Photo By Go Daddy
The Power of Immediate Action: Why Waiting Won’t Work and strategies to create a more action driven life.
Looking back to my life, I have created this really bad habit of leaving everything for later. I think it started when I was in middle school. I was, what you will call, a smart kid, so with little effort, I was able to comply with homework. It happened in high school too, and in college. However in college, I found myself frequently burning the midnight oil to meet deadlines. I even graduated with honors, Cum Laude. But deep down, I knew I could have done more. Then, with my first job, I was that employee that always stayed late. Truly, it was just really hard for me to concentrate in one thing at a time. Then this behavior has become a habit today that it is present in almost every aspect of my life.
A big problem of delaying things comes from dopamine. The power of instant gratification is intimately link to dopamine, known as the “feel-good” chemical. This hormone is released in response to pleasurable experiences and motivates us to seek out more of those experiences. Hence, if you like watching TV, your body will release dopamine. The more you watch it the more you feel relax. The desire to stop and do something else, even something important, diminishes with each minute you spend watching TV.
Leaning the power of immediate action is crucial to change this bad habit of delaying tasks. Additionally, understanding why I created this habit is key in my personal development journey. In this post, I will share a few thoughts from my journey and the strategies to overcome it.
Disclosure: Please note that this post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps me continue creating free content for my readers. I only recommend products or services that I have personally used and believe will add value to my audience. Thank you for your support!
You do not have enough time
It’s a common misconception to consider time as infinite when, in reality, it is a limited resource for every activity you wish to do. Enhancing your proactive approach involves understanding the significance of time and to master it with efficient time management and planning. Delaying tasks can falsely suggest that time is boundless, leading to the belief that better opportunities will always arise in the future. This perception foster a sense of complacency and false security, stopping us from seizing the present moment and advancing towards our goals.
As the old saying goes: Don’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today. This really summarizes a fundamental aspect of time management and the real power of immediate action. Tomorrow doe snot exist. Actions taken today will create the opportunities of your tomorrow. The less you do the less value you will add to your goal and the less time you have to fulfill it. Every passing minute tis either a minute spent or a minute invested. You are the only one who can decided which way it will go.
Time Costs money
Don’t you feel like time is passing faster now. I can wake up at 5:30 am and in a moment, is already 7 am. Time is an intangible force that remains beyond our grasp, yet often dictates the pace and course of our lives. From the break of dawn at 7 am to the closing of the day at 7 pm, time flows ceaselessly. As we mentioned before, every moment that slips away represents a missed opportunity. This concept closely parallels the Time Value of Money theory in finance. Where money is worth more invested today, than in the future, because of the lost opportunity to invest it. Each decision to postpone a task or delay a plan corresponds to a hidden cost. A loss in the currency of time that no amount of wealth can fully compensate for.
Once you put a value to your time, you can measure the time use in watching Netflix, or surfing in social apps. For example, if your salary is $5K a month, you are payed around $31 an hour. Let’s say when you get home you stay until midnight watching Netflix (around 5 hours). This activity costed you about $155. Multiply that by 30, every month you lose $4,650 in time. Add this amount to your time budget next time. This will really help you see the Real Cost of Procrastination.
First Strategy
If time is of essence to be able to create the life you love, then you need to learn about time management. Our school system does not necessarily helps us develop time management skills, and hence is key to success at anything in life. Even to own a blog you will need to master time management skills. This course from Udemy: Become a SpeedDemon 1: Productivity Tricks to Have More Time, really helped me to get my things together and start to do things, one step at a time. I know it can also help you.
A quick strategy to implement is, if something takes less than 2 minutes, do it immediately. Once you start doing this small rule you will see the progress. In a blink of a moment, you will be enjoying of a more action actionable life.
We are Conditioned to Perform for Approval or Rewards
One prevailing influence in our lives is the notion that we should do things either because someone is watching us or in anticipation of receiving something in return. This belief system, conditions our actions based on external validation or rewards. Hence, when someone is not watching, you release the sense of obligation. Like, you only do the homework if your mom was watching. We were not taught to see the value of completing task. A big problem is that now in adulthood, nobody is watching.
To fix this we need to learn to create value for the things we need to do even if are not fun or we fear the outcome. Relying solely on external validation or the promise of rewards can lead to a shallow sense of fulfillment. True growth comes from a deeper drive to pursue what genuinely resonates with our passions (our goals), rather than external pressures or incentives (what others think of you).
The true power of immediate action comes from learning that our dreams will only come true if we act on those things that are not fun or that we are afraid of.
You will always find excuses
Excuses are often used as a shield to justify our inaction or procrastination. The act of delaying because of waiting for the “right time” often leads to a cycle of avoidance and comfort. Excuses serve as a defense mechanism to protect our ego and self-image from failure or criticism. But in reality, we have fear. A significant driver behind excuses is the fear of failure. By making excuses, we create a safety net that shields us from the potential negative outcomes or consequences of taking action. This fear of failure can manifest as perfectionism, self-doubt, or a reluctance to step out of our comfort zones.
Stress of things undone
Waiting will only leave tasks unfinished. Whether you complete them now or later, the reality is that they still need to be done. For instance, imagine a work task you’re avoiding because it involves meeting with your boss, even though it’s part of your responsibilities. Avoiding it only compounds the stress, making you feel worse as the deadline approaches. While it may be easy to blame external factors, the root of the stress is within you due to your hesitation and procrastination.
To effectively address this issue, take a moment to ask yourself why you’re putting off the task and what fears are holding you back. By pinpointing the reasons behind your procrastination, you can begin to confront and tackle them head-on. Answer these questions in your journal:
- Why I don’t want to complete this task?
- What I am afraid of?
Once you learn the deep answer to those questions, try creating a plan to complete the tasks.
Second Strategy
If the first key to have a more actionable life is to learn time management. The second part will always be to understand what let you to create a habit for delaying task, so that you can change it. The best two books on habits are The Power of Habit by Charles Duigg and Atomic Habits by James Clear. The first one will teach you how habit work. The later how to change it. James Clear did a great job teaching the best techniques out there to change old habits and create new ones in small steps.. While you are reading both books, and during your growth process, write you ideas and conclusions in your favorite journal. You don’t need anything big, just a notebook or a guided Journal like the Five Minute Journal.
Closing Thoughts
In conclusion, procrastination can weigh heavily on our minds, leading to unnecessary stress and anxiety. By recognizing the root causes of our avoidance and fears, we can take the necessary steps to address them head-on. Remember, the longer we delay, the heavier the burden becomes. Embracing a proactive approach and confronting tasks promptly not only alleviates stress but also empowers us to accomplish our goals effectively. Let’s strive to break free from the cycle of procrastination and embrace productivity and progress in all aspects of our lives. And this is the real benefit of the Power of Immediate Action.
