Coaching with Sid

How to Coach Your Clients/Yourself on Overcoming Procrastination

sent by Siddharth Anantharam    |   August 03, 2023

sent by Siddharth Anantharam
August 03, 2023

Are you someone who always pushes important tasks till tomorrow when they should be done today?

Do you find yourself constantly procrastinating on essential goals, whether it’s related to your career, dreams, or even your health? And as a result, you end up feeling guilty, lazy, and discontent?

Well, let me tell you something real honest – I procrastinate a lot too. In fact, I put off recording this video for a few months before finally deciding to get to it.

And you know what?

Even amongst the most successful leaders I coach, the #1 problem that shows up is procrastination.

So in this newsletter, I’m going to dive deep into the root causes of procrastination, why we do it, and most importantly, how to coach yourself/your client/ your team to break free from the cycle of procrastination.

But first, let’s get clear on what procrastination is all about:

So, here’s what a typical procrastination cycle looks like, especially in today’s age of remote work:
Now, let’s explore the two most important reasons why we procrastinate:

The bottom line is that we procrastinate because of negative emotions and uncertainties about future benefits.

Now, let’s identify some common reasons why you might be procrastinating right now:

Here’s the most intriguing thing about procrastination – we put off tasks hoping to feel better, but it actually makes us feel worse. Not doing the task leads to guilt, self-criticism, and a negative impact on our self-worth.

Now, let’s explore the consequences of procrastination at work:

But here’s the good news: YOU CAN COACH YOURSELF/YOUR CLIENTS/YOUR TEAMS TO OVERCOME PROCRASTINATION!

The first step is awareness and forgiveness.

Becoming aware of why you procrastinate and forgiving yourself because it’s completely human.

9 Steps you need to follow to coach yourself/ your client to Overcome Procrastination

1. Start by listing down one task

Project, or goal you’re procrastinating on right now.

2. Identify the feelings and thoughts that come up

When you think about this task. Remember, negative emotions are often at the root of procrastination.

3. Reflect on the consequences or costs of your procrastination

Consider how it impacts your happiness, stress levels, health, finances, relationships, and dreams.

4. Visualize the long-term benefits of completing this task on time

Imagine how accomplishing it will make you feel and the rewards it will bring.

5. Minimize distractions proactively

Identify your biggest distractions and take steps to eliminate them while you work on the task.

6. Just get started!

Take the tiniest step you can right now to make progress. Remember, doing something imperfectly is better than doing nothing at all.

7. Set an implementation intention

Create a reminder for yourself to stay focused and committed to the task, even when the temptation to procrastinate arises.

8. Plan effectively

Break down the larger task into smaller steps and set clear deadlines. This will prevent overwhelm and help you stay on track.

9. Know your enemies

perfectionism, impulsiveness, and emotional instability. Be aware of these pitfalls and counteract them with self-awareness and intentionality.

Remember, the task you’re procrastinating on might not be the one you hate, but the one you fear, making it the most worthwhile pursuit for your personal growth.

And always remember, your self-worth is not tied to your ability or performance on this task. You are good enough, whole, and complete as you are. So let’s tackle that task or goal with the knowledge that it just needs to be completed at this moment.

Now, go ahead and use the toolkit, and share your experiences and insights in the comments below.

Let’s conquer procrastination together!

Leave a Comment

30 thoughts on “How to Coach Your Clients/Yourself on Overcoming Procrastination”

  1. Wow, awesome weblog structure! How long have you been running a blog for?
    you made blogging look easy. The whole glance of your web site is great, as well as the content!
    You can see similar: sklep online and here najlepszy sklep

  2. Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this,
    like you wrote the book in it or something.
    I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but
    other than that, this is wonderful blog. A great read.
    I will definitely be back. I saw similar here: ecommerce and also here:
    najlepszy sklep

  3. Hello there! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with SEO?
    I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very
    good success. If you know of any please share.
    Appreciate it! You can read similar art here: Sklep

  4. You can certainly see your enthusiasm within the article you write.
    The arena hopes for more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to
    mention how they believe. All the time go after your
    heart.

  5. Hello! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with Search Engine Optimization? I’m trying to get my site to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good success.
    If you know of any please share. Thank you! You can read similar
    text here: Auto Approve List

  6. Hey there! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO?
    I’m trying to get my site to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good success.
    If you know of any please share. Many thanks! You can read similar
    article here: List of Backlinks

  7. Hi! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with SEO?

    I’m trying to get my website to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good gains.
    If you know of any please share. Kudos! I saw similar
    article here: Backlink Building

  8. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly donate to this excellent blog!
    I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed
    to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will talk about
    this site with my Facebook group. Talk soon!

  9. Hello there! Quick question that’s entirely off topic.
    Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My site
    looks weird when browsing from my iphone4. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to fix
    this problem. If you have any suggestions, please share.
    Thanks!

  10. Wow, superb blog structure! How long have you been running a blog for?

    you made running a blog glance easy. The overall look of your site is great, let alone the content material!
    You can see similar here dobry sklep

  11. Wow, incredible weblog layout! How lengthy have you been blogging for?
    you make running a blog look easy. The full look of your site is wonderful, as
    smartly as the content! I read similar here prev next and it’s was wrote by Simon01.

  12. Wow, awesome blog structure! How long have you ever been running a blog for?
    you make running a blog glance easy. The entire look of
    your site is excellent, let alone the content! You can see similar here prev next and those was wrote by Candance76.

  13. Wow, incredible weblog format! How long have you ever been running a blog for?
    you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your web
    site is wonderful, let alone the content material! I read similar here prev next and it’s was wrote by Cristy97.

Comments are closed.

ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER

Join a community of 5000+ coaches who Coach with Confidence. Every Thursday, you’ll get 1 actionable insight from me to master the art, science and business of coaching.