Do This First Thing In The Morning To Stop Procrastination & Never Be Lazy

Summary

This video reveals a simple morning habit to combat procrastination and laziness: the ten-minute morning rule. By dedicating the first ten minutes of your day to your most important task, you set a positive tone for productivity. The video also suggests preparing the night before and working distraction-free to enhance this habit's effectiveness. Interestingly, it points out that sometimes procrastination can be a sign to avoid a costly mistake, highlighting its potential benefits.

Takeaways

• 🌞 Start your day with a simple habit to combat procrastination and laziness.
• ⏰ The average person wastes 55 days a year procrastinating, which is costly in time and stress.
• 💸 Procrastination costs the U.S. economy around 70 billion dollars annually and is linked to negative health impacts.
• 🧠 Procrastination is not about laziness but a brain mechanism to avoid discomfort or uncertainty.
• ⏱️ Implement the 'ten-minute morning rule' by dedicating the first ten minutes of your day to your most important task.
• 🛠️ The ten-minute rule is effective because starting a task is often the hardest part, and momentum can lead to continued progress.
• 📝 Plan your 'most important task' (MIT) the night before to streamline your morning routine.
• 👟 Prepare your workspace and materials in advance to make starting your task effortless.
• 🚫 Commit to working on your MIT distraction-free for ten minutes to ensure focus and productivity.
• 🔄 If you're still in the zone after ten minutes, keep going; if not, take a short break and then return to the task.
• 🤔 Recognize that sometimes procrastination is a signal from your intuition to avoid a costly mistake.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the video script?

The main issue discussed in the video script is procrastination and its negative impacts, along with a simple morning habit to combat it.

How much time does the average person spend procrastinating per day according to the script?

The average person spends 280 minutes a day procrastinating.

What is the annual time wasted due to procrastination as mentioned in the script?

According to the script, 55 days a year are wasted due to procrastination.

What is the economic impact of procrastination on the U.S. economy as stated in the script?

Procrastination is estimated to cost the U.S. economy around 70 billion dollars a year.

How is procrastination linked to mental health according to the script?

Procrastination is linked to stress, depression, and anxiety.

What is the 'ten minute morning rule' suggested in the script to overcome procrastination?

The 'ten minute morning rule' is a habit where one commits to spending just ten minutes working on the most important task of the day before doing anything else.

Why is the duration of the 'ten minute morning rule' effective according to the script?

The ten-minute duration is effective because it's short enough not to feel overwhelming but long enough to get into the groove and start a task.

What is the psychological benefit of starting the day with the 'ten minute morning rule' as per the script?

Starting the day with the 'ten minute morning rule' sets a positive tone for the rest of the day, making one feel like a champion and staying motivated.

How can one prepare for the 'ten minute morning rule' according to the script?

One should identify their most important task (MIT) the day before, prepare everything needed in advance, and commit to starting that task for ten minutes first thing in the morning.

What is the unexpected truth about procrastination revealed at the end of the script?

The unexpected truth is that sometimes procrastination is not a sign of laziness but a warning signal from intuition trying to help avoid a costly mistake.

What is the advice given for situations where procrastination might be serving as a warning signal?

In situations where procrastination might be serving as a warning signal, one should pay close attention to it as it could be intuition helping to avoid a mistake.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Morning Routine to Overcome Procrastination

The video introduces a simple morning habit to combat procrastination and laziness. It emphasizes the significant time and resources wasted due to procrastination, averaging 280 minutes per day or 55 days per year. The economic cost of procrastination is highlighted, with an estimated $70 billion annual loss to the U.S. economy. The psychological impact includes stress, depression, and anxiety. The root of procrastination is not laziness but a brain mechanism to avoid discomfort. A solution called the 'ten-minute morning rule' is proposed, where one commits to working on the most important task for just ten minutes after waking up. This tactic is effective because starting a task is often the hardest part, and once begun, momentum can lead to continued progress. The video suggests setting up the task the night before and working distraction-free for the initial ten minutes to establish a positive start to the day.

05:04

🔄 Embracing Procrastination as a Signal

This paragraph discusses an alternative perspective on procrastination, suggesting it can serve as a warning signal rather than a sign of laziness. The narrative shares a personal anecdote where procrastination on a business deal ultimately prevented a potentially disastrous partnership. The speaker advises viewers to consider whether procrastination might indicate that they should avoid a task altogether. The video concludes with a call to action to subscribe for more content and an invitation to join 'Time Genius,' a program designed to help viewers master time management and overcome procrastination. The speaker encourages viewers to pursue their dreams and offers a money-back guarantee on the program, promising life-changing results.

Keywords

💡Procrastination

Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing tasks or actions, often resulting in decreased productivity and increased stress. In the video, it is presented as a significant issue that costs individuals and the economy billions of dollars annually. The script emphasizes the negative impacts of procrastination on personal goals, health, and financial stability, and introduces a strategy to combat it.

💡Morning habit

A morning habit refers to a routine or activity performed in the early part of the day to set a positive tone for the rest of the day. The video suggests a specific morning habit—spending ten minutes on the most important task—to counteract procrastination. This habit is portrayed as a simple yet effective way to start the day productively.

💡Ten-minute morning rule

The 'ten-minute morning rule' is a strategy introduced in the video to overcome procrastination. It involves committing to work on the most important task for just ten minutes immediately after waking up. This rule is designed to make starting tasks less daunting and to leverage the momentum gained from beginning a task to continue working beyond the initial ten minutes.

💡Most important task (MIT)

The 'most important task' or MIT refers to the single task that, if accomplished, would have the most significant impact on one's day. In the context of the video, identifying and starting with the MIT is crucial for applying the ten-minute morning rule effectively. The script advises planning this task the night before to ensure a smooth start to the day.

💡Discomfort

Discomfort, as mentioned in the video, is a psychological state that can lead to procrastination. It arises from the brain's aversion to facing new, challenging, or uncertain situations. The video explains that procrastination is often a response to this discomfort, rather than a simple lack of motivation or laziness.

💡Stress

Stress is a common emotional and physiological response to perceived threats or pressure. In the video, stress is linked to procrastination, suggesting that the habit of delaying tasks can lead to increased stress levels. The video implies that by reducing procrastination, one can also reduce stress.

💡Depression

Depression is a mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. The script mentions that procrastination is associated with depression, indicating that the habit can have serious emotional and psychological consequences.

💡Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, unease, or nervousness about something with an uncertain outcome. The video script connects anxiety with procrastination, suggesting that the fear of starting or completing tasks can lead to putting them off. By addressing the root causes of anxiety, the video implies that one can mitigate procrastination.

💡Productivity

Productivity refers to the efficiency of an individual or system in producing desired outcomes. The video emphasizes the negative impact of procrastination on productivity and introduces the ten-minute morning rule as a method to increase productivity by starting the day with a focused task.

💡Psychological win

A 'psychological win' is a small victory or positive reinforcement that boosts confidence and motivation. In the video, starting the day with the ten-minute morning rule and completing the MIT is described as a psychological win. This small success is portrayed as a powerful motivator for continued productivity throughout the day.

💡Intuition

Intuition is the ability to understand or know something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. The video suggests that sometimes procrastination can be a form of intuition, signaling that a task or decision may not be in one's best interest. It provides an example where procrastination prevented a potentially harmful business deal.

Highlights

One simple morning habit can stop procrastination and laziness.

The average person spends 280 minutes a day procrastinating, totaling 55 days a year wasted.

Procrastination costs the U.S. economy around 70 billion dollars a year.

Procrastination is linked to stress, depression, and anxiety.

Procrastination is the brain's way of avoiding discomfort.

The ten-minute morning rule can outsmart procrastination.

Commit to spending just ten minutes on the most important task first thing in the morning.

Ten minutes is enough to get started but not overwhelming.

Starting is the hardest part of any task, and momentum helps to keep going.

The ten-minute rule is about starting, not finishing, a task.

Tackling the most important task first sets a positive tone for the day.

Identify your most important task (MIT) the day before.

Prepare everything needed for the task the night before to ensure an easy start.

Commit to ten minutes of focused work on the task after waking up.

Work distraction-free for the ten minutes to maintain focus.

If in the zone after ten minutes, continue working; otherwise, take a short break and return.

Procrastination can sometimes be a warning signal, indicating the need to avoid a mistake.

Procrastination has saved the speaker from making costly mistakes in business.

Procrastination isn't always bad; sometimes it's a sign to call off a task.

Transcripts

What if I told you there is one simple thing  you can do first thing in the morning to stop  

procrastination and feeling lazy. In this video,  we're talking about a super simple morning habit  

that does just that. Plus, stick around till  the end. Because I'm also going to reveal this  

unexpected truth about when procrastination  can actually be the best thing you can do.

You don't want to miss it. Now, before we get  into the solution, let's talk about how costly  

procrastination really is. Did you know that  the average person spends 280 minutes a day  

procrastinating? Do you know what that adds  up to? 55 frickin days a year wasted? I mean,  

think about that for a second. 55 precious days  that you could have used to grow your business.

Or write that book, or learn that language, or  travel, or get into the best shape of your life.  

But this gets even worse because procrastination  isn't just a time waster. It is this stressful,  

shame filled habit that sabotages your dreams  and sets fire to your bank account. Check this  

out. It's estimated that procrastination cost  the U.S. economy around 70 billion a year.

Yeah, that's billion with a B. And it's  not just toxic for your wallet. It's  

toxic for your health. Procrastination  is also linked to stress, depression,  

and anxiety. Now here's the thing with  procrastination. It's not really about  

being lazy or unmotivated. It's actually about  your brain trying to avoid discomfort, whether  

that's the discomfort of starting something big  and new, or tackling something that you're unsure  

or insecure about, or just this general anxiety  of knowing that you have so much to get done.

But you got no clue how to start. Now here's  the good news. You can outsmart procrastination  

with this one simple trick. So what is it?  It's something called the ten minute morning  

rule. And here's how it works. The moment you  start your day, commit to spending just ten  

minutes working on the most important task  on your list. Before you do anything else.

And yes, I do mean anything else. Maybe besides  coffee. So no checking your phone, no scrolling  

through your emails, no getting distracted by the  news. Just ten minutes on that one most important  

thing that you know needs to get done. Now, you  might be wondering, well, why ten minutes? It's  

short enough that it doesn't feel overwhelming,  but it's long enough to get you into the groove.

And research shows that starting is actually  the hardest part of any task. And here's what's  

cool. Once you get that momentum, your brain  shifts gears and you're much more likely to  

just keep going. Now, you might be thinking  yourself, well, what can I really accomplish  

in ten minutes? And that's the beauty of it. The  ten minute rule isn't about finishing the task.

It's about starting at. Once you've started,  you'll often want to just keep going well beyond  

those initial ten minutes. This is so simple,  but it works like magic. It's simple physics,  

a body in motion tends to stay in motion. Plus,  by tackling what's most important to you first  

thing in the morning, here's what's cool. Not  only do you guarantee that that thing gets done,  

but you're also setting a positive  tone for the rest of your day.

You're gonna start feeling like a friggin  champion right from the jump, which makes  

it so much easier to stay motivated and to keep  getting done. It's this little psychological win  

that keeps you in the driver's seat, rather than  letting procrastination take the wheel. So you  

might be asking, well, how do you make this  little ten minute morning rule work for you?

Here's a rundown. Number one, identify your  mitt, which is your most important task.  

Don't do this in the morning, but actually the  day before. So some time before you go to bed,  

decide the one most important thing that  you need to get done the next day. Write  

it down and put it somewhere where you're  going to see it first thing in the morning.

Number two, set yourself up to win.  So make it an easy start by preparing  

everything that you're going to  need in advance. So for example,  

let's say you're planning to exercise.  Lay out your sneakers and your workout  

clothes the night before. If you want to  work a little bit and write on your book,  

make sure that your computer is charged up  and that you've closed any distracting tabs.

The goal here is just to make it super easy to  dive in and get to work without thinking. Next,  

commit to ten minutes. Now, after you've had  your coffee or tea, dive straight into that  

task. Set a timer for ten minutes and focus  solely on getting started. Number four work  

distraction free. So for those ten minutes,  do not let anything interfere with your focus.

No emails, no social, no news, just you and the  task at hand. Now real fast. If you want a little  

help on this step, grab my free focus checklist  in the link below. It is ridiculously simple,  

but it guarantees you're going to  work distraction free. Download it  

below or at Marie for local slash free focus  checklist. Enjoy! Number five follow your flow.

So if after ten minutes you are still  in the zone, keep friggin going. If not,  

just take a short break and then dive back in.  Either way, give yourself a half hour because  

guess what? You've already beaten procrastination  for the day. Now, one last important thing to  

know. Here's what most people never get. Sometimes  procrastination isn't a sign of laziness.

It's actually a warning signal. It's something  that you should pay close attention to. I want  

you to think about it this way. What if the fact  that you keep putting something off is actually  

your intuition, trying to help you avoid this  costly and painful mistake? So here's an example.  

Years ago, we were working on a business deal  with someone who's fairly famous in our world,  

and this deal was on our project list  and my team was ready to move it forward.

And honestly, my team, all of us were all  about getting things done. But for some reason,  

this deal wasn't progressing. Every day  we'd look at it, but for whatever reason,  

it kept getting pushed to the backburner and we  started to feel guilty about it. We were like,  

oh my God, what the hell's wrong with  us? Why aren't we making this happen?

Then I got a phone call from the person  that we were getting ready to work with,  

and everything made sense. So there is this  one small detail in our contract that they  

disagreed with, and they wildly overreacted.  I'm talking anger and screaming and ranting  

and raving. I was like, wow, the public  doesn't see this side of you now, do they?

Point is, they acted like a toddler having a  meltdown. That behavior told me everything I  

needed to know. Clearly, we were not meant to do  business together and thankfully no contracts had  

been signed. In other words, procrastination  saved us from this huge, expensive, painful  

mistake. And honestly, that wasn't the only time.  Procrastination has been a blessing in disguise.

So here's the bottom line. Procrastination  isn't always a bad thing, because sometimes  

putting it off is a sign that you need to call  it off. Now, if you found this video helpful,  

hit that subscribe button because we got  a lot more goodness coming your way. And  

if you're ready to dive deeper into mastering  your time and beating procrastination for good.

Come check out Time Genius. It's our evidence  based program that's helped thousands of people  

double their productivity in a fraction of the  time, and actually have fun doing it. It's all  

science based. It comes with the money moneyback  guarantee, and I promise you it will change your  

life. You can learn more at Join Time genius.com.  Until next time, stay on your game and keep going  

for your big dreams, because the world really does  need that very special gift that only you have.

I'll catch you soon.