If you sometimes have a problem getting around to doing something, you arent alone. Most people have had similar experiences. There are however, some specific actions you can take to pay your bills, get moving on a project, begin to repair a strained personal relationship or any other activity youve been putting off.

There are many misconceptions about procrastination, perhaps the greatest of which is viewing it as some sort of illness, an intractable disease the just wont go way. Nothing, in fact could be further from the truth.

Procrastination isnt an illness at all; it isnt something that sufferers must resign themselves to living with forever. Procrastination instead, is a natural, manageable response to situations and difficulties that occur in our everyday life.

Conquering procrastination is about overcoming behavior that keeps you from producing. Instead of concentrating on the negative problems of procrastination, embrace work from the perspective of a peak performer and the efficiency of high achievers who take on more responsibility while getting more work done.

Here are five suggestions that can help you break the procrastination habit:

1. Expect difficulties. A procrastinator often thinks a more successful person will go forward without frustration and self-doubt. Most high-achieving men and women, however, assume that they will encounter problems, which makes them more likely to persevere when problems occur.

2. Do a benefit analysis. When you are avoiding an important task, weigh the advantages of getting started against the disadvantages of starting at some other time. You can then decide if a project is worthwhile, and you are really procrastinating. Or you could determine that now is not the time to start because you need more information, or you cant begin before something else happens.

3. Take small steps. When faced with a big project, divide it into small segments. For example, if you need to make a new file system? Work on it for 15 to 20 minutes a day instead of making it a huge project. If youre trying to reorganize your office? Try doing one area at a time.

4. Face your negative thoughts. By writing them down, you will have a better chance of getting rid of them. Whether the thought is, Im never going to get this project finished on time, or There will never be a way to reorganize my office, once you have faced your feelings, you will get ideas about overcoming them.

5. Give yourself credit. At the end of a busy day, remember the things you have accomplished, rather than miserably considering what you didnt get done. If you never feel satisfied with the efforts, you could soon feel that its too hard to try.

Give yourself credit for even small achievements, and youll soon be able to tackle far tougher tasks with greater confidence.

In his book, Being The Best, Denis Waitley offers self-motivators to help you get into action when youd rather procrastinate:

Action TNT Action today, not tomorrow

FEAR is False Education Appearing Real

LUCK is Laboring Under Correct Knowledge

As you begin to experience your ability to break the procrastination habit, you will notice yourself bouncing back from setbacks more rapidly. With a new sense of control over your fears, over ambivalence, and with an integrated sense of higher self-esteem, you will be more willing to try new things.

Initially, however, you might find yourself reverting back to old escape patterns, to your procrastination habits. By simply noticing that you are reverting to your old habits, you are making a significant advance. Being aware of your choices prepares you to successfully channel the energy of the old habit into the building of a new, more productive habit.

Role models and mentors can be very valuable in helping you break your own bad habits. If you really examine the lives of successful people, you will find that they have faced the same fears, insecurities and adversities that you do. You can learn from their experiences, how they overcame them, and how they broke the procrastination habit.

Copyright2006 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.