End procrastination: Tip #1 (reading time 1.5 min.)

By Mary Boza Crimmins

Avoidance? Does this sound like you? When I first started exercising regularly, I engaged in all sorts of avoidance activities before beginning the workout. I retied my shoes. Readjusted my shorts and sports bra. Redid the scrunchie in my hair. Oh, wait a minute, do I need to pee again? Sure, go ahead. I wouldn’t want to have to stop mid-workout. I was procrastinating. Eventually, I learned to stop fighting my idiosyncratic delays by turning them into a ritual. 

Rituals are as diverse as the individuals who engage in them, but research indicates their many benefits. I’m not an athlete. If you know me, you’ll readily agree. But my pre-workout ritual is similar to rituals performed by athletes before a competition. According to Scientific American, rituals reduce anxiety, enhance confidence and increase motivation. There’s even a name for my delaying tactics before a workout - preparatory activity. Aha, my quirkiness makes sense! 

Tip #1 - Turn your procrastination into a ritual

Acknowledge what you are doing to delay your task. If it’s not causing a substantial delay, create a ritual. The ritual becomes your preparatory activity. Then - ta-da! You start working on your important tasks—no more procrastination. 

End Procrastination: Tip # 2 will be published soon. Well, maybe.  

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