INTENTIONS:
Feeling stuck in life can be incredibly frustrating; especially when it feels like a permanent state. You may be struggling with a lack of motivation, overwhelmed with responsibility or entirely unsure of your next step.
This blog offers advice in mindset shifts, intentional actions and finding clarity through practical strategies which will break you free from stagnation.
It is time to reclaim control over your time and energy- your journey starts here!
Here is how to level up your life!
In this blog I will delve into what causes procrastination and how to avoid it.
Alongside my advice, I will guide you towards some of the influencers who have helped with my personal development journey!
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IDENTIFYING LIMITING BELIEFS:
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After so long of being stuck in a cycle of a negative mental attitude – it can become quite hard to separate beliefs from reality. Thoughts such as ‘I’m so behind in life’ and ‘there’s no way I can accomplish this’ often cause self-sabotaging behaviours as well as endless ‘mind chatter’.
The video below demonstrates how these thought patterns often ‘stem from a place of fear’ and do not accurately reflect reality. You will gain access to a free self-reflection worksheet to help you start this new, happier chapter of your life:
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In summary, this video presents the following:
» Awareness: What triggers you? What is holding you back? What are the underlying beliefs making you feel this way? Where did this come from?
» Changing beliefs/manifesting a new reality: Ingrain new beliefs such as “I can confidently handle any challenging task; these challenges help me grow so I embrace them”.
» Reprogramme your mind: When your brain is in a calm state such as when meditating, right before falling asleep/waking up, repeat positive affirmations to rewire your thoughts!
Below is a summary I created of observing negative thoughts – a useful guide to challenging behaviours!
WHAT CAUSES PROCRASTINATION:
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Procrastination is ‘the act of delaying or putting off tasks and decisions’. It is an issue which we all face from time to time however the key to maximising potential is through limiting this act. During my time in high school, I was the first-person people would think about when someone mentioned procrastination. I constantly missed deadlines; watching Netflix shows rather than revising. It felt like a never-ending cycle of guilt, yet I did nothing proactive to put an end to it! It resulted in poor grades, and a lack of trust from teachers.
Then, one day, I stumbled across a former lawyer-turned motivational speaker named Mel Robbins. Her podcasts took me on a much-needed journey of productivity and personal growth. The first video I ever watched of her’s was named “How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over”.
Her first point was to be selfish – something I did not expect to hear.
Sometimes you must put yourself first so that you can be better for others. This was a point that stuck out to me as someone who cared a lot about what others thought of me.
We convince ourselves that we are fine not having things as an excuse not to take action! When really, to live the fullest life, we must understand the importance of meaningful actions- not only to reward our future selves, but also so that we can live presently without worrying what could happen.
The odds of us being born are 1: 400,000,000,000. Why do we see things as unattainable when these are the stats!?
Her main point was that “you’re never going to feel like it”. Procrastination is often caused by ‘what if’s’. “What if I fail”, “what if I am doing it all wrong”.
When we have an impulse to start something, we must act within 5 seconds. Waiting any longer pulls the ‘emergency break’ according to Mel – leading to the same old cycle of self-doubt and pity.
“Do it unmotivated, do it despite your mood as nobody else is going to make you”.
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This is exactly what I did. I began to achieve better grades, meet deadlines and even had time to make more plans with friends. It was all about turning my brain off autopilot! Small steps such as creating a structured morning routine and avoiding social media after waking up helped me to rewire my brain.
That’s just some of the video that changed my life. I’d recommend watching the entire video linked above. Her words are complimented by humour and scientific research:
SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT ALWAYS THE CAUSE:
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Too often I hear people put the blame on social media for making Generation Z lazy – here is why I disagree…
» If it wasn’t social media causing distraction it would be something else.
NOW WHAT DOES THIS MEAN:
The earliest record of the use of the word ‘procrastination’ dates back to the 1540’s. This means the phenomenon has been around way before humans began using social media sites such as Instagram and TikTok. Chances are that people were distracted by other things like reading which nowadays would be considered a productive use of time. Furthermore, in ancient Greek times, orator Demosthenes shaved one side of his head to avoid public speaking.
» Social media can be used as motivation.
It is important that we pay attention to the content we consume. I found that following creators such as other university students as well as those I shared passions with was a great way to rewire my brain. Following pessimistic or unmotivated individuals can subconsciously transfer similar ideologies back to us, causing feelings of anxiety and stress.
Thanks for reading! Think about this:
Whilst staying in bed all day, eating chocolate and scrolling through socials does sound very appealing (trust me, I’ve been there), take a second to think about its long-term impacts.
Whatever ideas have been circling your mind, whether that be a new project or perhaps you want to try out a new hobby – start now! Take this post as a sign to start living not just existing.
Why not comment down below your advice? Let’s motivate each other!
What actions are you going to take? Let me know!