Powering Through Procrastination

A four-part series by Robin Mahle-Piccione.

We’ve all struggled with procrastination at some point in our lives. Especially as busy business owners, everything seems to demand our immediate attention. Learning how to power through procrastination, and prioritize along the way, can be instrumental to moving the needle in your business growth and for high performance. This four-part series is designed to help you identify which type of procrastination styles apply to you, and how to overcome the urge to put things off until tomorrow.

Part 2: Procrastination by indecision.

We live in a world with so many choices that it can be hard to make decisions. Overthinking every possible outcome can leave us mentally drained. Sometimes, the fear of making the “wrong” choice can keep us from making any choice at all.

When we’re stuck in indecision, our minds might say, “I don’t know where to start,” so we don’t start at all. Or we might think, “If I make the wrong choice, bad things will happen,” so fear stops us from moving forward.

But remember, not deciding is still a decision. You’re choosing to stay where you are, and that takes just as much mental energy as making any other decision. When you focus on why you’re not ready to start, it feels like you’re making the right choice by waiting. But what if the other pieces you’re waiting for never fall into place? As the famous quote by Marcus Cicero reminds us…

Three Effective Strategies to Power Through Procrastination

When you’re ready to stop letting indecision hold you back, try these powerful strategies to help you make decisions more confidently:

1. Practice Positivity: Start by making small, low-stakes decisions where any choice leads to a positive outcome. For example, choose between coffee or tea, chocolate or vanilla ice cream, or whether to walk or skip to the car. This helps train your brain to feel good about making decisions. The more you practice, the better you’ll be at making bigger decisions when it counts.
2. Use Tools Like Pro/Con Lists: Big decisions often have big consequences, and not all outcomes will be positive. Writing down the pros and cons or creating a consequence tree can help you get your thoughts out of your head and make it easier to take action.
3. Avoid Decision Fatigue: Make your most important decisions early in the morning when your mind is fresh. The saying “let me sleep on it” isn’t about delaying; it’s about making decisions when you’re well-rested. Decision fatigue happens when you’ve made so many choices during the day that it gets harder to make good decisions. This can lead to more procrastination, which is a habit that’s hard to break.

Through all these strategies, focus on what you’ll gain, not what you’ll lose. Growth comes from change and stepping out of your comfort zone. Uncertainty might make you hesitate, but when you focus on your goals, the fear of the unknown gets smaller. Remind yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing and decide to chase your dreams!