In Part 1 of this series, we explored six procrastination personas, each representing a unique way procrastination manifests in our lives. From the overwhelmed Deer to the overcommitted Octopus, these personas helped us understand how procrastination shows up and what holds us back.

When it comes to tackling procrastination, there are broadly two approaches to consider:

The ‘Extended Will’ Approach
This method relies on external pressures or restrictions to force action. Examples include public accountability, like announcing your goals on social media, or promising yourself a reward for avoiding procrastination. While effective in the short term, this approach can feel restrictive and doesn’t address the deeper causes of procrastination.

The ‘Root Cause’ Approach
This method goes deeper, focusing on identifying and resolving the underlying reasons behind procrastination. It’s about creating sustainable change by aligning your actions with your goals and adopting systems that work for you.

For this series, we’ve chosen the Root Cause Approach because it offers long-term solutions grounded in time-tested principles. Let’s dive into how each procrastination persona can overcome their unique challenges with strategies rooted in this approach.

1. The Deer: Tackling Overwhelm

Deer personas feel stuck when faced with unfamiliar or complex tasks, often freezing in the face of high stakes or uncharted territory. The key to overcoming this is to reduce the task’s complexity and start small:

  1. Break It Down: Divide tasks into smaller, manageable parts to make them less intimidating. For example, instead of “write a book,” start with “draft a rough outline.” Tools like mind maps are perfect for this.
  2. ‘Bird by Bird’ Approach: Borrow Anne Lamott’s analogy—focus on one small step at a time, like completing one “bird” in a school project. Small, actionable steps build momentum and reduce overwhelm.

Remember: Butterflies in your stomach? It’s time to make a mind map!

2. The Ostrich: Simplifying Routine
The Ostrich persona avoids mundane, repetitive tasks—things like sorting emails, filling out forms, or managing daily admin work. The solution lies in making the mundane manageable and even enjoyable:

  1. Reliable Systems: Create checklists, templates, and shortcuts to Apps and files/folders on your computing devices to streamline repetitive tasks. These tools reduce decision fatigue and make routine work quicker and less daunting.
  2. Energize the Routine: Add a layer of enjoyment to these tasks—listen to music, play a podcast, or pair the task with something you enjoy. This makes the process less monotonous and more engaging.

Remember: The next time you face a boring task, start saving bookmarks, creating shortcuts, and making a checklist of steps.

3. The Octopus: Managing Overcommitment
The Octopus juggles too many responsibilities, leading to overwhelm. The solution is to prioritize and align actions with your mission:

  1. Clarify Priorities: When everything feels important, it’s critical to step back and identify what truly matters. Focus your energy on tasks that align with your core goals and will have the most significant impact.
  2. Work Top-Down: Occasionally shift from bottom-up thinking to top-down planning. Create a personal mission statement, as outlined in Stephen Covey’s Habit 2, and let it guide your daily decisions.
  3. Learn to Say No: Protect your time by declining commitments that don’t align with your priorities. This can be challenging, but it’s essential for maintaining balance and focus.

Remember: Before taking on a new opportunity, ask yourself: what current commitment can I stop to accommodate this new one?

4. The Cheetah: Balancing Pressure and Productivity
Cheetahs often wait until the last minute to tackle tasks, believing they perform best under pressure. While urgency can be a motivator, it often leads to unnecessary stress. The solution is to evaluate your approach and find balance:

  1. Cost-Benefit Analysis: Write out the consequences of completing the task now versus deferring it. This exercise helps clarify whether early action could reduce stress, improve quality, or free up time for other priorities.
  2. Reality Check: If you find no clear benefit to starting early, stick to your natural style! But if you see potential advantages, see if you identify yourself as another persona and follow their solution.

Remember: For your next big task, conduct a cost-benefit analysis to find clarity.

5. The Sloth: Overcoming Inertia
The Sloth persona struggles with complete avoidance, feeling unmotivated and stuck. The solution is to shift your mindset and celebrate small steps:

  1. Adopt Foundational Habits: Start with Stephen Covey’s first three habits—’Be Proactive,’ ‘Begin with the End in Mind,’ and ‘Put First Things First.’ These habits help you take responsibility, set clear goals, and prioritize effectively.
  2. Small Steps with Compounding Effect: Take one small action at a time, and let the momentum build. For example, write just one sentence or tackle a single email. Small wins add up over time.
  3. Productivity Journal: Keep a journal to track your efforts. Recording even tiny progress serves as a motivational boost—a pat on the back that encourages you to keep going.

Remember: Surround yourself with all formats of Covey’s book and dive in until you emerge transformed.

6. The Squirrel: Slowing Down the Rush
The Squirrel persona engages in precrastination, rushing through tasks prematurely without fully evaluating them. The solution is to pace yourself systematically:

  1. Trust a System: Create and maintain a well-organized to-do list. This ensures you’re addressing tasks at the right time, with nothing slipping through the cracks.
  2. Task Triage: Regularly review and prioritize tasks. Focus on what’s most important and let less urgent work wait until its time comes.
  3. Balance Urgency with Quality: Resist the urge to rush by aligning your actions with realistic deadlines. This helps you achieve better outcomes without losing control.

Remember: Keep a master list of projects and perform regular triage to stay on track.

Closing Thoughts
What we’ve explored here isn’t about quick fixes or temporary solutions—it’s about building a foundation for lasting change. The principles behind these solutions are time-tested, and when combined with reliable systems, they can help you not only manage procrastination but overcome it entirely.

Core Principles to Remember:

  • Deliberate Work Breakdown: Break tasks into smaller steps to reduce overwhelm.
  • Trustworthy Systems for Routine Tasks: Use checklists, templates, and processes to streamline work.
  • Mission and Reality Check: Align daily actions with your long-term vision.
  • Personal Productivity System: Build a system that balances work and life while maximizing potential.

Thank You!
I hope this series inspires you to take meaningful steps toward overcoming procrastination. Which solution resonated most with you? Share your thoughts—I’d love to hear them!

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