A Complete Walkthrough For Managing Your Momentum

Often we find ourselves going until we crash and burn. We often dedicate the wrong time to certain tasks, ultimately draining ourselves of the motivation we’ll later need. This isn’t uncommon, 88% of workers spend at least 1 hour per day procrastinating on a task. However, these adversities can be tackled by readjusting your habits and what you dedicate time to. In this guide, you will find the importance of momentum, tips to create goals for re-emerging after a setback, and technology that can help you do so.

Procrastination’s Influence on Momentum

Your strengthened progress from routine day-to-day actions is known as positive momentum. However, there are a plethora of doings that can halt you from reaching your full potential in momentum – for example: procrastinating.

We put things off for many reasons: laziness, disinterest, unknowingness, fear. Still, these are behavioral halts. Procrastination can also be influenced by your internal condition. Initially, procrastination means lower levels of stress and more time for enjoyable activities. At the same time, those who procrastinate go on to feel more stress, contract more illness, and produce lower qualities of work.

With that being said, there are ways to avoid excess moments of analysis paralysis. Although it may feel harder to do things we’ve never done before, dragging out your decisions only prolongs the task you’re putting off. Ultimately, this makes the task harder to start.

How To Reduce Procrastination

Be proactive. Live in the present. Often, our problems feel harder to overcome than they actually are. However, our futures are created by the steps we take now. Our unaddressed setbacks can begin to pile up, making them even intimidating than they were to begin with.

Of course, this results in even bigger issues – like adding time pressure and increasing your stress. Failing to reach your goals in the moment will make it much harder to accomplish more goals down the road.

Why is this important? In both life and business, amazing results can come from negative experiences. Take it from Nassem Nicholas Taleb, author of Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder, “Some things benefit from shacks; they thrive and grow when exposed to volatility, randomness, disorder, and stressors… Antifragility is beyond resilience or robustness. The resilient resists shacks and stays the same; the antifragile gets better.” But what if something halts both you and your progress?

Re-Emerging After a Setback

Admitting is the first step. To move forward, you must first come to the realization you’ve been procrastinating. You can take control of a difficult situation by recognizing the reality of your circumstances. Look as to how the setback happened, and how you can be proactive in moving forward.

Furthermore, reset your outlook. If this is harnessed correctly, your stress can be taken as a positive force. For example, choose to look at setbacks as a lesson and use them as motivation.

It’s also important you approach your re-emersion with baby steps. Pick one thing you want to get better at, and do it daily. Small, incremental improvements over time result in bigger overall accomplishments.

You can also try the One Percent Solution. Alan Weiss says if you improve your business (or yourself) by 1% each day, that in 70 days you’ll be 2x as good as you are now.

How Creating Goals Can Help You Move Forward

Michael Korda, an English writer, once said, “One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals.” To do so, you must first create goals. However, before a goal can become a plan, you’ll need an idea or vision. Furthermore, write your goals down, as well as why they’re valuable and important to you. This way, your goal will be far more motivating.

Additionally, make lists, take measurable action, and start with one step.

One study showed that making a plan to get tasks done can reduce the amount of anxiety stemming from uncompleted to-do’s. Moreover, known progress can be made if you have clear and specific objects. Beginning with the easiest task that needs to be done can help build your motivation to continue going.

With that being said, don’t forget we’re in the 21st century when creating your goals. In other words, technology can make this process much easier – relieving much of your stress. For example, the Trello app helps users accomplish their projects and tasks with easy-to-use lists. Then there’s the Fabulous App, which guides users’ small lifestyle changes to create habits in 30 days and the Procaster app which gives advice on how to overcome procrastination based on your specific mindset.

The Importance of Momentum

Again, life is easier when our goals are completed. Seth Godin, author of This Is Marketing, one said, “Fast starts are never as important as… consistently showing up and committing to a process.” There are many ways you can work on your momentum, which ultimately translates into working on yourself. Read more below for more insights on
managing momentum and becoming more proactive in your efforts.