3 Tips to Stop Hitting Life’s Snooze Buttons

I used to complain that alarm clocks have snooze buttons.

What kind of absurd machine would enable people to procrastinate, when its singular purpose is to wake you up?

Really though, I complain about alarm clocks, but I’m not really a go-getter by nature. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t instinctively jump out of bed thrilled to pounce on my daily to-do list.

Each morning, I choose to be proactive.

Yeah, the annoying alarm sucks, but somewhere along the line I decided I was fed up with the envy and jealousy I had of other people.

I was upset that they were getting more from life than I was. To combat this, I made a conscious decision to become someone who would flourish.

Here’s the thing: there will always be snooze buttons in life.

Distractions will always be there to enable your most ambitious procrastination efforts; but come day’s end, if you don’t say “No” to them, you’ll be further behind on your journey to success.

Personally, I knew I needed to stop dragging my feet. I started by cutting negative behaviors from my daily routine, e.g. sleeping in, making excuses, and lazing around on the couch.

These weren’t just bad habits; they were my life’s metaphorical snooze buttons–causing me to sleep away opportunities that each day held.

If I wanted to accomplish something real, I needed to make a choice to become the person I wanted to be–an achiever.

From this point forward, let’s agree that you’ll consciously accept that you have a decision to make–and that you’ll make it.

Here are three things you need to focus on to get you started in the right direction.

Take baby steps
The focus here is for you to make small adjustments on a regular basis.

These small adjustments add up (ever read The Compound Effect?).

Before you know it, you’ll be looking at a totally new person in the mirror.

Anything worth doing will take time and effort.

Many of your goals may very well take longer than a day.

Be patient, yes, but passive?

No.

You need to start making progress toward the goal immediately.

Don’t wait until next Monday morning to start implementing changes.

There will never be a better time than now.

Start with one new change each week until you’re ready to start forming a new habit.

Be Optimistic About the Process
Don’t focus on getting rid of bad habits.

Focus on creating new habits–those that are true to you.

We fill our heads with so much negativity…things we tell ourselves that we would never let others get away with saying to us.

Do you allow others to call you a failure?

No?

Then stop saying it to yourself.

Optimism is necessary.

Personal Accountability
This is the most important of the three.

You must be personally accountable.

I don’t care about your approach.

I care about results.

Figure out what motivates you to follow through on your goals.

Some people use monetary incentives; some disclose details to friends.

Whatever it is, use it to insure your success.

For me, I keep a list of my goals visible.

Cheesy, maybe, but I look to these goals whenever I need a pick-me-up.

It’s a good reminder of why I’m putting in the hard work.

Stop hitting the snooze button on your life and get your ass in gear.

You’re the only one that can make your life happen.

Today is the day you bid adieu.

This has been your complimentary wake-up call.

Keep me up to date with your progress.

Follow me on Twitter or leave a comment below.