16 hours Ago By Mike Donghia
An all-or-nothing mindset in terms of productivity may backfire. For example, it used to be that if I lost focus on a task in the morning, I’d throw in the towel and decide to try again in the afternoon. Or, when trying to be a more patient father, I’d get discouraged when I missed the mark and vow that the next day would be different.
However, pushing off something until “later” is procrastination. It lets you off the hook right now without trying to get back on track and allows you to push the work to some nebulous time in the future. Inevitably, that cycle continues because you’re never really learning how to work through the frustration or disappointment that causes the procrastination.
If you have long-term life goals or desire personal growth, you need to learn to deal with these hiccups without catastrophizing them. The key is to develop rituals that reorient your thoughts over the hurdles rather than focusing on the negative emotions you feel from having lost focus or given into distraction. With practice, such rituals become habits, and you’ll default to them when the temptation to quit sets in.
You’ll grow in self-confidence as you prove to yourself again and again that you can reset yourself when things veer off course. 1. Slow Your Breath 2.
Write 1 Line in Your Journal 3. Step Outside for a Few Minutes 4. Do 10 Jumping Jacks or Pushups 5.
Have a Short Chat With a Friend 6. Tidy Up a Small Space.
