Procrastination came be obvious and subtle. There is procrastination where you set aside time to do something and then consciously do something else in that time. This might be acceptable once or twice but more than that and you are procrastinating.

Then there’s the more subtle form of procrastination where you think right, “I’m going to get this task done now” and the very next thought is a distraction such as, “but I’ll just check my email/facebook/twitter before I start”. This momentary distraction leads off on a tangent that you only return from some time later with another thought of right, “now I’ve really got to get this done” followed by another thought of “but first I’ll put that load of washing on and sort something out for dinner” and the pattern repeats.

I don’t necessarily believe that procrastination is about lack of will power or discipline. Yes you can use these brute force approaches to grit your teeth, force yourself to do things, and beat yourself up when you don’t get things done but I prefer a more gentle approach of using EFT to work on the emotions underneath the behaviour and building a habit of getting things done.

So how can EFT help you with procrastination?

First identify an important task or project that you have been procrastinating getting started. The sort of thing that you know needs to be done but you just haven’t got around to doing. Make sure it a specific well defined task of some importance. Write that task down and have it handy to look at while you do the following tapping sequence. You can use this EFT Tapping Points Guide.

Continue on for another round to target some of the thought patterns that accompany procrastination:

Now some tapping to develop the habit of noticing yourself procrastinating and recognising the choice you have in that moment.

Like doing physical exercise, motivation is not needed to start exercising if we realise that motivation comes from that act of starting to exercise. Once we start we remember how much we enjoy it and continue on with the activity.

Our behaviour is shaped by our actions even more so than our thoughts. If you consistently take action you become that person. Use the above tapping consistently to break your habit of procrastinating and enjoy the satisfaction and pride of becoming someone who gets things done.Related Posts:

• Fear of what will other people will think of me?
• How to Take a Break and Enjoy It!
• Using EFT for when You’re Always Running Late
• Perfection is the Lowest Standard
• Using EFT for Body Image

If we hold perfection in too high a regard we will not start something for fear of not doing it perfectly. Can you relate to this? This is why perfection is the lowest standard.

While we should always strive to do something to a high standard, in starting out we might accept what G. K. Chesterton said “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly” — at first!

Remember learning to drive? The first few times you couldn’t even turn on the indicator and accelerate at the same time. But eventually you were able to drive the car while drinking coffee and talking on your mobile (not necessarily a good idea .

So be forgiving of yourself when trying something new; give yourself permission to do it badly at first. At least then you will get started and then be able to correct your progress.

Think of something specific you have been putting off doing because you don’t know if you can do it perfectly and follow through the EFT tapping points as follows:

You might want to do a few more rounds about your specific situation. Maybe you can recall some times when your were punished for not being perfect and tap around those as well.

Remember to own your mistakes. It is only by acknowledging what we have done that we can change it. “Correct, don’t protect.” — Keith Cunningham.Related Posts:

• Procrastination: Break the habit with EFT
• Control Cravings with EFT
• Missing someone at Christmas?
• Fear of what will other people will think of me?
• Anger Management with EFT