Are you stuck in a rut?
Exploring procrastination and how to take action
Three years ago, I had made a YouTube video titled “How to get your life back on track in lockdown” where I discussed ways to get out of a rut while the entire world was stuck at home.
At the end of that video I had teased the idea of starting my own blog.
However, I didn’t start it.
Until last week.
If you’re anything like me, you also put important things off for the future, only to realise later, that the opportunity is long gone.
But Why Do We Procrastinate?
Procrastination is defined as “the act of intentionally delaying or putting off something that should be done, even when you know that there could be negative consequences.”
In other words, procrastination is a type of self-sabotage.
We do it because we have deep seated feelings of self-hatred or a lack of self-worth.
Our fear of failure, striving for perfection, and modern-day distractions, combined with our negative feelings about ourselves, create the perfect recipe for procrastination.
We deliberately avoid the important things that truly matter and have the power to change our lives for the better because, deep down, we’ve convinced ourselves that we are unworthy of success, happiness, and well-being.
The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Overcoming Self-Sabotage
In the Short Term
Here are some steps that you can take to instantly have an impact on your productivity.
1. Change your environment, or change your environment
Do you make your bed everyday? Is stuff on your work table always cluttered? Does your environment help you or hinder you from being productive?
One of the simplest ways to get out of a rut is by fixing your environment, which is often one of the biggest reasons you might not feel like working in the first place.
Clean your room, organise your wardrobe, declutter your table—do whatever it takes to transform your environment into something that allows you to function properly. Or change it completely.
You might need to move out of your parents’ house, find a new roommate, or even take a vacation to change your physical environment and get an opportunity to start afresh.
2. Use The 2 Minute Rule
If there’s a task that can be completed in 2 minutes or less, do it immediately.
This also works surprisingly well when starting a new habit.
Want to get into the habit of reading every day? Commit to doing it for just 2 minutes. But do it every single day.
Want to start exercising regularly? Promise yourself to do it only for 2 minutes, and stick to it.
As silly as it may sound, the magic of 2 minutes works wonders to get you out of a stubborn rut—especially if you’re stubborn enough.
3. Say 3, 2, 1, GO!
Most important tasks are unsexy and boring—like folding laundry, doing the dishes, or eating your vegetables. Sometimes, all you need is a little nudge to get things done.
Here’s how it works:
Sit down wherever you wish to do your task.
Remind yourself why that task is important and why you need to complete it.
Take a deep breath, say “3, 2, 1, GO!” (either out loud or in your head), and get to work.
These are strategies I regularly use to check off important tasks off my to-do list, and they work well in the short term.
Now, let’s discuss how to overcome self-sabotage in the long term.
In the Long Term
As I discussed in my previous newsletter, your physical-self plays a huge role in how you feel, and as a result how you function.
The things that have helped me the most to fix my anxiety, insecurities, and lack of self-esteem are lifting weights, meditation, and journalling.
Lifting heavy weights transforms your physique.
Meditation transforms your mind.
Journalling helps you reflect on your day, plan for the next, and make better choices.
Try incorporating these into your routine for just two weeks (if you haven’t already), and witness your life change.
These habits not only complement each other but also give rise to other better habits.
Exercising regularly forces you to check your diet, or you will compromise your performance.
Consistent meditation calms your anxiety and increases your attention span, allowing you to consume higher-quality content—like books, podcasts, and newsletters like this one.
Journalling daily enables you to gain clarity about your ideas, thoughts, and perspectives, which you can share with the world to create a positive impact on the lives of those around you.
The newsletter’s getting kind of long, so I’ll end it here. What are some strategies and hacks you use to get things done? Reply to this email and let me know!
I’d love to hear your approach, and I’ll see you next week with another idea :)
Good read!
I like writing down and reminding myself of my goals and all the actions needed to achieve them. It helps me build a daily routine that takes me closer :)