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

Contents
INTRODUCTION
THE DAY MY FATHER ALMOST DIED
WHAT IS PROCRASTINATION?
ABOUT HOW TO STOP PROCRASTINATING
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
8 REASONS WHY PEOPLE PROCRASTINATE
REASON #1: YOU ARE A PERFECTIONIST
REASON #2: YOU FEAR THE UNKNOWN
REASON #3: YOU PROMISE TO DO IT “LATER”
REASON #4: YOU FOCUS ON EASY TASKS
REASON #5: YOU EXPERIENCE A LACK OF MOTIVATION
REASON #6: YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO GET STARTED
REASON #7: YOU OFTEN GET DISTRACTED
REASON #8: YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME
Exercise #1: Identify Your Procrastination Reasons
STEP #1: IDENTIFY YOUR CURRENT COMMITMENTS
OPTION #1: THE GETTING THINGS DONE (GTD) METHOD
OPTION #2: HOW TO STOP PROCRASTINATING METHOD
Exercise #2: Write Down All Your Current Commitments
STEP #2: FOCUS ON FIVE CORE PROJECTS
THE 25–5 RULE EXPLAINED
HOW TO IDENTIFY YOUR CORE VALUES

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HOW TO SELECT YOUR FIVE CORE PROJECTS
Exercise #3: Focus on Five Core Projects
STEP #3: SET QUARTERLY S.M.A.R.T. GOALS
EXAMPLES OF S.M.A.R.T. GOALS
ACTION #1: FOCUS ON FIVE PROJECTS
ACTION #2: FOCUS ON THREE-MONTH GOALS
ACTION #3: USE A WEEKLY REVIEW TO TWEAK YOUR GOALS
ACTION #4: TURN EACH FOCUS INTO A PROJECT
ACTION #5: REVIEW YOUR GOALS
ACTION #6: EVALUATE YOUR QUARTERLY GOALS
Exercise #4: Set Your Quarterly S.M.A.R.T. Goals
STEP #4: SAY NO TO COMPETING PROJECTS AND
OBLIGATIONS
PRACTICE #1: SAY NO AS EARLY AND POLITELY AS POSSIBLE
PRACTICE #2: IDENTIFY THE MANDATORY TASKS
PRACTICE #3: COMPARE EACH REQUEST TO YOUR CURRENT
PROJECTS
PRACTICE #4: TALK TO YOUR BOSS ABOUT YOUR TOP PROJECTS
PRACTICE #5: ASK YOURSELF, “WHAT WILL MY OBITUARY SAY?”
Exercise #5: Say No to Anything That Doesn’t Match Your