5 ways to stop procrastination before it starts

Starting something, anything, is hard.

How often have you hit the snooze button so you could put off starting your day for a few more minutes?

It is easier to procrastinate than to start a task.

Covid-19 restrictions are creating a world where everyone lacks the energy and enthusiasm they need to get work done.

This can be especially true for children who are learning at home.  Children will miss the structure and discipline of classroom life, personal contact with their teacher, and support and encouragement of friends.

Suddenly home is not only somewhere to rest and have fun it is a place where they have to do schoolwork.  And it doesn’t feel good.

Your child may be struggling to get schoolwork done, putting off doing homework or making excuses for not starting their work.

These are signs that your child has lost their motivation, their desire to learn, and until your child gets his mojo back there is nothing you can do that will make a difference.

Fascinating fact – Research shows that more than 40% of high school students are apathetic about school and schoolwork.   Their future looks dim.

Motivation is the first step in any learning process.  Without the desire to do something it will never happen.

Helping your child get over the procrastination hurdle is not easy.

You have probably tried, rewards, punishments, nagging, threats to get your child to start their work – all to no avail.

It is time for a different approach.

The first to helping your child get over their procrastination hurdle and feel good about starting work is to make sure they have vision.

Vision –is the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom

 Why is having vision important?

Without vision a child has no idea of where he wants to go in life.  Without an idea of where he wants to go – who he wants to be – he has no idea what he has to do to get there.

Without an idea of what he has to do he will have no willingness to do anything other than play video games.

Motivation for school work will be nonexistent.

Whose vision matters most?

Remember –we are taking about your child’s vision, not your vision for your child. Only your child’s vision of what he wants his life to be works as a motivating factor. Pushing your vision for your child may even prevent your child wanting to learn.

How can you help your child develop vision?

  • Make a vision board – encourage your child to collect pictures of anything that appeals to him. Keep adding to it as your child’s vision grows.
  • Talk about what you want to happen in the future. Let your child understand what your visions are.
  • Provide options. Suggest future options based on your child’s strengths
  • Ask your child this question – where do you want to be? What do you want to be doing? Who do you want to be with?… in the next five years, ten years.
  • Be optimistic – optimism leads naturally to a vision for the future. No one can be optimistic all the time but it is a habit that can be gradually developed.  Not only will it help your child create their own vision you will feel great too!

Right now you’re struggling with frustration, exhaustion, maybe even desperation about your child’s future.

Imagine what your life would be like if you could stop nagging your child, stop listening to endless excuses and knew your child was working hard, learning well, and being successful in school.

The future would look good.

Helping your child develop vision is the first step.

Want to know more? Check out my on-line course Success starts here

https://leadingtolearning.thinkific.com/courses/success-starts-here

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