Why Smart People Under-Perform – How to Overachieve

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Chances are that it isn’t your goals are too big or too tough, but just you haven’t taken time to think what is stopping you from achieving them.

Smart people tend to multitask too often, and feel overwhelmed.

Procrastination is really our coping mechanism when we feel stressed and the way we “de-stress” by feeling in control and pushing against the pressure of the tasks.  The truth is that we often enjoy the procrastination, which is why it is so hard to stop it.

In this video I share with you the key strategies and tips you can apply to overachieve and gain success in any aspect of your life.

// Set Goals to keep you focused

A simple rule for Goals I like to work with is the “333 Principle” – set yourself 3 long term 10 year approximately off into the future goals; work backwards to three 5 yr mid term goals; then right up to three daily  goals that align with your plans.

Why Smart People under perform how to overachieve in your life #goals #productivity

// Don’t get Sucked in by Screen Time

Put that phone or device away when you know you want to be productive!

We all know that the temptation for procrastinating is stronger and easier when you just want “to check facebook one more time”, or get sucked into a long conversation about which sandwich is best on Instagram.

So remove the temptation from yourself completely but placing your device in another room or at least the other side of your working space.

I use an app called “Moment” to track how much time, what apps I have used during that day and how many picks ups of my phone in general I have had and once a day it will provide a report to show how much time has been “sucked” away by my phone in particular.

The results can be astounding – some days you can rack up hours upon hours on your phone, and wonder just how productive you could have been if you had put that time to better use.

// Say Yes less 

When we feel overwhelmed and want to avoid a task at all costs, sometimes it is even because we don’t really want to do it and said yes to it to please someone else.

How many times have we felt pressured to say yes to another meet up or helping with another work project, simply to please the other person and really our heart isn’t in it and we want to do something else with our time?

Start saying NO more often – only give up your time to the tasks that bring you joy or you find purpose in.

When the task seems not very exciting or tempting but you know you want to in the long run – start to list the reasons WHY you want to achieve this task and attach real emotions and drive to it.

When you have a big enough WHY, the HOW and WHAT will become less relevant and you will be more motivated to start.

// Take immediate action on your emotions

When we are inspired and feel our soul light up with passion over the thought of a new project, the very best thing you can do in that moment is schedule or do something right away to act on it.

That way when the emotions fade slightly over time, you won’t fall into the lack of effort category right away and chances are you will take action.

Next time you feel that inspiration, write it down and also either do something right there that moves you forward in the direction of your goal or schedule within the next week to make an action related to it.

The better of the options is the right away option – we know this – so do this be default where possible to avoid putting things off longer than necessary.

Use the 2 minute Rule if you need to motivate yourself – If you can do the task in 2 minutes or less, do it right now!

// Single Tasking for the win!

Multitasking is a myth in my opinion and I’m a busy working Mum who needs to juggle many plates at one time.

To avoid procrastination, switch to Single Tasking only.

Do One task at a time to completion, batch your time for that one task only (choose certain times of the day or week to do a particular task only) and you will achieve far more than switching your effort and focus constantly throughout the day.

Even better still pre-plan your full day before you start it so you know exactly what are your important key tasks before you tackle them.

The days when we move from pillar to post constantly tend to be the days we feel most stressed and likely to make easier default choices rather than ones that move us towards our goals.

Check out one of my favourite books The One Thing which is wonderful for describing this focus skill that we all need.

You can even apply this single tasking principle to the elements of your life you most care about such as your family or self-care time.

Block out the time before hand knowing that you will exclusively give that area your full focus, and see what you can achieve.

Download free workbook 7 Day AutoPilot Money Challenge

 

Why Smart People under perform how to overachieve in your life #goals #productivity

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