Stop Procrastinating By Doing Nothing
Make the Most of This Lesson
Read the article. Reading just 10 minutes for fun per day helps improve your listening, speaking, reading, writing, AND grammar skills!
Check the bolded phrasal verbs and other vocabulary. If you find new vocabulary, look it up and try to use them 7 times this week (using a new word 7 times locks it in your brain!)
Write out a summary of what you learned. Check your grammar. Try to use new vocabulary.
Record yourself telling someone the summary. Listen to yourself. How is your pronunciation?
Stop Procrastinating by Doing Nothing
To get started on this topic, I had a dear friend ask me to post a video about procrastination. I procrastinated by asking more information from her about her procrastination. She procrastinated in her reply. If you're anything like us, you procrastinate sometimes.
In fact, according to a study Professor Peter Vishton refers to in the Great Courses Class Outsmart Yourself: Brain-Based Strategies to a Better You, 80-95% of people procrastinate on a regular basis, with 50% of those reporting that they procrastinate consistently and problematically.
So, to stop procrastinating on that video, I'm going to start out by giving you my top tip for stopping the procrastination cycle in your own life. I got this tip from Professor Peter Vishton in the Great Courses class mentioned above.
Top Tip To Stop Procrastination: Do Nothing For 15-12 Minutes
It sounds counter-intuitive, right? Shouldn't I be telling you to go ahead and get started? Most procrastinating people are not being lazy- they are busy doing something. Its just that the something they are doing is not the task causing them the most anxiety and guilt. They get busy scrolling Facebook, straightening up their desk, writing an email, doing dishes, walking the dog, making that phone call etc. They do less important more immediately gratifying tasks as they avoid doing the more important, anxiety-producing ones.
So, research shows that one of the best things you can do is take 15-20 minutes just to sit quietly and think. Think about what you are going to do. Think about that task you are procrastinating on and how you might want to approach it. Do nothing. Just think.
If you get stressed thinking about the task, let your mind drift to the things that really satisfy in your life:
The relationships that matter most to you
The activities that make you feel free and rested
The blessings you are most thankful for
The reality that no matter what happens on this project, the sun will still rise (Lord willing) tomorrow (and if it doesn't, you'll be in a better place where you never have to think about this task again anyway).
Then, let your mind drift back to what to do next on the task you are procrastinating on. By doing nothing, you will not be working on something different that distracts you. You will likely find much more progress made because you took the time just to sit and focus on that cloud hanging over your head. Try it! I believe you will find that cloud to be less dark and less sinister afterwards.
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