I just got off the phone with my brother and I'm mad. He can't fly out to visit me because he waited too long to get something done for his business.

So now this is going to cost him time and money ...again. Not to mention how angry he gets at himself and of course my disappointment. (He had the plane tickets). My brother is one of the biggest, worst procrastinators of all time.

Procrastination: What is it and Why we do it?

Psychologist say: the psychological causes of procrastination vary greatly, but generally it borders on: low sense of self-worth, anxiety, a self-defeating mentality, or laziness.

Everybody procrastinates, it just something we humans do. It's normal to some degree, to put things off, to wait till later or tomorrow or next month. When it starts taking over our life's and becomes the norm then we get into trouble. It's a belief we created in our minds, the thing we don't want to do because (we think) it causes mental anguish.

It's the not doing that creates more stress than the actual thing we need to do.

Hard core procrastinators have a different time reality. If it's something they must complete within a certain amount of time, they think they can get it done at the last minute. Life happens and sure enough they're burning the midnight oil or paying a penalty - usually involving money.This is where the self-loathing kicks in, followed by 'I can't do this again'. Round and round the cycle goes when will it stop ....can it stop.

Take heart there's hope. The past doesn't have to equal the future. This applies to anything in life. People can change.

Here are some strategies to help with procrastination, taken from the best seller "Your Erroneous Zones" By Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.

• Make a decision to live five minutes at a time. Instead of thinking in tasks in long-range terms, think about now and try to use up a five minute period doing what you want, refusing to put off anything that would bring about satisfaction.

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• Get started on something you've been postponing. Simply beginning will help you to eliminate anxiety about the whole project.

  Ask yourself "What is the worst thing that could happen to me if I did what I'm putting off right now? The answer is usually so insignificant that it my jar you into action. Assess your fear and you'll have no reason to hang on to it.

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• Look at your now. Decide what you are avoiding in your current moments and begin to tackle the fear of living effectively. Procrastination is substituting the now with anxiety about a future event. If the event becomes the now, the anxiety, by definition must go.

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• Begin your diet...this moment! Quit smoking....now! Stop reading this and do a push up as your beginning exercise project. That's how you tackle problems...with action now! Do it! The only thing holding you back is you, and the neurotic choices you've made because you don't believe you're as strong as you really are. How simple...just do it!

• There are more techniques for ousting this self defeating behavior. If you are interested in the rest of them read Dr Dyer's book or contact me: michele@thetruepowerofyou.com or phone 888 271-3441 Michele Merola Burseth Certified - Life Purpose/ Transition Coach.
• "Momentum carries with it power inertia binds you to stagnation."