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Stop Procrastination – Prepare In Advance

Treat-your-to-do-list

It is terrific to know that you can stop procrastination by preparing in advance. Procrastination means to postpone doing something, especially as a regular practice. Most often, procrastination kills progress and stunts positive growth. Just as there are numerous reasons why people procrastinate, there are numerous cures for procrastination. One cure is to prepare in advance.  

Often people procrastinate because when it is time to complete a task, they do not have all the tools and materials needed. This problem is solved by preparing in advance. Think of your to do list like a dinner party. When you are hosting a dinner party, you do several things before the party is due to start:

  • consider the reason for the party
  • think about how many guests will be attending
  • arrange to have adequate supplies for each attendee
  • make arrangements to clean up after the affair

It is a good idea to follow a similar process when looking at your to do list each day in order to stop procrastination. For example:

  • why is each item on the list, what is the purpose
  • how many of the items on the list must get done that day
  • what tools and supplies do you need to complete today’s tasks
  • what items that you start today will need to be followed up tomorrow

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This bit of advance planning will help you successfully navigate your to do list and stop procrastination. Additionally, if certain items on your to do list recur on a regular basis, it is a good idea to learn the expression, “you don’t get ready, you stay ready.” The idea being that phrase is that certain things occur often enough that you can avoid procrastination and problems by always being prepared for them in advance. Look at the following items for example:

  • a restaurant needs to keep its specialty items in stock
  • a bank must keep cash on hand for customers
  • entrepreneurs must keep available means to communicate with customers
  • parents with infants must keep diapers in the house

No matter who you are or what you do, you can help stop procrastination by preparing in advance.

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In conclusion, it is terrific to know that you can stop procrastination by preparing in advance. So, the question for you this terrific day is what have you made preparation to accomplish?

Want to learn more? Here are a few books to get you started. These books are affiliate links. This means I may earn money if you purchase a book using one of the links listed here.
    

29 thoughts on “Stop Procrastination – Prepare In Advance”
  1. I am so bad about procrastinating. I am looking forward to getting things done but it never seems to finish. Ever. The list would be never ending.

  2. Such a great reminder and tips. So much can be done in our life if we’d stop procrastination and get ready.

  3. This is an area I am working on in my life right now, diligently. Your sentiments and advise is right on time. Being prepared allows me to be proactive, instead of reactive which has been the way I’ve worked in many areas in the past (for several reasons).

  4. I definitely try to stay on top of my to do list, but sometimes it just gets out of hand! Right now is one of those times.

  5. I’m not the best at advance planning. It drives my husband nuts, but you are so right! I should try to be better!

  6. I’m probably the worst procastinator. I’m getting better at a snails pace though.

  7. I’m trying to work on this. IT can be so hard! I read Eat That Frog and was inspired to be better at that.

  8. That’s a great way to look at our to-do list. If something has a set start time, we get it done.

  9. Preparation goes a LONG way in preventing procrastination. And it’s an easy thing to do (preparation). 🙂

  10. I don’t procrastinate.. but my Hubs does. Preparing in advance is so the way to go.

  11. I can see that I need to start this preparing in advance business. That would probably help a lot!

  12. I wish I could stay more on top of things. I always seem to do better under pressure! But I’d love to be ahead!

  13. I totally believe that I need to be better at planning. But, I thrive on deadlines. If I HAVE to do it by 5, I will, and it will be awesome. If I HAVE to do it by next Tuesday, I’ll work on it, change things, try to improve it, and it will end up pretty much the same with a lot of added stress and time. 🙂

  14. I am the preparation queen. I prepare for everything at least a week in advance, sometimes even a month! Better to be ahead than late I say 🙂

  15. I love to make lists yet I procrastinate a lot. I need to stop the cycle!

  16. I stay on top of things for the most part unless it’s a really unpleasant task. Then procrastination creeps up.

  17. I have found that having a to do is very helpful in getting things done and not procrastinating. But things that I thought had to get done usually don’t showing that there weren’t that important in the first place.

  18. I am so good at procrastination! I actually do better work if I wait until the last minute! Otherwise- I over think it!

  19. I am terrible about putting things off. Mostly because I don’t write them down, and so I remember them at the most random times.

  20. I find when I procrastinate it’s because I’ve built something up in my head. It’s usually much easier and quicker than I imagined it to be.

  21. I really need to sort myself out my list keeps on getting longer and longer.I put as much off as possible till i really have to do it.

  22. I am soooo bad when it comes to putting things off – I really need to get better about that.

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