindset. If you're a
perfectionist, you know that the thought of even beginning
a project is overwhelming because you're consumed with
having it turn out "just right" which causes many to
procrastinate.

Getting rid of or suppressing this urge for perfection will
definitely help your project get under way and stop the
annoying urge to procrastinate.

By setting reachable goals for yourself, you will have
realistic expectations of what you can do, and you'll find
seeing a task through from start to finish is less work
when not worrying about every little detail and ultimately
won't procrastinate.

3. Schedule it: If you can't seem to get started on
anything, make a list to combat your habit to
procrastinate. Rank all of your projects in order based on
when they're due and how difficult they are.

It's hard to procrastinate with a list in front of you,
guiding you through the day. Make sure to put this to-do
list in a prominent place in your office or on your desk so
it greets you at each morning as inspiration to not
procrastinate.

4. Put it off, a little: Try some structured delay time to
end your putting off of projects indefinitely that leads to
the tendency to procrastinate.

When planning to work on an assignment, schedule in breaks
where you can stand, stretch, and relax for a bit before
getting back to it. Planned leisure time is great, as long
as it stays within set boundaries and doesn't turn into
time where you procrastinate.

Go ahead and watch your favorite TV show before picking an
essay topic, but make sure the television goes off once
it's over.

Fight the urge to leave the TV on while you work and press
the 'off' button immediately after your program ends. This
way, you remove the distractions around you, making
focusing on work easier and the temptation to procrastinate
lessened.

So whatever your personal barriers are when it comes to
tending to procrastinate, just keep structure in mind when
planning your day. Don't leave super large slots of time
that could cause you to procrastinate.

Ultimately, it's up to you to change your behavior patterns
and eliminate the bad habit to procrastinate in your life.

Now, why not test our breakthrough 5 Step Motivation
System. Click here now:

http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/

Monday, February 21, 2005

How To Procrastinate

by Peter Murphy

There are certain skills required when learning how to
procrastinate. It isn’t enough just to know how to
procrastinate, but one needs to know why and when to do it.

In this article you can find suggestions on how to
procrastinate and the reasons behind choosing this option.

(some of what is said is meant to be tongue in cheek)

Eventually, with practice this can become a skill and a
person will no longer need to know how to procrastinate but
can put their knowledge into action.

There are reasons why people procrastinate, and to know how
to procrastinate purposefully it is important to know what
the main reasons for choosing this option are:

1. Poor time management.
2. Inability to prioritise.
3. An overload of tasks (integral in deciding how to
procrastinate and choose which task to leave longest).
4. Task anxiety, will it be a success or a failure?
5. Feeling overwhelmed, bored, any kind of negative feeling.

There is an old saying, "You know you’re getting old when
it takes to much effort to procrastinate." This infers
that it requires some effort to learn how to procrastinate,
which is not necessarily always the case.

How to procrastinate is a choice of the procrastinator not
the situation, there are various methods or distractions a
person can employ to procrastinate successfully:

1. Time filling.

The most important thing when learning how to procrastinate
is to replace the time that should have been used doing one
task by doing something more appealing to the would-be
procrastinator.

2. Goal completion.

Knowing how to procrastinate well does not mean time should
be spent sitting doing nothing but breathing. Having a
goal with a set amount of time means a level of
procrastination can be permitted without harm to the task.

3. Schedule clashes.

Often one piece of previous procrastination can be used as
an excuse for another bout of procrastination. A more
tedious task can be supplanted by a less tedious one that
had already suffered from delay previously.

4. Money or friends?

Which comes first? In learning how to procrastinate a
person has to decide which is most important and which can
be put off for a period of time. A friendless rich man or
a broke popular person, which is more appealing?

5. Clear thinking and justification.

When deciding how to procrastinate it is important to
choose how to qualify the procrastination, if you cannot
justify it to yourself then you are not learning how to
procrastinate properly.

The dictionary definition of ‘procrastinate’ is "To put off
doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or
laziness."

When learning how to procrastinate only the former part of
that definition is true, the act does not have to be due to
‘carelessness’ or ‘laziness’.

Being able to know how to procrastinate does not have to
have negative connotations, it can mean a person is good at
time delegation and work prioritising, both important
skills in business and education.

So tips to remember:

1. Prioritise. Procrastinate with care.
2. Fill your time. Don’t waste an act of procrastination.
3. Perspective. Don’t let procrastination affect money,
friends or health if possible.
4. Keep a goal in sight. Be realistic in time management
so procrastination is possible.
5. Know how to procrastinate and feel positive about it.

Finally it is not just a skill to know how to procrastinate
but when to do it, some things just can not be left till
later or tomorrow, again this depends on circumstance and
the individual. Knowing how to procrastinate is a useful
tool in a busy world.

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently
produced a very popular free report that reveals how to
crush procrastination and sustain lasting motivation. Apply
now because it is available for a limited time only at:

http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm

How to Overcome Procrastination

by Peter Murphy

Learning how to overcome procrastination can be very
difficult for many. It is a character trait most of us
possess, but if we become willing to try something new we
can begin learning how to avoid procrastination and the
unproductive cycle it keeps us in.

Procrastination fosters anxiety, anger, and keeps us from
fully enjoying life, so learning how to overcome
procrastination is imperative.

Being a poster child for procrastination, I found learning
how to avoid procrastination necessary if I was ever going
to be successful at anything.

So, I set out to rediscover that part of myself that is
organized and loathes procrastination.

Procrastination is really nothing more than fear, a lack of
good organization, and poor self-motivation. Regarding the
latter two, simple measures can be taken to begin learning
how to overcome procrastination and start to restore some
sanity to life.

Unfortunately, fear requires a little more effort. When
facing any task where fear might play an important role,
it’s good to ask yourself a few questions in order to begin
learning how to avoid procrastination.

1. What am I most afraid of regarding this task? Is it the
outcome? Is it the actual task itself? Is it the
possibility of failure or am I uncomfortable with the steps
required to complete it?

2. What is the worst thing that can happen to me? Is it
possible that I am simply afraid of being rejected?
Taking a quick inventory of what is causing the fear goes a
long way in learning how to avoid procrastination.

Most experts agree that procrastination is typically caused
by a fear of uncomfortable feelings. So, what are some
concrete measures you can take to begin learning how to
avoid procrastination?

Here is a simple list of things you can do to get
organized, instill motivation, and begin practicing better
habits.

1. Make lists.

But, more importantly, make small lists. Making a list
with 20 things that need to be done will only give you
another reason for procrastination.

Overall, completion will seem impossible allowing you to
justify doing nothing. So, keep your lists to a manageable
amount: typically 5-10 tasks.

2. Don’t start with the most difficult task.

Complete a few easier tasks to build your motivation and
confidence

3. Check off the completed tasks.

Few things feel better than scratching a line through
something that has been completed. A weight lifts from you
and the likelihood of you learning how to avoid
procrastination of larger tasks increases.

4. Tell someone else what tasks are on your list.

This is a simple concept; you are relying on a third party
to help hold you accountable.

5. Don’t procrastinate beginning your list.

Do not read your email, shop Ebay, or call to schedule that
all-important vet appointment for your dog. These are just
ways your mind works to keep you from learning how to avoid
procrastination.

Get out the list and immediately complete one of the items
on it.

I say all of this as a procrastination convert. For years,
I refused to plan anything, and all my procrastination
yielded me was anxiety and more things to do.

So, get out that pen and paper right now, make a list, and
commit to completing it. That’s the first step in learning
how to avoid procrastination.

You’ll feel better and find yourself enjoying other things
in life. Stop avoiding learning how to overcome
procrastination, because learning how to overcome
procrastination is as easy as deciding to begin.

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced
a very popular free report that reveals how to crush procrastination
and sustain lasting motivation. Apply now because it is available for
a limited time only at:

http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm

Thursday, February 10, 2005

8 Super Ways To Avoid Procrastination

by Peter Murphy

How to avoid procrastination is a subject that everyone thinks about at sometime or another.We are all guilty of delaying what needs to be done at sometime or another; so learning ways of how to avoid procrastination is beneficial to everyone.

Although learning how to avoid procrastination is simple, applying the principles is harder as those who do procrastinate, will put off even attempting to avoid procrastination itself.

Some simple tips on how to avoid procrastination are as follows. It's all a simple matter of retraining yourself to get the job done.

1. Prioritize your daily tasks. Decide what has to be done, should be done, and what you would like to do.

2. Get the worst out of the way first. Do that 'have to' job first; get it over and out of your hair. By doing the 'have to's' first, it leaves the rest of your time to do those want to's and should be's.Doing this one simple thing is one of the best ways to avoid procrastination in the first place.

3. Delegate, if possible, some of the worst things on your list to others. This will allow you to move on to other things and allow you to avoid procrastinating on those things you really don't want to do in the first place.

4. Make a list every morning of what you need to accomplish throughout the day. Reward yourself each time you check an item done.

5. Look closely at how you procrastinate. Do you surf the web when you should be doing the accounting? Do you read and answer email when you should be doing that office report?Once you figure out the things you do to put off what needs doing, it's easy to figure out how to avoid procrastination by eliminating those behaviors. If you can't eliminate the behavior, save it for the reward of getting the job done.

6. Keep a day planner. Write down what has to be accomplished and block out the time you are going to do it.Once the job is done, check it off or draw a line through it. Seeing the checkmarks on paper will motivate you to move on to the next item on your list.

7. At the end of the day, write down what you have accomplished. This can sometimes be its own reward.As you see the list grow from day to day, you will begin to look for ways to avoid procrastination yourself.

8. Write out a set of goals for yourself. List where you want to be next week, next month, next year and five years from now.Look at how what you are putting off keeps you from reaching those goals.Knowing how to avoid procrastination is really all about setting personal goals for yourself and sticking with them.

As you find ways to juggle all the things that have to be done, and see the rewards of getting them finished, you will find even more ways on how to avoid procrastination for yourself.

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report that reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting motivation. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at:http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm

7 Magical Ways To Stop Procrastination

by Peter Murphy

What can you do to stop procrastination when it won't let
you finish a job?

There are a number of techniques to help you stop
procrastination once and for all. If you can stop
procrastination in your life just think about what you
could accomplish and how much better you would feel.

People who procrastinate in excess are prone to feelings of
guilt, anxiety and powerlessness. Why does procrastination
occur?

It could be as a result of not wanting to do things or of
not being able to do things. It could also be a result of
fear. Many of us fear failure as well as success. Still
others procrastinate simply because it works for them.

Procrastination is not something we should live with. When
procrastination occurs, nothing gets done. And when nothing
gets done due to procrastination, that's when we feel down
and worthless.

Feeling this way may be avoided with a number of techniques
designed to stop procrastination:

1. You can stop procrastination by getting organized. Being
unorganized leads to chaos and feelings of being
overwhelmed. Stop procrastination by organizing your life.

2. Breakdown tasks into manageable units to stop
procrastination. Smaller tasks are less overwhelming that
large jobs.

3. Have discipline. Allow your desire for success to
overcome your desire to put things off.

4. Positive motivation. Talk yourself up with encouraging
quotes. Even very successful people feed their minds with
positive input each day.

5. Get someone else´s help to stop procrastination. Ask
someone to hold you accountable for completion of a task
you have been procrastinating about.

For example, if you are putting off cleaning the garage ask
you wife to question you about when it will be completed
several days before the due date.

6. Do the easiest or most enjoyable task first so that you
get off to a good start. This works for some people while
the opposite works for others. Some people like to get the
unpleasant work out of the way so they can enjoy the rest.

7. Giving yourself a deadline can stop procrastination.
Procrastination should not be something you should live
with. Successful people do not tend to procrastinate,
instead, they stop procrastination because they know what
needs to get done must get done.

It is not because they necessarily enjoy the unpleasant
tasks which others procrastinate about but rather the
strength of their desire for success is greater than their
desire to procrastinate.

Procrastination should not be a hindrance to achieving your
goal. Take a moment to recognize the signs and do something
to overcome it and stop procrastination.

If you begin by rewarding yourself for small successes and
stop punishing yourself when you do procrastinate you will
be able to develop new habits that, in time, will help stop
procrastination.

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently
produced a very popular free report that reveals how to
crush procrastination and sustain lasting motivation. Apply
now because it is available for a limited time only at:
http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm





Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Simple Ways To Cure Procrastination

by Peter Murphy

Curing procrastination is about overcoming fear. If you can
conquer the fears which are causing you to put off
important projects you will be well on your way to curing
procrastination.

Curing procrastination is not necessarily about will power
or forcefully advancing in your goals but rather it is
about learning why we procrastinate, what we are afraid of
and finding ways to face those fears in order to move
forward in our lives.

What are you afraid of?

1. Fear of Failure.

The fear of failure is by far the most obvious fear which
can cause disabling procrastination. This is especially
true as it pertains to our professional lives, careers, and
for college students their assignments.

If the fear of failure is causing you to put off a task
then what you need to do is sit down and think carefully
about all of the possible outcomes if indeed you fail.

Actually, first consider what does it mean to fail?

If you can not answer this question then you have nothing to fear
and your task of curing procrastination is finished.
If you can certainly imagine failing in the given task then
consider for a minute what is the worst possible
consequence of failing.

Make peace with this, accept it and you have nothing more
to fear. The Samurai of early Japan taught themselves to
make peace with the fact that they could die at any time.
By doing this they eliminated almost all other fears ––
because, of course, what could be worse than that. They
certainly learned the trick to curing procrastination.

2. Fear of Success.

If you think that maybe your procrastination is being
caused by your fear of success then curing procrastination
becomes all that much easier.

Why are you afraid of success?

Chances are you want success but you fear that you will not
be able to live up to the responsibilities of success and
everything it brings.

Or maybe, you are aware that success will bring negative
consequences in addition to positive things. If you are to
succeed in curing procrastination then you must come to
terms with what to expect with success and weigh the good
versus the bad.

If the undesired results outweigh the bad then just decide
not to do the project at all and you have just succeed in
one thing …… curing procrastination. You see if you remove
a task from your plate then there is no longer anything to
procrastinate about.

Curing procrastination is not impossible and it is within
everyone’s reach. It is really a mind game. In summary,
curing procrastination is possible when you face your fears
head on and eliminate them with an understanding of why you
are afraid.


Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently
produced a very popular free report that reveals how to crush
procrastination and sustain lasting motivation. Apply now
because it is available for a limited time only at:

http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm


Thursday, February 03, 2005

3 Clever Ways To Stop Procrastinating

by Peter Murphy

Stopping procrastination can be challenging, especially
since you can’t put it off until tomorrow! Most people who
did manage to stop procrastinating did not do so overnight.

Like any other bad habit, procrastination starts small and
builds itself up.

Returning to a more dependable lifestyle however is
possible. Follow these simple steps below and eventually,
with dedication and self discipline your procrastination
should be under control and your tomorrows will be a little
less full!

Step #1 Start Small.

Usually if people procrastinate in their business lives
they also procrastinate in their personal life too and vice
versa.

Start small by making an everyday to do list. Examples
include, but are not limited to; taking out the trash,
doing the dishes, hanging up clothes, and maybe even
littler things like making the bed or tidying up the living
room.

When you have things under control at a personal level it
is easier to get things under control at a business level.

Getting yourself into the routine of not putting things off
at home will be difficult since the home is the easiest
place to procrastinate: it is always there, you always have
an extra day to work on it, and no one besides you or those
who live you will know what you are putting off.

However, if you have noticed, the places that we feel most
comfortable in are the easiest to begin a bad habit and
also the hardest place to get rid of that bad habit.

A smoker’s hardest place to deal with is their personal
space and yours is too. So take control and shape yourself
up at home to start the process of stopping procrastination.

Step #2 Take control at work.

No doubt if you are a procrastinator at home then you
usually have things piling up at work to do or you find
yourself at the end of the day hurrying to get things done
that you should have done that morning or the day before.

Well stop that!

Make a list, just like you did for at home. Start the day
by making a list of things you must check off by a certain
time in the day.

For example, say you want to get the reports done on time
that usually you put off until the end of the day. Make a
list and note that reports must be checked off by 10:00
that morning.

At first you may find yourself racing and checking off that
item on the list right at ten or slightly before but keep
at it and you just might find yourself checking off your
list long before the time its due!

Practice makes perfect and the more you practice and being
on time the easier it gets and soon it becomes as second
habit as procrastination is or hopefully used to be.

Step #3 If All else fails, weight the guilty consequences.

You know how mad you feel or even embarrassed when you have
pushed yourself to the last minute or even past the last
minute?

Whenever you feel yourself giving into the urge to
procrastinate just remember that feeling and predict how
you will feel the next day when you are faced with your
normal circumstances plus those you have avoided and waited
to do. A very simple form of self discipline but a very
effective one.

Stopping procrastination isn’t always easy but it can be
done. Follow these steps diligently; just be careful to get
started today even if only in a small way.

You already know what procrastination and low motivation is
costing you. And you know deep down that nothing is going
to change for the better until you do.

My suggestion for you today....

Take the 365 day trial of my step-by-step motivation
system. And take 10 minutes a day to use The Motivation
Accelerator Process on page 79.

Give yourself 10 minutes each day to improve the quality of
your life. Do this and you will be stunned by your
sustained motivation and renewed zest for life.

Go here now to reserve your 365 day trial:

http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/

Have Fun,

Peter Murphy


P.S. Stop procrastinaitng and who knows what you could achieve?

Thursday, January 27, 2005

How to Stop Procrastinating

by Peter Murphy

Ever wonder how to stop procrastinating? Here is a good example...

I was recently talking with a friend who said, “You know, I
need to have guests over to my house more often.“Why is
that?” I asked. “Because that seems to be the only time I
really clean my house,” she responded.

Isn’t that the truth! Deadlines and commitments have a
wonderful way of forcing us to get things done which have
to be done. It is easy to procrastinate about doing
something when there is no one to hold you accountable.

Think about it!

You may be the worst procrastinator on earth about certain
things like housework or dreaded work projects but chances
are you file your tax return on time ever year.

This is because the federal government has placed a
deadline on filing tax returns and they hold us accountable
if they are not done.

If you want to stop procrastinating in your life try
setting yourself deadlines for projects you have been
putting off and finding ways to hold yourself accontable
for meeting these deadlines.

Here are some ideas of how you can use this strategy to
stop procrastinating at home and in your work.

1. Write it Down.

The act of simply deciding when you plan to complete a task
and writing it down on your calender can be very effective
in creating a sense of a deadline.

2. Schedule something that forces you to take action.

For example, invite guests over to your house. If you have
been putting off cleaning the house this will force you to
clean and put things in order.

Another example, might be if you have been putting off
visiting someone you know you should visit then give that
person a call and let them know you will be visiting on a
particular day.

Once you have made this commitment it will likely be more
difficult to not follow through. Simply by putting this
person on notice of a visit will create a deadline with
accountablity.

3. Put someone on notice that a project will be completed
on a particular date.

If there is a project at work that you have been
procrastinating about. Send your boss a note tellig him or
her that they can expect the project on a certain date.

This will create a deadline for you and your boss will
likely hold you accoutable by asking for the project if in
fact it is not delivered by the date you promised it.

4. Leave yourself no way out.

Leaving yourself no way out is in a sense burning the
bridge behind you so that you have no choice but to
complete a task which you have been putting off.

If for instance, you need to buy a new vacuum because the
old one has had it. You have the money saved for the new
one but you have just been putting off going shopping for
one.

Burn the bridges behind you. Give your old appliance away to a
local thrift shop. Then you have no choice but to buy that
new one. You can put a stop to procrastination by simply
setting yourself deadlines and holding yourself or having
someone else hold you accountable.

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