Let It Be

While not a formal meditation practice, the “Let it Be” technique draws on the principles of detachment and acceptance to address procrastination. By defusing the excuses the mind generates to justify procrastination, this practice can help overcome the temptation to put things off.
Meditation Principles, Procrastination, Detachment and Acceptance

This is more of a meditation technique that has to be done during certain times of the day. And this meditation technique is all about sort of procrastination and motivation. So oftentimes, when we’re struggling to do something, our mind will come up with reasons to kind of support our laziness.

• How have you experienced your mind generating excuses to justify procrastination?
• What benefits do you anticipate from applying meditation principles like detachment and acceptance to your procrastination habits?

When we want to procrastinate, our mind produces various thoughts and justifications to support our desire to avoid the task at hand. These reasons may seem compelling, but they are ultimately tools the mind uses to enable procrastination.
Mental Justifications, Avoidance, Enabling Procrastination

So our mind produces all these kinds of thoughts in justifications. And as a result, our desire to procrastinate actually wins over and but the thing that you need to really understand is that it’s not the reasons why we procrastinate. The reasons are just what our mind kind of uses as tools. Those aren’t we’re not really procrastinating till tomorrow, in order to be more efficient. It’s not like we sit down at the beginning of the week and we sort of map out okay, on Thursday afternoon. I’m not going to study so that I can be optimally efficient on Friday morning. That’s not how it works, right.

• What common justifications does your mind generate when you feel the urge to procrastinate?
• How can recognizing these justifications as tools for enabling procrastination help you break the cycle?

Trying to argue against the mind’s justifications for procrastination is often counterproductive, as the very part of the mind generating these reasons is already working against us. Engaging in this internal debate can lead to further entrenchment of the procrastination mindset.
Internal Debate, Counterproductive Arguing, Entrenchment

So how do we combat those we can try arguing against them. But that’s sort of tricky because the very part of our mind that is generating reasons is already working against us. So you can’t really logic your way out of like working now.

• Recall a time when you tried to argue against your mind’s justifications for procrastination. How effective was this approach?
• What alternative strategies can you employ to address procrastination without getting caught in an internal debate?

Instead of arguing with the mind’s justifications, the “Let it Be” technique involves taking a step back, detaching from the reasons, and accepting them without letting them dictate our actions. By simply acknowledging the mind’s excuses and choosing to act anyway, we can overcome the pull of procrastination.
Detachment, Acceptance, Choosing Action

What you can do, though, almost in a meditative way, is Let it be so whatsoever inefficiency or reason your mind provides, take a deep breath, take a step back and just let it be. Why do we need to be efficient? And that may be like a very revolutionary concept. Of course, we need to be efficient. Everyone wants to be efficient, isn’t the goal of everything to be efficient. So what So what if there are more people at the gym? So what if people judge you? So this is sort of a concept where the more we detach, the more we say to ourselves, let it be?

• Practice the “Let it Be” technique the next time you feel the urge to procrastinate. Notice your mind’s justifications, acknowledge them, and choose to act anyway.
• How can regularly practicing this technique help you build resilience against the pull of procrastination over time?

By letting go of the need to be efficient, to avoid judgment, or to give in to the mind’s other justifications, we can liberate ourselves from the grip of procrastination. Cultivating a willingness to do things imperfectly or inefficiently can lead to greater productivity and peace of mind.
Letting Go, Imperfection, Liberation

Imagine what your life would be like if you could do things that were inefficient. Imagine what your life would be like if you ended up studying on Thursday. Afternoon instead of Friday morning. Imagine what your life would be like if you were done studying on Thursday night and could wake up on Friday morning without having to worry about studying. That would be absolutely liberating.

• Reflect on an area of your life where the pressure to be perfect or efficient has led to procrastination. How might letting go of these expectations free you to take action?
• What benefits would you experience if you were able to consistently let go of the mind’s justifications and act in spite of them?

While the “Let it Be” technique may not eliminate procrastination overnight, it can help cultivate awareness of the procrastination habit and acceptance of the mind’s justifications without being controlled by them. With consistent practice, this approach can lead to lasting changes in our relationship with procrastination.
Awareness, Acceptance, Lasting Change

It won’t cure procrastination overnight. But what I’ll help you do is gain awareness over the procrastination. And as you start to practice this more and more and more. Imagine what your life would be like if you could do things that were inefficient.

• Set an intention to practice the “Let it Be” technique whenever you notice procrastination arising. What do you hope to learn about your procrastination habit through this practice?
• How can cultivating awareness and acceptance through the “Let it Be” technique support your overall personal growth and development?

By applying the principles of detachment and acceptance to procrastination, we can break free from the mind’s justifications and choose to act in alignment with our goals and values. The “Let it Be” technique offers a powerful tool for cultivating awareness, letting go of limiting expectations, and ultimately overcoming the pull of procrastination.