The phrase "WHAT'S YOUR STORY" in blackboard depicting overcoming procrastination with your story

Ever had one of those days where overcoming procrastination feels like climbing Mount Everest?

You know, the kind of day where you’re supposed to be crunching numbers for your first budget, sketching out your personal growth plan, or brainstorming fresh ideas for your blog.

Maybe you’re just trying to muster the energy to peel yourself off the couch for a workout.

Laundry’s piling up, dishes are stacked in the sink, and the rooms need a good clean.

Sound familiar? We’ve all been there, stuck in the procrastination cycle.

On days like these, I’ve got a little trick up my sleeve. It’s a simple tweak that helped me leap over the first hurdle of my 100-Day Challenge.

And guess what? It might just work for you too, serving as your procrastination solution.

The Secret Sauce to Overcoming Procrastination

Change a single word in the story you’re telling yourself.

The culprits? “But” and “so”.

“But” is a sneaky little word that slips in excuses, reinforcing procrastination habits.

“So”, on the other hand, flips the script, sparking positive actions and mindsets.

The Power of “But”

Let’s talk about “But”. It’s a tiny word, right?

Yet, it’s got this uncanny ability to slam the brakes on our dreams, creating a procrastination and fear-induced narrative.

Ever caught yourself saying, “I want to start my own business, but…” or “I want to lose weight, but…”?

Even when you’re saying something positive like, “My boss is really supportive, but…” there it is. That pesky “but”.

It’s a common tale we spin. “I want to start my own business, but it’s tough because I work full-time.”

See what’s happening?

“But” is coaxing us into a corner, making us list all the reasons why we can’t start a business, reinforcing procrastination and stress.

Flipping the Script with “So”

Now, let’s flip the script with “so”.

“I want to start my own business, so I’ll dedicate an hour each day to explore opportunities and learn.”

The moment “so” enters the picture, everything shifts.

Suddenly, we’re spurred into action.

We’re researching new business opportunities, seeking out successful folks in the field, and soaking up all we can about their journey.

Let’s try another one.

“I want to lose weight, but I find it really hard to control my appetite.”

Switch out “but” with “so”, and you get:

“I want to lose weight, so I’ll start drinking more water.”

See the difference? It’s like night and day.

Here’s How I Flipped the Script

Just a day into my 100-day challenge, I was ready to dial it back to 30 days.

“I really want to write every day and see what happens, but 100 days? That’s setting myself up for failure!”

That was the fear-laced story I was telling myself. And it wasn’t doing me any favours.

So, I swapped out “but” for “so” and gave my story a makeover:

“I really want to write every day and see what happens, so I’ll just take it one day at a time. No need to stress about the next 100 days!”

The Journey from A to Z

When we set out on our journey from A to Z, we know Z is our ultimate destination.

But there’s no magic carpet ride from Day 1 to Day 100.

The only thing standing between us and our Z is the story we’re telling ourselves.

If we’re always fretting about how far off Z is, we’re just piling on the pressure. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

Instead, why not map out a detailed route from A to Z? Then, focus on moving from one point to the next.

Sure, we might lose our way between D and E.

But as long as we figure out how to reach the next point and keep moving, we’ll get to Z eventually.

Harness the Power of “So”

When you’re on that long road trip to your destination Z and you start to feel lost or weary, “so” can be your secret weapon.

Your “so” can help you muster the strength and courage to keep going, even when the going gets tough.

Why?

Because the story you tell with “so” sparks positive actions and mindsets. It’s a far cry from “but”, which only serves to hold you back.

Final Thoughts on Overcoming Procrastination

“So” helps you find ways to reach your destination Z.

“But” hands you a laundry list of excuses not to.

So, take a good look at your vocabulary. Spot those “buts” and swap them out for “so”s. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes to the stories you tell yourself.

The word you choose today will have a huge impact on how you spend your time and the effort you put into achieving your goals.

Choose wisely. Tell yourself the right story.

And remember, let’s keep moving forward, one step at a time, on our journey to reach our destination.

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