Optimize your life for Success.
Stop procrastinating on the important things by keeping your distractions out of reach.
Some people are very motivated to do things. Like me. In my own mind I have crossed the seven seas and taken over the whole world. In my mind I have practically built that billion dollar company that I have always wanted to build. In my mind I have run those hundred miles, and I have climbed that mountain. In my mind.
Every person on this planet has the audacity to do the things he wants to do , say the things he wants to say, and be the things he wants to be. But only inside his own head. Practically, Anything is possible for you only when you implement whats in your mind. And implementation is where you screw up. Your mind will show you what you want to see. Your mind will play the movie in which you are Arnold Schwarzenegger with that huge machine gun in your hand, shooting all your targets and deadlines and projects to perfection. But in reality it is highly improbable that you’ll even be able to lift a normal rifle, let alone a machine gun.
When it comes to actual action. We screw up. Because your own brain manages to fool you. It doesn't live up to its own expectations. Your strokes your no longer elegant. Your actions in reality are far from perfect. When you are a beginner.
When your brain lets you down, you don’t feel like dragging on with a tremendously hard skill or an action that otherwise in your mind you are performing to perfection. You feel like you should do it tomorrow or maybe you should just try something else.
But for motivated people, sometimes that is not a problem. Thanks to the millions of motivational ted talks online on brain science, we all know that any skill is hard to master in the beginning, and requires a lot of patience, hard work, resilience and determination and perseverance. You know its going to suck. You're brain has accepted it. You know it.
Then Why do you still pick up your phone instead of your book?
Sometimes, our environment plays a huge role in our procrastination. Now this might seem to be a very trivial thing to people, and some might argue saying, “No matter whats there around you, you must be motivated to do what you are meant to do.”
Well, all of us are not actually Chuck Norris when it comes to getting shit done. We fall prey to our own temptations . Drawing perfect circles in order to progress in design class might not be as entertaining as watching Netflix. But it is important. But when you have both in the same room, you will obviously be drawn towards the easier task. Even though you know that it will just kill your time and get nothing done. You will fall prey to procrastination even though you know it is the wrong thing to do. What do you do?
There is a reason Steve Jobs had white walls in his office. There is a reason why Mark Zuckerberg wears the same colored T shirt everyday. This mundane and unattractive lifestyle might seem baffling to all the fashionistas and the interior designers out there, but this is the lifestyle that makes a genius, a genius. Now the next line is really important and the only takeaway from this article. So please read it very carefully.
“You will fall prey to Procrastination as long as it is within your reach.”
Yep.
Human brain is programmed to conserve energy.It is programmed to avoid unnecessary effort. This mechanism protects you out of that chair to go to your cupboard and get that Math Journal out for practice. You just sit on your chair and scroll through Instagram on your phone instead. Because that’s easier to do. Because that’s Within Your Reach.
There’s only one thing you can do to fix this problem. Tidy up your workplace.If you really want to succeed, you must learn how to keep the things that are only important and essential for your work. WORK and nothing else. Throw your smartphone out the window(unless that’s related to your work). Get a smaller flip phone or whatever. Remove the unnecessary toolbars and apps and widgets that are more likely to get you off your game. Change the settings on YouTube and google that only take you to the stuff you want. Even though not doing all these things won’t make a difference to you or your motivation, the very act of that thing just crossing your vision might get you distracted. Having too much stuff in your house or your workplace can distract you more than ever, by just looking at it.
Your willpower and attention is a limited resource (per day). Using it wisely by optimizing your work-space or your computers and all the smart devices (If they’re too expensive to throw out) can not only make you more more productive but it can program your mind for success.
