Procrastination is the thief of time

I remember being taught this saying when I was 11 or 12 years old. Procrastination was such a big word, I could barely say it, let alone apply it in context. As I have grown older and gone on my merry way in the big world, I have found myself to now be a master of  "procrastination". Apparently, I am not alone.

These days we're so "busy" and are easily distracted by Facebook, Twitter, email,  mobile phones or apps, that it can be easy to end up putting off the big things we want to do.  When I say big things, I am referring to the things that we know we need to do or the things that we "should be doing" in order for us to be heading in the direction of our goals and our life's purpose. Well, at least this is what I have found for me. And I guess, when we break down these "big" things into step by step goals or daily actions, they're really not so big after all. It was only ever a perception that we had.

So the big question is, how does one go about applying themselves to achieving their goals and not end up distracted? I am still in the process of figuring that one out in its entirity. But I have found a few steps that have been most helpful in allowing me to be more productive, more focussed and getting more out of my days. I thought it may be helfpul for you if I shared some of them with you, to help you being to break the cycle.

The first thing, is to decide what it is that you really want out of life. What is your big picture, your end game, the place you want to end up? This becomes your "why". The reason that you would commit yourself to doing things that you wouldn't usually do, forming new habits. When you know what you are working towards, it becomes easier to focus on the end result. You will do whatever it takes to get you there. This big picture will keep you going on the days when you think you can't go any further.

The next thing would be to list the steps that you need to take to get you there. So for example, if your big picture is to change your career from retail assistant to running your own business,  you would probably need to set yourself a timeline of when this would be achieved, what education would you need to undertake, who would you need to talk to about setting up your business, you may decide to join a networking group, develop a business plan, source a premise to run your business from - the list goes on. Then list out the steps that will take you to where you want to be. It's also really helpful to put dates of when you want to have achieved these by. If you're a visual person, make a timeline and stick it up in your office. It will be a constant reminder of the end picture you have in mind for yourself.

From here, it's a matter of looking at your daily actions. How do you structure your days? Are they structured at all? Could you benefit from some structure? Pencil in your diary time for you to carry out something for yourself for that day. And more importantly, make sure you actually do it. During this time, your phone should be off, computer off, no other distractions, just take this time purely and simply for you. For me personally, I find first thing in the morning is great. Mainly because no one else in the house is up and I can give to myself first and then am ready to give to rest of the world for the remainder of the day.

If working from home during the day, I find it useful to plan out my time. Schedule and allocate time in your diary for tasks ie. answering emails, developing business plans, making phone calls etc etc. I also allocate tea breaks, a lunch break and "my time". Then, as I complete each task I tick it off.

If there's a task in my diary that I really don't feel like doing, then I put a timer on for 30 minutes and spend a solid amount of time on that task. I may not complete it, but at least I have put in some action towards completing it. Most of the time though, once the 30 minutes are up I keep going any way beacause I am already in the groove and the sense of accomplishment that comes from completing something dreaded is awesome.

When you sit down at your computer, put a timer on for 30 minutes while you are checking your email/facebook/twitter. This will allow you to become more effective at spending your time wisely, rather than frivilously. I'm not sure if I am the only one that it happens to, but time seems to disappear when I am getting caught up in everyone else's world and their drama. Once the timer goes off, log out of your account and get back to what you need to be doing.

I trust that you've found these tips useful. Have a go at implementing a couple of them into your daily routine, you never know you just may be able to become the "Master of your time", making the most of every day. I will leave you with this thought...

Where Focus Goes.... energy flows

Don't think of a purple elephant!

Hang on a second, you just thought of exactly that although I told you not to. Do you know why? Because one of the universal laws is where focus goes energy flows.

What exactly does this mean I hear you ask? Well, let's just say you're fixated with all the negatives in your life, how you're so busy, you're tired all the time, the world is filled with idiots, everything is so hard, people set out to make your life difficult.... do I need to go on? What do you think you are going to filter into your daily experiences and encounters with the world? You will be out there searching for examples of the negative. And that's cool. We're all doing the best we can with the knowledge, information and resources we have at any given moment.

However, what kind of a world would be out there for you if you began to look at things from a different perspective? What if you began to schedule your day better or even get out of bed 15 minutes earlier and go to bed 15 minutes later? All of a sudden you've just created an extra half an hour in your day. What could you do with that time to add even more value to yourself and your day?

What if you started to exercise, nothing too over the top to begin with, just a gentle 30 minute walk around the block to clear your head. I can guarantee you that you will feel more energised after it. What if you chose to look at problems as possibilities instead? Then sit back and notice how things seem to unfold in a whole different light. Has the world suddenly changed? No, you are choosing to focus on a different outcome.

Come with me for a second. Grab your torch and let's go into this gigantic warehouse that stands before us. Take your torch and shine it anywhere you choose. What do you see? Are you seeing the possibilities that lay before you or are you seeing a big empty warehouse? What if you move your torch over to the left a little? What are you seeing now? What could you see if you chose to? Now, what would happen if someone turned on a huge flood light, and this once doomy and gloomy warehouse was now lit up like a Christmas tree?

The warehouse is a representation of our mind. Sometimes we can focus too much on the negatives and get caught up in a trap of allowing things to "happen" to us. It can be easy to forget that we are 100% responsible for ourselves and the results we're getting in our lives. It can be easy to blame others and make excuses for what's going on.

My challenge to you is for you to take the torch of your mind and to shine it in a new place, a place that may be unchartered territory or a place that you haven't visited for a while.  What can you now see that perhaps you couldn't before? What possibilities are opening themselves up to you? What direction could you now choose to go in that perhaps you haven't thought to go before or have been afraid to go in? What action step could you take that would be a step towards achieving a goal? I'd love to hear what you find when you shine your torch in a different part of your "warehouse".

Say "Yes" and then work out how...

In this day and age, we've become so accustomed to saying no, that maybe some of us have forgotten how to say yes. We constantly say "no"to ourselves and our desires because we get too caught up in the "what ifs". Well, chances are the "what if" will never happen.

I am going to challenge your thinking for a moment, what if you were to start saying "ÿes"and then working out how after? What possibilities would open up for you?

Did you set a New Year's Resolution or two at the start of 2012?  Are still focussing on achieving your resolution? Have you  decided that it's too hard, you're too busy, you don't have enough time, it costs too much and have already said no? Have you  had problems and drama creep into their lives? But what if they weren't problems? What if they were possibilities that were presenting themselves to you?

I am sure you are familiar with Walt Disney? This man was infamous for his creative flair and out-of-the-box thinking. He didn't let anyone stand in his way. He had his studios set out in a such a way so as each room had a specific purpose. First of all, there was the "Dream" room. This was a room filled with magnificent colour, an air of playfulness, infinite possibilities, a room where the dreaming took place, where ideas were thrown about and there was no such thing as a bad idea. In this room anything could happen

A bit further down was what was known as the "reality" room. This room was filled with storyboards and post-it notes where the ideas started to take shape. This was a room where you started backwards and then began to work forwards. You began with the end in mind. This room was all about "how will this come to life". There was no place for lack nor negativity, the main focus was that  - anything is possible.

Further away again, was a plainly coloured room containing only a desk and a chair. This was aptly named the sweat room.  This room was where the real work was done. It was designed so that one would get in there and get their work done as efficiently as possible, as this wasn't a comfortable space to be hanging out in.

So, I'd encourage you to take a few moments and let yourself into your "dream" room. Open yourself up and start to dream again. What could you if you knew no fear, lack or limitations? What would you choose if you began to see a plethora of opportunities laid out before you? Where is your dream room? It need not be a space in your house. You may find your dream room whilst you're out walking or on the beach or on a mountain top. Wherever it is, I strongly encourage you to take the time out to "Say Yes and then work out how".