How do you avoid procrastination and overthinking?

A super simple GiFT631 framework to help you get started!

Procrastination feeds, overthinking, second guessing, self doubt, fear and, at times, anxiety!

It’s not helpful.

I believe our level of success (or otherwise) is largely decided by what is happening between our ears - our mindset and the quality of our self-talk. Is you talk dominated by your inner critic or your inner champion. In super simple terms are you telling yourself you can or you can’t.

If your inner critic is in control at the point of taking decisions and potentially new actions, it frequently leads to procrastination and over-thinking as people create this internal state of anxiety, fear and caution . Gail Kelly, the former CEO of Westpac, got it 100% right when she talked about people going: 'ready, aim, aim again, aim again'. By the time these people get around to firing, if they ever do, the opportunity is lost & the target has moved out of range. 

People spectate. They watch others jump in, take action & move forward. To use the analogy above, they watch and wait whilst others take the shot. Why is this? I do not believe it is because people do not know what to do. People convince themselves that the time isn't right, they haven't got enough time, the conditions aren't right, they haven't got the required skills, the right team.......the list goes on and on.

Yet, are there ever perfect conditions, times or teams? Do we ever have 100% of the skills needed? Can we ever be 100% certain things will go exactly to plan? I don't believe so. So how do we get better at deciding what to do and move quickly to action.

How do we create the belief to move into action without evidence it will work? (Belief without evidence is a big part of my current coaching conversations).

To avoid this ‘spectator trap’, I developed one of my ultra simple mantras:

Decide-Commit-Go!

Once I have decided what I am going to do, but before I begin, I ask myself whether I am totally committed to what I am about to do. If I am not at least a 9/10, I don't start.

This increases the likelihood of success as I only start the things that really matter to me. It ensures I am committed, passionate, resilient and I will persist when faced with the challenges and obstacles that will come my way. It is therefore easier to start and harder to stop.

It also saves time and energy. I see many initiatives fizzle out (wasting time) because of a lack of commitment. This breeds future inactivity. People start to second guess themselves. 'That didn't work out, so maybe I am not good enough, not got enough time etc etc'. These things should never have been started in the first place!

Start less but commit more!

Once I pass my internal commitment test, then I am #allin! It is essential I take immediate action. In essence I 'go.' If it is a big task or goal, I use my power of 10 framework (see my YouTube #giftbite on this framework at Andy Fell, GiFT631) to ensure I break the goal or task down into a series of smaller goals and next best actions. This creates momentum. It is also easier to focus on small action steps rather than be overwhelmed by a big SMUUT goal.

I love to learn and improve my own work. Often these learnings come from my clients. Kevin Griffen, the MD of a GiFT631 foundation client, added the word 'Execute'

Decide - Commit - Go! - Execute

As KG said ‘ it is great to start and even better to finish!’

Execution is what really matters.

I truly believe this simple mantra is another way to avoid overthinking and procrastination and get moving in the direction of your goals. Nothing is achieved without action.

In summary:

1) Decide what matters most and what you want to achieve. Equally decide what you are not going to do! Focus on the things that matter most.

2) Make sure you are totally committed to the goal and required activity. If not, do not start. Start less!

3) Take immediate action. Go! Create a quick win to build confidence and momentum. It avoids the build up of anxiety, fear and ultimately procrastination & over-thinking.

4) Use the power of 10 framework to ensure you stay the course and achieve the goal. This ensures you execute and finish more.

5) Repeat until this becomes a winning routine!