Even top performers can end up procrastinating on important tasks when they feel overwhelmed and stressed. Although you're urging yourself to just take action That might sound like a good solution, it's kind of like telling a sad person to "just cheer up". What you need instead is a specific process that works with your psychology rather than fighting against it.
Related: 3 Tricks to Make You More Productive
When you use this ultimate anti-procrastination hack, you bypass any internal resistance and engage in action almost effortlessly. Plus, it only takes about 10 seconds to implement and is virtually guaranteed to succeed when done correctly.
The Anti-Procrastination Hack Formula
The formula for action is simple:Ask- you, Can I just [insert micro-commitment here]? A micro-commitment is something so small and simple that you will gladly say "yes" even if you have very little willpower.
For example, suppose someone procrastinates cleaning their house. He may ask, Can I take just two minutes to clean my desk? On the surface, it might seem like it wouldn't do much. However, he will likely notice an internal change when he kicks in.
You never wanted to do something, like exercise, but once you started, you felt more motivated to continue? This happens because momentum generates motivation. The trick is not to wait to get motivated. Take a small step that generates motivation and keep asking yourself, Can I do a little more?
After fulfilling that little commitment to clean up the desk, he may find himself thinking, I've already started, so I might as well keep going for a bit longer. Next thing you know, the whole bedroom is clean.
Let's see how this formula can be used to beat the four drivers of procrastination:fear, overwhelm, uncertainty, and perfectionism.
Overcoming Fear
One way to overcome fear is through exposure therapy, which gradually exposes you to the things you fear in a safe environment.
Imagine someone who is afraid to speak in public . They may ask, Can I just talk in my living room to a few close friends about something I like to talk about? As is sure, they will often manage to do so. Then they can gradually raise the stakes as they become more comfortable:Can I just invite a stranger to join my private group? Can I show up for 30 seconds at a local networking event? Can I speak to a small group for five minutes to raise awareness for a cause I'm passionate about?
The key is not to step out of your comfort zone; it’s to stretch your comfort zone. Start with something you can do that is only slightly uncomfortable, build from there and you will gain confidence.
Overcoming the overwhelm
The feeling of being overwhelmed happens when you only focus on the overview. While it's important to dream big and find inspiration, if that's all you focus on, accomplishing something can seem daunting. This is why many experts recommend breaking larger goals down into smaller action steps.
If a person wants to improve their health and feels overwhelmed by how many things they need to change , she may ask:Can I focus on a healthier breakfast this week?
By focusing on one or two priorities at a time, you are more likely to make each new behavior a habit. Once something is habitual, you can add new habits without feeling overwhelmed.
Overcoming uncertainty
One thing that can fuel procrastination is not being able to focus on the next best step . But you can drive hundreds of miles at night, seeing only what's right in front of you. Sometimes the only way to get clarity is to take some type of action and then use feedback for course correction.
A person who is unsure of the career in which she wants to get started might ask:Can I try a new activity this week and see what I like and dislike? For example:Can I volunteer as a mentor for an afternoon? Can I just take a cooking class? Can I just write an article on a topic I enjoy?
Although none of this can become a career, you can find out more – whether you like working alone or with others, like working with your hands or prefer mental challenges, etc. The key here is that micro-engagement is not about making the “right” long-term choice, but rather about seeing it as a stepping stone to greater self-awareness and clarity.
Overcoming Perfectionism
While it's important to get it right, it's also important to give yourself permission to make mistakes. Like a baby learning to walk. You're not going to nail it right off the bat, and that's fine.
Tim Ferriss took this approach by giving himself a quota to write two pages of shit a day. This micro-commitment included both the amount of pages (only two), as well as an allowance for them to be less than perfect.
You can do the same. Asking, Can I spend five minutes doing shitty work?
Paradoxically, when you remove the pressure to be perfect, you may find that over time you end up generating your best work. The key is to create a space for creative expression that has no filter for quality, then come back to what you produced later in the spirit of improvement.
When you apply the anti hack -ultimate procrastination, you may notice an immediate transformation, or the momentum could build over several weeks or months. Either way, the key is to start today by committing to something you're guaranteed to say "yes to." All you have to do is remember the three magic words:Can I just?
Now pick one thing you've been procrastinating on, implement a micro-commitment that will give you a boost, then watch this happens as your seemingly small successes generate your greatest breakthroughs.
Related: The Best Ways to Beat Procrastination
