A Simple 2-Minute Strategy to Conquer Procrastination
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Chapter 1: The Procrastination Dilemma
A few months back, I had a stark realization: despite my efforts over the past seven years, I have yet to achieve the financial success I dreamt of. Where are my millions? What happened to my aspiration of becoming a seven-figure entrepreneur? While I’ve managed to create a comfortable lifestyle and feel fortunate compared to the dire situations many face, it’s not the extravagant life filled with champagne and thrilling adventures in Dubai that I once envisioned.
Why the disconnect? To put it plainly, I often see myself as inherently lazy.
Section 1.1: A Confession of Laziness
I admit it: I love nothing more than an afternoon nap while binge-watching videos on YouTube. This tendency is, without a doubt, the main reason I haven’t yet reached my goals. The thought of waking up years from now filled with regret over missed opportunities is daunting. If you’re reading this, you might resonate with that feeling; we could all be better versions of ourselves if we could just overcome procrastination and actively pursue our aspirations.
Here’s my plan from November to February 2024:
A Simple Plan to Earn $1,000 A Month on Medium; How I’ll Do It | by Aleena K. Pennington | Side Hustle Chick | Nov, 2023 | Medium
Section 1.2: Seeking Solutions
In recent months, I’ve delved into countless self-help resources to address my procrastination. It’s not that I lack knowledge about what needs to be done; rather, I often find myself feeling overwhelmed. Juggling several online ventures can be incredibly taxing. When faced with my lengthy to-do list, I sometimes feel an urge to scream internally. Instead of tackling my tasks, I often choose to nap briefly, which can spiral into hours spent indulging in mindless entertainment.
However, there’s one thing that doesn’t intimidate me: two minutes.
Subsection 1.2.1: The Power of Two Minutes
Two minutes is a manageable timeframe. For instance, I have a significant fear of bugs—wasps in particular—but I could likely endure being in a room with one for at least two minutes (though I’d appreciate a strong bug zapper!). If I can endure something I dread for that brief period, I can certainly apply the same principle to my tasks.
Chapter 2: Embracing the Two-Minute Habit
Video Description: Discover a quick and effective hack to beat procrastination in just two minutes, proving that small actions can lead to big changes.
When I decided to tackle my procrastination, I realized that planning far into the future was futile if I struggled to complete even half of my daily goals. Instead, I focus on what I can achieve in the next two minutes that will positively impact my day.
To my surprise, when I commit to a tedious task for just two minutes, I often find that those two minutes extend into five, and before I know it, an hour has passed, and I’ve checked several items off my list. It’s almost magical; once you start a momentum, it tends to carry on.
Video Description: Learn a five-second trick that helps you stop procrastinating and accomplish more by doing less, featuring insights from Mel Robbins.
I had procrastinated writing on Medium for months, waiting to create the perfect article on marketing. However, the very act of committing to write for just two minutes reignited my creativity. Suddenly, I found myself with a complete article, as if I had been eager to write all along but didn’t realize it.
If you’ve struggled with procrastination for a long time, it can feel overwhelming to change. Be gentle with yourself; take small steps. Break your tasks down into two-minute increments. If you’ve been avoiding something for days, weeks, or even months, remember that you only need to commit to it for just two minutes. After that, the rest tends to fall into place.