Rule 5 seconds, which will save you from procrastination

Procrastination does not characterize your attitude towards work or expertise, it's just a behavior that helps to cope with stress.

Prokrastiniruya, we avoid not the problem itself, and the associated stress. Therefore, do not blame yourself and think about why this or that thing you so scared. What's the worst that can happen? Is there a real danger or she is only in your imagination? This is the first step to getting rid of procrastination. However, you can spend a few hours trying to understand the causes. To avoid this, use the rule of five seconds.

How it works

Imagine that you are sitting on the beach and noticed that near you drown the child. It is unlikely that you will think about what to do - you immediately rushed to help. For quick decision-making meets prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortex. And to break the vicious circle procrastination, You need to activate these brain regions.

1. Recognize that experiencing stress

Do not analyze and ponder. Just accept that your status - this is not some mistake or deficiency, as a natural reaction to stress. And this stress affects the way you make decisions. So you remove some of the stress and "unlock" the prefrontal cortex, which is turned off during times of stress.

2. Give yourself five seconds to make a decision

Do not focus on how to cope with stress. Quickly decide to do the opposite - to spend the next five minutes to work on what scares you. If you have been putting off a phone call, pick up the phone and call. If you could not start writing, within five minutes, write everything that comes to mind. Maybe you'll get nothing, but you overcome procrastination.

Five seconds, just enough to activate the brain area responsible for quick decisions. So do not delay. Give yourself five seconds, make a decision and act.

Of course, this rule does not eliminate all problems. But the very awareness that this is just a natural reaction to stress, and that you are always in the five seconds of the decision, will help you throw off the shackles of procrastination.