Is Procrastination Keeping You from Getting Ahead?

Procrastination, otherwise known as creative avoidance or making excuses, is one of the most powerful habits preventing you from developing your truest potential.

We all have hopes and dreams for a successful future. Some of us even set goals and objectives that we plan to meet. Regardless of where we fit in that spectrum, there are always opportunities to get distracted and create excuses that prevent us from reaching our goals.

Inspirational speaker Peggy L. McNamara, author of the No More Excuses series, offers some tips to push you into action:

* The first step to overcoming creative avoidance is to recognize it.

Take a few moments to identify one objective you've had for yourself, but haven't found the time to fit into your schedule. Even though you know this task would be helpful to you, your career or personal life, you still keep it on the "back burner." Deep down, we all have things that we avoid to some extent. The longer you've been avoiding an issue, the longer it will take to recognize your avoidance. For some of us, our procrastination becomes guilt, which then can snowball into reduced effectiveness. What is it that you have been putting off?

* Ask yourself "Why have I been putting this thing off?"

It is crucial that you force yourself to set your emotions aside and look at this situation as logically as possible. Writing things down can help with that process. This is not the place to judge, condemn or criticize. Write down the reasons for not acting on this thought or plan. If you discover that your life has changed, and therefore this goal no longer fits, then dispose of it before it gets in the way of anything else in your life. However, if you know there is something you really want to make happen, figure out what is stopping you from taking the first step. Without that knowledge, creative avoidance will thrive.

* Creative avoidance is simply letting your fears, doubts or inhibitions get in the way.

Whether it is fear of failure, success, looking stupid, vulnerability, all the work it will take to make this happen, how others will react or just general lack of belief in yourself, fear can and will get in the way of your dreams. Procrastination is simply a way to cover up your fears about a certain goal. Sure, some things are boring and may be put off such as organizing a closet or cleaning out the garage. But this is about things such as starting a new business, resolving a conflict or adjusting your lifestyle to be more positive. Change is not easy. It is common to create a negative picture in our minds of a goal we have not yet acted on. The key is to discover what is at the root of your procrastination. When you are really creative at avoiding something and have lots of fears wrapped around it, you are probably onto something significant that could affect your life in a positive way. What are you afraid of?

* Don't let fear prevent you from fulfilling your potential.

Ask yourself the following questions: “What is the worst that could happen if I take the first step toward this goal?" Or, "Will I regret it if I keep setting this task aside?" The answers to those two questions can be your driving force as well as give you the courage to move ahead.

* Last, but not least, find someone to whom you will be accountable.

Most of us feel more committed when we answer to someone. If you are not comfortable with this idea, then find someone who will encourage you when you need it. We all have moments of doubt and it is important we have people we can talk with to give us a hand.

Overcoming creative avoidance is a life-long commitment. It is crucial to accept that every day brings new challenges, obstacles and opportunities. The key is to be able to identify when we are avoiding something due to lack of courage. "If you work on these solutions you will be able to combat creative avoidance ... one step at a time," says McNamara.