How to Stop Procrastinating: a simple Guide to Mastering Difficult Tasks and Breaking the Procrastination Habit

Exercise #5: Say No to Anything That Doesn’t
Match Your Goals
A simple way to avoid procrastination from happening in the first place is
to say no when it comes to any task, project, or obligation that doesn’t
perfectly align with the goals that you’ve set for yourself.
This will help you in three ways:
1. You remove the feeling of overwhelm that often happens when
you’ve overbooked yourself.
2. You stop agreeing to tasks simply because you don’t want
disappoint others.
3. You eliminate the likelihood that you’ll “tinker” on activities that
don’t directly relate to your quarterly goals.
You can say no by practicing five habits on a consistent basis:
1. Say no politely but firmly if you know there’s no chance you’ll
follow through on a task. Simply tell the person that you have a few
priority projects that require your full attention and you can’t afford
the distraction.
2. Identify the mandatory tasks that can’t be avoided and attach them
to an important goal or value.
3. Compare each request for your time to your current five projects. If
they don’t match, then have the courage to say no to the requester.
4. Talk to your boss about your work projects and make sure that you
both agree on the priorities for your job. Then eliminate any task or
project that doesn’t align with these priorities.
5. Ask yourself, “What will my obituary say?” Make choices based on
the values that truly matter.

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