How to do something you have been procrastinating

As I was reflecting on the progress I have made so far in 2021, and I realized that there are some things that I planned to do but have been procrastinating. I know that if I accomplish these things by the end of the year, I would be immensely proud. If you also have a list of things you have been putting off, this post is for you.

In this blog post, we will explore steps to unfreeze and complete a task or goal that we have been procrastinating.

Setting the foundation
Let's start with the definition of procrastinate; it is to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.

#1: Re-evaluate how and why the task or goal is important to you
When you added this task or goal to your list, you had a good reason why. Now that a few months have gone by, it is crucial to remind yourself of the reasons. Take the time to re-evaluate why you wanted to work on it in the first place. Ask yourself what the positive impact will be after you have completed the task. Write what you learned down so that you can remind yourself of the importance when you feel like dropping it again.

Why is this important?

• Knowing why something is important and how it would contribute to your life makes it worth doing

#2: Think about what has been holding you back
You might have good reasons for procrastinating. It could be that you have had too much on your plate, the timing was not right, you didn't have the resources, or you did not know how to do it. To do this exercise well, you have to be really honest with yourself to uncover all the reasons and move on.

Why is this important?

• When you know what the barriers are, you can address them and increase your chances to succeed

#3: Plan and break the tasks into smaller chunks
One of the biggest reasons we procrastinate is that we do not know precisely what needs to be done or how to complete a task. Take the time to write down the smaller parts of the task or goals. Your objective is to be able to see what it would take for you to accomplish your goal. Now that you know the tasks, create a plan to complete them.

Why is this important?

• Completing smaller tasks will give you more frequent wins which will motivate you to continue working on them

#4: Set a due date and commit to doing it
Now that you know what needs to be done. Set milestones and dates by when you want to complete the task or goal. Be realistic with setting the due date. You want to avoid being discouraged when you miss an unrealistic deadline.

Why is this important?

• Having a due date gives you something to work towards and committing will make it a reality

#5: Have an accountability partner and get support
There is something powerful about having people who are your companions on your journey to achieving greatness. You want people who could serve as cheerleaders, accountability partners, advisors, or mentors. Surround yourself with people who make you want to accomplish your goals.

Why is this important?

• Your journey will be more fun with amazing people around you

Final Thoughts: MC's journey
I have been procrastinating creating videos for my YouTube channel. My goal at the beginning of the year was to restart creating videos in March. Looking back, the timeline I set was unrealistic because I had just gone back to work while caring for my little baby, restarting my weekly blogs, and trying to find time for myself.
Although it was and still is an important goal for me, there was no way I could have accomplished it in the first months of this year. Now that things are beginning to settle down and we have a better routine, this is the perfect time for me to get back to refreshing my YouTube channel.
I am committed to restarting my planning process this month and releasing videos before the end of September, which would mark a year from when I took my break to focus on my baby. Look out for my videos coming up this quarter.

Time for Reflection
What goals or tasks have you been procrastinating?
What were some of the barriers, and how can you unblock yourself?
When are you committed to completing it?
How will you celebrate when you complete the task or goal?