If you want to stop procrastinating, improve your motivation and achieve the success you want in life, then one of the key factors is to stop thinking about what you would like to do, or the changes your would like to make and start doing. Saying ‘if only’ doesn’t cut it and it’s a feeble excuse. Although you can get help to stop procrastinating at the end of the day it requires making a commitment to make some changes and giving yourself a kick start.

When you first try to stop procrastinating, you may not know the exact thing that will help you to be motivated, but that doesn’t actually matter. It’s better that you’re trying to do something, rather than doing nothing. Here are 7 tips to get you started.

1. Make a commitment to get started: Don’t over complicate things by making excuses and thinking about the right time to get started. In reality there probably isn't a right time and if you’re just waiting for everything to be perfect you will continue to procrastinate. Make the decision to get started today!

2. Choose a goal: If you've struggled to overcome a tendency to procrastinate then choosing a single goal to aim at may be a more effective strategy than aiming at multiple goals. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you're aiming for a goal or goals that you really want. Sometimes people make the mistake of choosing goals that are not their own, or they don’t really believe in. Do that and you are unlikely to stay unmotivated.

3. Set a timeline: If you’re trying to motivate yourself, setting a timeline is important. The number of milestones or deadlines that you mark on the timeline is up to you and will depend on a particular goal. Make the timeline realistic, but challenging. Depending on how long the timeline is, you might need to review it as you go along.

4. Manage your time effectively: Finding the right time management system is key to staying motivated. Some people work well breaking down tasks into 15 minute slots and then moving on, whilst others find this frustrating and want to work at a task for a far longer time period. There is no right or wrong – you just need to understand yourself and find what will help you to improve your motivation. Whatever you do, do not right long to do lists that you never have a chance of achieving.

5. Identify procrastination pit stops: It’s often quite easy to be motivated to achieve a goal and then find that something throws you off balance and you start procrastinating. Sometimes you may not even be aware that there were warning signs. Identifying and anticipating barriers that may throw you off course, like boredom, fear or lack of resources or skills, will give you the opportunity to do something differently before it even becomes a problem.

6. Learn from others: It’s very important when you’re trying to improve your motivation to find what specifically motivates you. It doesn’t matter if it’s not what somebody else would find motivating as long as it is legal and safe and works for you. However, you can learn a lot from other people’s experiences and then apply things to your own context – so if you are inspired by other people, seek them out and ask them how they did it and see if there is anything you can replicate or apply in a different way to your own situation.

7. Ask for help: Although it’s you who needs to make a commitment to stop procrastinating it may be that having some additional help would be useful. It may be something simple – such as a friend sending you a daily text message of encouragement, or asking you what you are doing towards your goal. It may be that a goal buddy (someone who is working towards a similar goal will help), or you might want to clarify your goals and turn them into reality by working with a coach. If you find yourself going off track and you can’t overcome procrastination pit stops it’s definitely time to find extra support.

Summary: Finding and implementing strategies for overcoming procrastination will help you to improve your motivation. It may be a challenge to get started, but at some point you have to say you will start regardless of whether the time feels right or you feel like doing it. As you find yourself completing tasks and reaching goals that you have wanted to achieve, you will undoubtedly experience improved levels of motivation.

What strategies do you use to keep motivated?