Habits

When we talk about habits we immediately think of all the bad habits only stop i when we talk about habits we immediately think of all the bad habits only. however habits can become very powerful tools in our self development.

Most of us  have a tendency to procrastinate. The reasons for postponing doing things is a subject for a different post.  however the most common reason is avoidance of pain . But whatever the reason, the result is to postpone doing the task. It is very difficult to overcome this tendency. Why not use a different habit to overcome this habit , for procrastination is nothing but a habit. If a habit , which is nothing but a set of steps, is consciously formed and practiced for a period of time it becomes a habit.  I use the two minute rule. ( i read about it somewhere.) If the task can be done in two minutes , I do it immediately, no postponement.Whether it is making a call home or rinsing the coffee mug , it is done. I dont to listen my inner voice giving me very good reasons for putting it off.
This simple , easy to form  habit can give you so much more that just doing small things.a journey of athousand miles starts with one step.” In practical terms what happens is that once you have taken the first step, somehow or other our mind convinces us to complete other related tasks which we have been postponing.once you start cleaning the windsheild of your car, you go ahead and wash the car. It just needed overcoming the static resistance. It is like trying to push your car. Initially it takes lots of force to start the car moving but once it starts rolling , it needs much less effort.
The corollary to this is that when you have a fairly large or complex task to do, all you have to do is to break it down into small task making the first task into a bite sized 2 minute task and then apply the 2 minute rule to the first task. When I have to prepare a meal, and have put it off long enough, I just get up and go to the pantry ostensibly to check up on what ingredients are available . I am going to only that and come back to the sofa and continue with my whatsapp work. But once I have got my butt off the sofa , I say to myself , now that you have come so far , why not finish the painful chore , and go back to whatsapping in a totally relaxed mood and for however long I want without feeling any guilt.Presto!  My meal is cooked .
One caveat, though. When is post ponement really is NOT procrastination. When the task you have chosen in preference to another task,is more important and urgent we cannot call it procrastination. This is a conscious  decision and is not something you are doing to avoid the unpleasant chore.