Beating Procrastination by Understanding Secondary Gains

Raise your hand if you procrastinate!  I can't see how many hands have just gone in the air, but I imagine its most of us.

Now keep your hand raised is you fully understand why you procrastinate.  I'm guessing there's a lot of stuff around not wanting to deal with complicated and lengthy tasks, or lack of confidence around ability to do the task or fear of consequences.

Its all normal. In NLP terms its called secondary gain. Its understanding that whatever it is that is stopping you doing something - emotionally there is some benefit in not doing. A classic example is the one about not starting the diet until tomorrow, simply because you want that piece of cake NOW! And you want it now because eating it is pleasant - it tastes good and makes you feel better.

Once you understand you reasons your can start to deal with them. Eating that cake makes you feel really good now, but long term would you feel better for loosing that extra 2lb? Perhaps you could associate some negative thoughts about the cake, rather than positive ones. Ask yourself if eating it brings you closer to your goal.

I wanted to write this post as a follow up to yesterdays. I hope it helps you, its made me hungry!!