Overcoming Procrastination And Achieving Success With A Life Coach

23 December 2023

Procrastination is a widespread issue that can lead to increased stress, missed opportunities, and a decline in overall well-being.

However, a life coach can help individuals overcome this issue and realize their potential.

Often, procrastinators feel overwhelmed or indecisive when they encounter their long-held goals. The human brain is designed to process concrete ideas, making it challenging to start work promising future advantages.

A life coach can help them recognize that procrastination is a natural response to fears of failure, perfectionism, and commitment.

In the long run, procrastination can cost you heavily. It leads to missed opportunities and hinders positive life changes.

However, a life coach can help you live a more fulfilling life by recognizing the reality behind procrastination.

We shall dive deeper into the effects and psychological reasons behind procrastination and how a life coach can help you overcome it.

What Is Procrastination?

Procrastination is delaying or postponing tasks, which can often lead to negative consequences.

It’s a common tendency that most people resort to at some point in their lives. According to psychologist Joseph Ferrari, approximately 20% of U.S. adults are chronic procrastinators.

Even the most well-organized and committed individuals can spend hours on trivial pursuits instead of work or school-related projects.

This issue can affect job performance, grades, and, ultimately, one’s quality of life.

However, it’s essential to note that procrastination is not a serious issue but rather a common tendency.

Therefore, it’s not a sign of a serious problem but rather a natural human tendency that most people experience.

Psychological Implications Of Procrastination

Procrastination is an outcome of deep-seated psychological issues. Given below are some of the psychological reasons why one tends to procrastinate—

1. Boredom

If a task appears dull or unappealing, you will procrastinate and delay its completion until later.

2. Lack Of Belief

When we tend to put off tasks, it could be due to a lack of confidence in our abilities. This is a vital component of our daily functioning. When our self-efficacy is low, it can impede us from initiating or finishing tasks.

3. Anxiety And Fear

Procrastination can be caused by fear. We might delay important things like medical checkups or finishing projects due to social anxiety and fear of judgment. Managing our fears is vital to avoid negative consequences and stay on track with our responsibilities.

4. Distraction

Social media and other distractions can hinder our ability to focus. Procrastination has always been challenging for humans, and technology has made it even more difficult. Overcoming distractions requires awareness and self-control.

5. Obsessing Over Perfection

Striving for perfection can occasionally result in unproductive delays. Therefore, individuals hold off on tasks they fear they may not excel at or may fail.

They may postpone tasks until they feel motivated or develop a superior idea.

How Do Life Coaches Help You Overcome Procrastination?

Given below are the different approaches implemented by life coaches to help clients overcome the problem of procrastination—

1. Creating A SMART Framework

Creating a SMART framework is one approach life coaches use to help clients overcome procrastination.

This involves setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals.

By breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable steps and setting clear deadlines, clients are more likely to take action and avoid procrastination.

Therefore, providing a structured plan helps you stay focused and motivated.

2. Using The Eisenhower Matrix

Another approach employed by life coaches to address procrastination is utilizing the Eisenhower Matrix.

It’s a fantastic tool that can help you prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance. By categorizing your tasks into different quadrants, you can manage your time efficiently and focus on what really matters. Let me tell you more about it!

By prioritizing tasks effectively, you can identify which ones need immediate attention, reducing the tendency to procrastinate.

Therefore, it encourages you to tackle important tasks first and delegate or eliminate less important ones, increasing productivity and decreasing procrastination.

3. Using The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a method that involves breaking tasks into manageable intervals. These intervals are typically 25 minutes, called “pomodoros,” followed by a short break.

By working in focused bursts and rewarding oneself with breaks, you can maintain motivation and overcome the urge to procrastinate.

Therefore, it helps you stay on track and complete tasks more efficiently, ultimately reducing the likelihood of procrastination.

4. Implementing The 5-Second Rule

The 5-Second Rule involves taking immediate action within 5 seconds of having an impulse to do something.

Furthermore, this technique can combat procrastination by training the brain to act quickly and prevent overthinking or hesitation.

By implementing the 5-Second Rule, you can overcome the tendency to delay tasks and instead take immediate action. Therefore, it increases productivity and reduces procrastination.

5. Using Visualization

Visualization is a powerful tool that can help combat procrastination.

By imagining yourself completing a task or goal, you can increase motivation and reduce the likelihood of putting off tasks.

Visualizing the desired outcome can create a sense of urgency and focus. Therefore, it makes it easier to stay on track and complete tasks efficiently.

Incorporating visualization techniques into daily routines can help you overcome procrastination and increase productivity.

6. Helping With Positive Affirmation

Positive affirmation is another effective strategy for reducing procrastination.

Here, you must repeat positive statements to yourself, such as—

“I am capable of completing tasks on time.”
“I can stay focused and productive.”

Therefore, it helps you boost your self-confidence and encourage a proactive mindset.

This practice helps to counteract negative thoughts or self-doubt that often contribute to procrastination.

Moreover, You can cultivate a more optimistic and determined attitude toward the work by consistently using positive affirmations. Therefore, it leads to increased motivation and a greater likelihood of completing tasks promptly.

Find The Right Life Coach!

Working with a life coach can be immensely beneficial for people who struggle with procrastination.

Lif coaches help you set clear goals and provide support, guidance, and strategies to address underlying issues. Moreover, they help you empower and overcome procrastination to lead a more fulfilling life.

Celebrating accomplishments and recognizing progress can also boost confidence. It reinforces positive behaviors, reducing the likelihood of falling back into old patterns.

A life coach can help individuals cultivate essential skills and offer accountability. Therefore, it makes it easier for them to control their time and unleash their true potential.

Partnering with an efficient life coach could be the first step if you want to make lasting positive changes.

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Shahnawaz Alam

Shahnawaz is a passionate and professional Content writer. He loves to read, write, draw and share his knowledge in different niches like Technology, Cryptocurrency, Travel,Social Media, Social Media Marketing, and Healthcare.

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10 Weird Facts About Antidepressants

People are working longer hours, have less time with family, and are constantly battling stressful situations. In addition, being constantly inundated with the news through social media can make anyone depressed. There's not enough time for daily yoga and meditation. As a result, many of us are turning to antidepressants to get us through these stressful times. But antidepressants come at a cost, and it's important to know all the facts. Some of these facts aren't common knowledge, and often your doctor won't even discuss them before prescribing antidepressants. Here are 10 weird facts about antidepressants that will surprise you. 1. We Don't Know How Antidepressants Work: Antidepressants have been around for a long time, and yet, we still don't know exactly how they work. And since everybody's depression is different, we don't know how well they work for varying degrees of depression or if they sufficiently treat depression at al. In fact, we don't even know if they're safe for long-term use. 13% of Americans take antidepressants, some for other illnesses like anxiety and fibromyalgia. Yet studies -- mostly paid for by pharmaceutical companies -- include only a few thousand people. Many of us have been told that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, but we don't really know if that's true either. What most studies look at is our brain's level of serotonin. However, neither lowering nor increasing the level of serotonin in the brain reduces the symptoms of depression. If low levels of serotonin were the cause of depression, then antidepressants wouldn't take several weeks to work. They would work immediately, or at least within a few days, once the levels of serotonin increase. But they don't. Another interesting fact about antidepressants is that some don't even increase serotonin and still work as well as any other antidepressant. 2. All Antidepressants Are Equally Effective: It's a known fact about antidepressants that pharmaceutical companies spend a lot of money pushing one pill over another. Doctors aren't pharmacists and tend to push whatever antidepressants they're most familiar with. At times, they're buddies with the pharmaceutical sales rep. A fact about antidepressants is that there's no evidence that one antidepressant is more effective at treating depression than another. What a person needs to weigh is the cost and side effects, which can vary greatly from one person to another. There are over 30 different kinds of antidepressants available. They all work on different parts of the brain, inhibiting or increasing receptors of certain hormones. They have different side effects, and they all are equally effective. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't. 3. They Don't Work Immediately: All antidepressants take several weeks before they're fully effective. It can take anywhere from two weeks to a month before you know if it's the right antidepressant for you. One unfortunate fact about antidepressants is that many people have to cycle through several kinds of antidepressants, suffering from a variety of side effects before they find the right one. That's a long time for trial and error. And eventually, the effectiveness wears off over time. Many people build up a tolerance, and signs of depression return. Then you need to try a different antidepressant, and the trial and error process begins again. This could make anyone depressed. Fortunately, there are other treatments like TMS which don't require you to take any medication at all. 4. Dosage Makes No Difference Either: Many doctors start their patients off with a low dose and then gradually increase over time. There's no evidence that this is necessary or that higher dosages are more effective. Since this is the case, you're better off taking a low dose and having less negative side effects. It's a myth that a person will get better quicker if they are on a higher dosage of an antidepressant. 5. Antidepressants Can Help Your Sex Life: It is a pretty well-documented fact about antidepressants that one side effect is a lowered sex drive. That said, depression itself can lower your sex drive too. Interestingly, this low-libido side effect can have its benefits by helping men with premature ejaculation. Antidepressants can delay ejaculation, and for men who suffer from premature ejaculation, the delay can be a big help. One study found that men who took an SSRI a couple of hours before intercourse had longer ejaculation times compared to the placebo group. 6. Animals Get Depressed Too: Americans spend an estimated $15 million a year on medication for their depressed cats and dogs. Depression symptoms for animals aren't too different than those for people, so it's fairly easy to detect. However, it's difficult to treat animals with therapy. Instead, some veterinarians are treating pets with antidepressants. Zoo animals are on antidepressants too. They are being used to treat everything from aggression to obsessive-compulsive disorder. 7. You'll Feel Worse at First: Not only do antidepressants take a while to kick in, but your symptoms may be exacerbated. It's not uncommon for you to feel more tired, less hungry, less ambitious, and sadder. Things will get better. It just takes a while. In addition, the side effects don't help either. This is why doctors usually start a person off with a low dose, to reduce the intensity of side effects, before they find the right medication and dose. 8. Antidepressants Can Be Harmful: Antidepressants come with a long list of side effects, many of which mirror the symptoms of depression, lethargy, insomnia, nausea, anger, violence, and even suicidal thoughts. The side effects can sometimes be more debilitating than the illness it's treating. A person needs to seriously weigh the pros and cons. Often a person can mistake a side effect of the medication as a symptom of depression. Since we don't know how the drugs work, it's hard to know. Another fact about antidepressants is that once you start, it's not safe to quit cold turkey. A person should wean off of them slowly, and many aren't willing to do this. Quitting antidepressants quickly can be dangerous. 9. You Can Overdose on Antidepressants: Too much of a good thing can be too much. As mentioned, more isn't always better, but often people have prescribed higher doses of antidepressants anyway. You can overdose on antidepressants, and the symptoms of overdosing on them aren't always obvious. Zoloft overdose symptoms can include lethargy and nausea, which may be confused with ordinary side effects. Other, less obvious overdose symptoms include high blood pressure or inflammation of the pancreas, which can be mistaken for a cold or flu. However, if a person seems agitated, confused, or is vomiting, that's not normal. If someone taking antidepressants has these symptoms or becomes incoherent or unresponsive, call a doctor immediately A Zoloft overdose also can lead to a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome can occur when dangerously high levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin build up in the brain. 10. Antidepressants Can Interact with Other Drugs: It's very important to tell the doctor prescribing antidepressants if you're taking other drugs. It's also essential that you're honest about your use of recreational drugs and alcohol. All of these can have harmful interactions with antidepressants. Don't ever share your medication with anyone, especially if you don't know what other medications they might be taking or if they are using recreational drugs. Interactions can be deadly. Facts About Antidepressants Revealed Now that you know more about antidepressants, you can make a well-informed decision about taking them. Depression is debilitating, and some people battle with the disease their whole lives. For some, antidepressants are a last resort, and for others, they're hoping for a temporary solution that will give them an opportunity to have a better perspective. No matter the reason, there is no shame in being depressed or needing treatment. However, there are other methods of treating depression that can be used in conjunction with medication, such as therapy, exercise, diet, and natural remedies. Many of these have been proven to be equally effective. For more great articles about staying healthy, visit our blog. Read Also : 3 Ways To Connect With Nature And Quiet Your Mind Your Guide To HRT For Men All That You Need To Know About Dandy-Walker Syndrome

How Cold Weather Affects the Cancer Patients

As the weather once again turns colder, most of us are thinking of ways to keep ourselves warm. Whether it is warm clothes, fixing up the furnace in your home, or something entirely else, we all appreciate the warmth and the need to keep warm. Cancer patients are among the most sensitive people, which is why it is natural to wonder whether the cold affects them in any particular way. We reached out to cancer treatment researchers at Odonate Therapeutics to learn a bit more. Why cancer Patients Are Sensitive? In order to understand why people combating cancer may be more susceptible to external influences, cold temperatures included, it is helpful to remember what cancer treatment involves. The standard fare treatment for cancer is chemotherapy which is often complemented with radiation treatment. That means that their immune systems are quite strained as it is and should not be pushed further. Hypothermia Is a Real Risk Cancer treatment can have many side effects, which include anemia and dehydration, among other things. These two conditions in particular make the organism far less capable of combating the cold. In essence, that means that a cancer patient may be less capable of maintaining body heat. Fortunately, there is one simple way to ensure that cancer patients are safe from the negative effects of the colder weather – keeping them warm. This includes making sure they are properly dressed for the weather, as well as that their homes are nice and warm when they return from their treatment sessions. Frostbites Can Also Occur Whereas most people would be aware of the cold because their body will naturally tell them, some cancer patients may be denied that. Certain cancer medications may cause what is known as peripheral neuropathy. This neuropathy affects the digits and can spread to affect hands and feet. Without being able to tell how cold you are, you may not react in time and get yourself to warmth. After prolonged exposure to cold, the skin and the tissue underneath can become damaged, causing frostbite. Neuropathy Can Cause Falls Apart from damaging the cold receptors, neuropathies can also affect a person’s sense of balance. The unsteadiness can quite easily result in a fall if the person is not tended to carefully. Even though falls can affect anyone, and cause quite a lot of pain, they can be particularly nasty to some cancer patients. More specifically, leukemia patients who have low platelet levels in their blood. This component of blood helps the wounds heal by creating clots. Cancer patients whose platelet levels are low cannot heal wounds properly, making even smaller injuries potentially dangerous. Cold Weather Ushers the Flu Season Seasonal illnesses such as the flu and the common cold typically spike with the colder weather. Most people stay indoors, they interact with other people and can easily get ill. Cancer patients can be quite susceptible to those types of illnesses because their immune system is suppressed by the medication and can be completely destroyed by radiation therapy. Keeping cancer patients from contracting these common diseases can be a struggle, but it is vital. COVID 19 Complicates Things No roundup of issues that negatively affect people in 2020 would be complete without the ever-present COVID-19. This illness has affected millions of people across the world and taken quite a few lives. Due to the nature of the illness, it is most damaging to those who are already fighting another illness. Just like with the flu and the cold, COVID-19 can quickly infect a cancer patient and do a lot of damage. Cancer patients need to focus on the most important battle in their lives- defeating cancer. They need all the help and the support they can get from their loved ones. Keeping them safe from the cold weather and everything it brings is just another step in their fight for recovery. Read Also: How to sleep better when you have cancer

CBG vs. CBN: Navigating The Lesser-Known Cannabinoids

While cannabis usage and exploration are evolving, the shadow of its most popular cannabinoid pair, THC and CBD, may finally be lifting on two newbies to this magical family tree within the flower we all know and love Cannabigerol (CG) and Cannabinol (CBN). With the preponderance of experience from the familiar fun of THC-induced highs to the meditative balm of CBD’s therapeutic benefits, these less-well-known cannabinoid compounds may come as a surprise – and cannabis connoisseurs may just find them to be a treat for the CBD-toned brain. And as one who’s dipped a toe into all things cannabis-related personally and professionally, I’d like to share some insights into these so-called minor cannabinoids, but in a major, professional, and trusted way. Hail to the unknown and underappreciated! Enter CBG and CBN, stage left Research, personal experience, and murmurs of the ganja community are about to collide for your entertainment and perhaps enlightenment about these two oft-overlooked members of the cannabis clan. What Are CBG and CBN? To get the lowdown, it’s a good idea to figure out exactly what CBG and CBN are. CBG, or cannabigerol, is sometimes referred to as the ‘mother of all cannabinoids’ because, in its acidic CBGA form, it’s the precursor molecule of several other cannabinoids. Non-psychoactive, it’s believed to have a number of potentially beneficial therapeutic actions. The other compound is CBN or cannabinol, which results when THC ages and breaks down. It’s mildly psychoactive but nowhere near as much as cannabis itself. The Unique Promise of CBG CBG first came onto my radar when I was researching botanical solutions to gut ailments. Word on the street was that the cannabinoid could potentially provide immense relief – an assertion ostensibly supported by CBG’s reported anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. In my case, I found some of that buzz to be spot-on. Soon after adding this cannabinoid to my routine, I took note of some discernible improvements with respect to my digestive comfort. I didn’t experience transformative results right out of the gates but, over time with continued use, those uncomfortable days grew less frequently. Studies also indicate that CBG might have neuroprotective, anticancer, and antibacterial effects. CBG might be the ultimate versatile cannabinoid for physical relief and preventative health benefits. The Calming Effects of CBN The first time I used CBN was to help a friend sleep better. She’d tried meditation and melatonin without much luck. Both made her light and scatterbrained and though she could manage her insomnia with the sheer force of will, she was curious to try another approach. I was curious, too, and decided to experiment alongside her. My own sleep patterns were never great, even on nights when I could turn off the TV (and the iPad) in time to hit the sheets by midnight. Alongside her, I found CBN to be a relaxing sleep aid. I wouldn’t call it a ‘sleeping pill’ as it doesn’t put you down for the night quite the same way that sort of remedy does. But there are lots of nights when I need a nudge toward rest, times when my mind is filled with deadlines and to-dos. On those occasions, a CBN-infused tincture has become an excellent tool for inducing a Guitar-Strum-Country-And-Western brain noodle. CBN is also being tested as a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotectant (a compound with the ability to reduce cell death associated with stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative disorders). Human trials are just beginning, but the outlook appears encouraging. Personal Experience: A Balancing Act My experience trying to understand the world of CBG vs CBN has been confusing, enlightening, and, above all, very informative. I have learnt that, while both cannabinoids can supplement our lives, they have to be used at the right time to work for specific needs. CBG has become my ally during the day, a cannabinoid that makes me feel slightly better than usual but does not have any psychoactive effects. CBN will stay in my nighttime routine, not as a substitute for sleeping pills but as a way to create a more prone state. Pros and Cons Pros - CBG: Potential digestive aid and anti-inflammatory. Non-intoxicating, making it suitable for daytime use. Versatile benefits span from neuroprotection to antibacterial effects. Pros - CBN: Promotes relaxation and may improve sleep quality. Mildly psychoactive, offering a gentle experience. Potential pain reliever and anti-inflammatory properties. Cons - CBG: Low availability and more expensive due to lower yields from cannabis plant. Research is still emerging, making definitive conclusions about its efficacy premature. Cons - CBN: Effects can vary greatly among individuals; not everyone may experience significant sleep benefits. Because it’s apparently derived from the degradation of THC, its legal status can be unclear in some places. Final Thoughts This journey of discovery into CBG and CBN has both amazed me and taught me a lot. My experiences have generally been good ones, but reactions can differ – start small and work up from there, to be sure. While the research is still emerging, it’s possible that CBG and to some extent, CBN can transcend their minor cannabinoid status and join the ranks of CBD and THC. For cannabis connoisseurs and curious neophytes alike, this new frontier means looking deeper than ever into the increasingly multilayered beauty and therapeutic promise of the plant. Cheers to good science and many more cannabinoids on the horizon. Read Also: How Does CBD Affect Your Drug Tests? How CBD Oil Capsules Are Changing People’s Lives What is Cannabis Oil and how does CBD Oil Work?

Overcoming Procrastination And Achieving Success With A Life Coach

What Is Procrastination?