1. Set Definite Smart goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-based)
There is a direct relationship between the level of clarity you have about who you are and what you want, and virtually everything you accomplish in life.
Superior men and women invest the time necessary to develop absolute clarity about themselves and what they really want, like designing a detailed blueprint for a building, before they begin construction.
Average people just throw themselves at life, like a dog chasing a passing car, and wonder why they never seem to catch anything, or keep anything worthwhile
First of all, The starting point of goal setting is for you to realize that you have virtually unlimited potential to be, have or do anything you really want in life. If you simply want it badly enough, and are willing to work long enough and hard enough to achieve it.
The second part of goal setting is for you to accept complete responsibility for your life, and for everything that happens to you, with no blaming and no excuses
With these two concepts clearly in mind, that you have unlimited potential and that you are completely responsible, you are now ready to move to the next step, which is to begin designing your ideal future.
All successful people are intensely goal oriented. They know what they want and they are focused single mindedly on achieving it, every single day.
2. Stay Hungry
Again, Remember, you become what you think about — most of the time.
Successful, happy people think about their values, and how they can live and practice those values in every part of their lives, every single day.
The big payoff is that, the more you live your life consistent with your values, the happier, healthier, more positive and energetic you will be.
Even when the going gets tough and you contemplate giving up, finishing what you start is way easier when you are focused on how your world will benefit. Whenever you have to do something that you hate, think of how it will bring you closer to your goals.
Or whenever you find yourself bored or tired while working on your goals, consider how great you will feel when you finish. Every day, review your goals and why you want to complete them. Then let that fill you with motivation to drive you forward toward project completion.
3. Reaffirm your intentions
You remember that, “Happiness is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.” When you have clear, exciting goals and ideals, you will feel happier about yourself and your world. You will be more positive and optimistic. You will be more cheerful and enthusiastic.
You will feel internally motivated to get up and get going every morning, because every step you are taking will be moving you in the direction of something that is important to you.
Your aim is to reprogram your subconscious mind for success by creating the mental equivalent in everything you do or say
4. Practice Consistency
Also, another way to beat procrastination is to practice consistency.
Avoiding the trap of procrastination and mastering self-discipline comes with continuous practice of consistency. Remaining consistent also demands sacrifice in some areas of our lives.
You may have to spend money, expend effort, and give up time that you could use for doing things you love in order to commit to things you have to complete.
Since by definition, no one likes sacrifice. Sometimes the looming shadow of a sacrifice will overshadow your goals—unless you create motivators powerful enough to overpower your sense of sacrifice and make each sacrifice seem worthwhile.
Everything in life is an opportunity cost, which means that everything you do will call for something from you. Every act takes away time or effort that could be committed to something else.
Learning to play the guitar means solitary hours of drilling scales, chords, and dealing with painful calluses on your fingers.
Going to college entails getting up early and heading to a boring lecture and spending hours doing homework. Are you ready to make the trade-off?
If the opportunity cost is too expensive for you to want to pay it, then you will not follow through. Therefore, you must find a motivator that drives you to accept the opportunity cost. If you don’t feel motivated enough to pay that cost, then you are guaranteed to reschedule that task.
Make a decision this very day to challenge and reject any self-limiting beliefs that you might have that could be holding you back.
Look into yourself and question the areas of your life where you have doubts
about your abilities or talents. You might ask your friends and family members if they see any negative beliefs that you might have.