How to Stop Procrastinating: A Simple Guide to Mastering Difficult Tasks and Breaking the Procrastination Habit

by S.J. Scott

To figure out where to direct your attention, I suggest completing a seven-step exercise to identify the values in your life: Get in the right state of mind by challenging every belief that comes from an outside source. If you feel that a thought has been influenced by someone else (parents, friends, religious institutions, media, and so on), then take a few minutes to reexamine your thoughts to see if they are something that you truly believe in. Reflect on the times in your life when you were the happiest. Ask yourself, “What was I doing? Who was I with? Why did I feel happy?” Think of the times when you were proud of yourself. What did you accomplish? How did that achievement make you feel? What was it about this activity that made you feel fulfilled? Identify what has made you feel fulfilled or satisfied in the past. How and why did the experience give your life meaning? Determine your core values based on your past experiences of happiness, pride, and satisfaction. Review the previous steps and identify the common elements of these peak moments. Align these experiences with value words like accomplishment, enjoyment, philanthropy, and creativity. Prioritize these values in order of importance. After you’ve identified your values, complete another 30- to 60-minute exercise where you identify your five core projects: Write down (at least) 25 projects or activities you could focus on. Take 30 minutes to examine this list and narrow down your focus to only five projects. ...