Don't Dilly Dally: Defeating Procastination

Written by Mavi Warren, Chiropractic Assistant
            Edited by Monica McCann, Office Manager

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If you are like most of the human population, at one time or another, you will face the desire to procrastinate!  Procrastination is defined as delaying or postponing a set of tasks. 

​It is essentially the thing that stops you from achieving what you set out to accomplish! 

​Get organized; I know I have the hardest time sticking to a timeline if I’m not organized beforehand. I tend to let the squirrels in the attic run wild if there isn’t a check list or notes for a timeline to get things done. The best advice I ever got (in this regard) was to invest in a day planner and to make it fit me and my style- my flare.  Making it my style means I enjoy writing in it and taking it with me wherever the day may go.

​Eliminate distraction; This one is a biggie for me! I am a badge wearing member of the ADHD community and it is imperative that I get rid of distractions if I need to accomplish a major task or meet a deadline! Now, for those of us whose brains have a different way of looking and processing things, my best distraction buster is a quiet space with no pretty scenery, no piles of clothes on the chair, no people around me… I know this sounds hard to find but if it’s important enough, you can create it. I also like to add a light musical aspect to my environment; nothing with words, nothing that makes me want to dance! Just good old,  clean classical music to keep that part of my brain busy while I focus on the task at hand.

​Prioritize; to list or rate (projects, goals, etc.) in order of priority. I’m good at a lot of things but I struggle with this one… I have learned through my life to put the things I need to get done down on paper  . Number them in importance from 1 to infinity.  Start at the beginning and just keep making progress on your list.  Remember! Your list works for you and does not need to be set in stone.  You can modify, improve, or scrap what's not working for you and make a list that is!

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Have you been procrastinating on making your health a priority?  If you want help getting started on your journey to wellness, give us a call! 

I want to be a new patient!

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​Set Goals; I think the trick here is to be more specific with the goals. When we make goals that are vague such as “clean the house,” the task at hand may feel overwhelming. I see that task and can find myself going in circles. I start cleaning the living room but as I carry things up to my bedroom to put them away, I’m suddenly making my bed then cleaning off my nightstand.  Without thinking, I find myself in the kitchen doing the dishes. I’ve lost focus and am spinning my wheels getting nothing done! SO, make it a specific task, “clean the dishes” make the bed” "vacuum the living room". Breaking the bigger goal into specific tasks helps me stay focused and make real progress by the end of the day!

​Set Deadlines; I love deadlines! I feel the pressure and am motivated to conquer the task at hand. There is a kind of adrenaline rush that you feel when you know this task must be done, complete, finished! 

​Reward yourself; When you give yourself a reward, your brain produces dopamine, a hormone that makes us feel good and joyful. This hormone also acts as a stress reliever, restoring mental clarity. Rewarding yourself is an act of self love and a great way to motivate you to finish what you started!