Stop Procrastinating: Add Accountability to Your Mix
The Key To Productivity. It’s Not Motivation. But Rather Honesty and Accountability
Personal Hook
I still remember the day I promised my best friend, Rachel, that I’d finish writing our joint novel in three months. I was so pumped! Or so I thought. Three months came and went, and I was stuck on chapter one. It wasn’t lack of motivation – it was me trying to please myself instead of being accountable to someone else.
The Realization
It wasn’t until I had a chat with my writing coach that the lightbulb moment hit me. She told me that whenever she’s working on a project, she reminds herself that her editor is waiting for the manuscript, and that gets her moving! That’s when it clicked – being accountable to someone or something else, rather than just myself, makes all the difference.
The Hack
Here’s the hack: whenever you’re struggling to get things done, ask yourself, “Who am I doing this for?” If it’s just yourself, it’s easy to procrastinate. But if there’s someone else counting on you – a family member, a friend, or even your future self – that sense of responsibility is a game-changer! It’s not about being motivated; it’s about being honest with yourself and taking ownership.
Reflection
Using this hack has transformed my productivity (and sanity!). By being accountable to Rachel for our novel and now for my own writing business, I’m able to stay on track and deliver quality work. And let me tell you, it feels amazing!
Funny Fail Moment
I tried using a “motivation alarm clock” that was supposed to go off every hour to remind me to get back to work. Yeah… that lasted about three days before I turned it off and hid under the covers.
