3 Ways to Get Work Done

 What is the biggest enemy of success?

Procrastination – the tendency to put off or delay important action for a later time. Basically, it means not doing what you are supposed to be doing.

We all have potential to be successful but it is procrastination that stands as a hurdle in our path to greatness. Procrastination lures us into the trap of overlooking the important things in our lives and working on the insignificant ones.

Procrastination makes it extremely difficult to get important work done and therefore we need to take strong steps to tackle it effectively. The following are three important steps to effectively deal with procrastination and get the work done:

Failure Is Your Friend

The first step to deal with procrastination is to understand that the major reason we procrastinate is because of the fear of failure.

We want to be successful in our very first attempt and tend to wait for the perfect moment when everything will magically fall itself in place for us. We do this because we are afraid of failure and are waiting for the right moment where we can achieve the desired outcome with certainty. This leads to paralysis by analysis and we waste a lot of time not doing anything waiting for the moment, which may very likely not come at all.

At this point, it is important to evaluate the way we perceive failure. Failure is not the opposite of a success but rather a companion of success.

Failure is a learning experience, one that essentially leads to success. It provides an essential learning experience that paves the way for success. Success may not be possible without the essential learning we acquire from our failures. Failure is a friend – one that ultimately paves the way for success.

I think the example of Thomas Edison best sums this up. It took 10,000 failed attempts before Edison finally made the light bulb. When he was asked about his failures, he remarked that he didn’t failed 10,000 times. He found 10,000 ways not to make a light bulb.

Focus on the “WHY”

You may have heard that planning is worthless. So why is it that we indulge in this useless habit?

This is because it is the act of planning that is absolutely essential. When we plan, we convince ourselves that there is a path that leads to our destination. Furthermore, we mentally prepare ourselves for the hurdles that we might face and how will handle them. The plans may not amount to much when they meet the trials and tribulations of the real world. But then, the “how” part of the goal is not exactly important in the first place.

According to a recent research finding, we should focus on the “why” of the goal rather than the “how”. Focusing on the “why” will considerably increase our chances of success. The rationale behind this that when we focus on the “why”, we seek to understand our motivation(s) for achieving the goal and this puts us in a better position to handle changing conditions and challenges.

On the other hand, when we focus on “how” we will achieve the goal, we restrict ourselves to what we have planned and thus are susceptible to giving up when the going gets tough.

Finish Your Work in One Go

It may sound counter intuitive but this is the best way to avoid paralysis by analysis. Don’t let procrastination to lure you into its trap, force yourself to jump right in to your work. This will enable you to immerse yourself in your work and get in the work mode. Try to make the most of the momentum and finish the work in one go.

It will be difficult no doubt as you will have to control yourself from seeking distractions and on the other hand, take the necessary steps to avoid interruptions. This will enable you to get in the work mode where you are totally involved with your work. In my experience, productivity is potentially at its highest when I’m totally immersed in my work.

In the end, I will like to emphasize that time is arguably the biggest resource that you have. Make the most of it by doing what’s most important to you. Don’t let procrastination hinder your progress and deal with it effectively by treating failure as a friend, focusing on the “WHY”, and finishing work in one go.