5 Simple Steps to Overcome Procrastination (To Accomplish The Important Things in Life)

Mark A. Ittleman
The Teaching of Talking

Oct 28 / 2015

If you are anything like me, you may have trials and tribulations and put off the things that really must get done. Often we are in over-whelm by circumstances that distract us from really accomplishing the most vital things of what we must do. Have you been procrastinating when it comes to:

1. Your health and well being.
2. Exercise, Diet and Nutrition
3. Time to do those fun things that just keep getting put off.
4. Taking time to get your spiritual or religious house into order.
5. Learning something new (like learning how to help a loved one or client speak better)
6. Starting a hobby you always wanted to pursue. 

All of us have challenges like the ones above. There are some simple steps to overcome our procrastination. But let’s get one thing straight. It’s not that we are procrastinating. It’s just that we have not put the time aside to decide what and when we want to do something that is usually new and different for us.

One of the reasons why we procrastinate is because a task conflicts with our established habits. When we try to do something that is out of our typical routine it takes effort and willpower to complete it. (especially if unpleasant like doing something that we have never done before, or thought we could never do.)

The simplest way to eliminate procrastination is not to fight it. You can learn to replace it with routines that will make you much happier, healthier and wiser. Once you develop a new habit it becomes hard to put off. Soon we do it without thinking, like brushing teeth, driving a car, or putting the dishes in the dishwasher!

You need a blueprint that helps you break down any task into a day-to-day process that gets completed.

Procrastination is when we make up a perfect reason not to do it. It is usually a fear or belief that is limiting. We make excuses why it cant be done. (The best excuses are “I’ve got to do _____ first! I need more information. I’ve got too many other things to do! Lack of money, lack of time, or believing that since we have NOT been able to do it up to now, it will probably not get done! All of it is B.S. (Now don’t raise your eyebrows!)

Let’s say you really wanted to help your husband or wife who has aphasia, and you are overwhelmed with all the health care costs, driving to therapy, helping him or her get dressed in the morning, doing the laundry, and the list can go on and on…..right?

Now let’s say you really know that you are truly the only one who can REALLY help him/her speak better? Let’s say you really wanted to learn The Teaching of Talking to help him/her and realize it will take time to learn and take time to stimulate speech and language throughout the day. (Guess what? You can adapt to any new routine and follow it on a consistent basis.)

Decide once and for all that you can and will stand behind your loved one and help him/her speak throughout the day following very simple methods.

1. Block out a set amount of time each day to learn The Teaching of Talking. (30 minutes?)
2. Create a Reminder to follow this habit on specific days and times. (preferred daily.)
3. Set the goal of watching the video and then doing what it instructs you to do. (put a time frame on this for a certain number of minutes.)
4. Have a plan for those days when you are not in the mood to watch the videos or stimulate speech and language.
5. Increase your effort until you are doing this consistently every day; 30 minutes.

Both good and bad habits are formed through repetition. You can learn that when you feel lazy, you take action in spite of it!

You can learn by following the simple formula above to replace the tendency to be lazy and replace them with good routines that will benefit your life and those you love.

I know this will help. How do I know? It’s the formula I follow.

Best and Take Care,

Moshe Mark Ittleman, M.S., CCC/SLP
Senior Speech Language Pathologist
Author Teaching of Talking
Helping those with aphasia talk for over 43 years!


Portions of this document were taken from one of my favorite books entitled: 22 Anti Procrastination Habits, by S.J. Scott (http://www.habitbooks.com). (I bought the book, read the information in the first 5% of the book, and read no futher. I got what was needed!) You may or may not need more.