92 | 27 Excuses and the 5-Point Strategy

Have you ever experienced this? You take on a task, go to work, and get it done right away. You are happy with the quick success. And then there are tasks where something just gets in the way. You postpone the quick success. Why is that?

I feel the same way about some projects right now. Even though I expect them to be brilliant, I can't get out of the woods. I'm doing other things that could have waited a long time. Those other quick wins are nice, too, but they do not bring me closer to my goal.

I was just thinking about the excuses we adults use when we procrastinate. Some sound familiar to me. When I use an excuse, I use it on myself.

Here's the full list:

1. "I just don't have time right now, it'll have to wait."
2. "I'm so exhausted, I'll do it later when I'm more rested."
3. "I'm overwhelmed."
4. "I've been sick."
5. "I need to check my email/social media first, then I'll get to work."
6. "I'm going to go to the backyard for a minute."
7. "I'm going shopping."
8. "I should do this, but it's not as important now as..."
9. "I had other priorities."
10. "I can't tackle this task until I know exactly how to do it perfectly."
11. "I need to read another book on this first."
12. "I want to do more research on the Internet."
13. "I'll just put it off until tomorrow."
14. "What can be put off today will be put off tomorrow."
15. "I'll start it later, I have plenty of time."
16. "This is so much work, I don't even know where to begin."
17. "There were unexpected events that prevented me from doing it."
18. "I didn't have an assignment."
19. "I was on vacation."
20. "I don't feel particularly inspired to do this today."
21. "I'm not motivated."
22. "I don't have any resources."
23. "I don't want to do this because it might cause conflict."
24. "It's not my job."
25. "My computer/cell phone isn't working properly, so I can't get started."
26. "I didn't understand what I was supposed to do."
27. "I forgot."

No Excuse

The best strategy against excuses is not to make excuses. Once you have decided to do something, it is best to do it immediately. Immediately really means act now. Because when I do something, I can concentrate on it.

Sometimes it's like jogging, especially when you run long distances. During the first 20 minutes I usually don't feel so good. After that I find my rhythm, my thoughts sort themselves out and I can concentrate on running. Soon it's not the running that's working, it's my body. Everything fits together perfectly. I feel very good and enjoy what I am doing. My mind can wander and new, great ideas come to me. At the finish line I just feel good. In those moments, I am especially proud of myself. That's a really good feeling.

This strategy can also be applied to our behavior when we want to complete tasks but feel like we're facing a barrier.

The 5-Point Strategy:

1. Decide to do something right now.
2. Do it immediately.
3. Stick in there when you feel distracted.
4. Reach flow when everything happens naturally.
5. Have a clear goal and feel wonderful when you reach it.

Nothing is impossible

We are all enablers. We bring thoughts and ideas to life, win people over, and creatively create new possibilities in collaboration. It works best without excuses. It works best because we want it to.

Experience shows that it is our will and our actions that move us forward.

We want the change, we go for it.