We all make excuses occasionally to postpone things for later or abandon goals. But this habit distances us from success and productivity. There comes a time in everyone’s life when they must move from excuses to responsibility and action. That’s what will help them implement this plan.
9 ways to stop making excuses
1. Figure out the reasons for the excuses
It’s important to figure out why you’re making excuses instead of acting. For example, you can be lazy — a common phenomenon that forces you to postpone things for later. But it happens that excuses are the result of a deeper emotional reaction. We often use them to eliminate tasks that contradict our goals and desires, even when promised something we cannot or do not want to fulfill.
Find out why you’re coming up with another excuse, and try to figure out which emotions are to blame. For example, if you tell yourself that you “just don’t have enough time for sports,” but you feel worried about staying at the gym, start setting aside an hour to work at home. Visit A F R I N I K . C O M . For full article .Sometimes, all you need is to admit that you don’t want to or are afraid of something, reconsider your boundaries, find a way out of the situation, and stop making excuses, redirecting energy to business.
2. Decide where you want to go
Start with the problem you want to solve or your goal. Then, ask yourself what you need to get to where you planned to be. We studied how to set clear, realistic goals and start working on their implementation. Here is a small example: more is needed to dream that you will buy yourself a car one day. This is an excellent foundation for a lot of excuses. But having built a plan to save up for a car in three years, saving a certain monthly amount, you will find yourself at the goal if you keep your word to yourself.
3. Start acting without hesitation
Excuses often arise because we overthink. Figuring out which areas in the apartment need to be cleaned and imagining the colors can be difficult; it’s easy to say that they will need more time and effort and then postpone everything for later. At such moments, you need not think but to act. Don’t let your brain be lazy and make you believe in the excuses that arise.
Get to the task right away, figuring out what your next step will be along the way. Of course, this strategy is only suitable for some aspects of life. For example, it is better to be careful when dealing with finances than act impulsively and get into trouble. However, if we are talking about cleaning or calling a relative who has a birthday, it is better to act without hesitation.
4. Get rid of limiting beliefs
Excuses are often the result of limiting beliefs that we believe in. These are stories in which we tell ourselves about who we are and what we can achieve. By saying, “I’m stupid” or “I’ll never succeed,” we prevent ourselves from believing in ourselves and starting to do something instead of coming up with excuses. So the next time you think like that, go to the mirror and say the opposite belief several times: “I’m not stupid — I can learn anything by spending a little time.” It works and gives you motivation to get better.
5. Find an example to follow
Sometimes, it’s useful to look at someone and say, “If he did it, then why can’t I?” Find inspiration in someone, and then promise that you will become the same inspiration for others. As soon as you realize you can grow and develop, you will stop thinking of yourself as someone who needs excuses.
6. Find out more
People can come up with excuses only because they fear the unknown. Accordingly, to start acting, you must learn more about what you have been putting off for so long. Change always involves risk, especially regarding new experiences, lifestyles, and careers. By understanding the topic more deeply, you will eliminate fear and understand whether you want what you have in mind. Having got rid of the fear of the unknown in this way, you are more likely to start not making excuses but planning your actions and making your dreams come true.
7. Don’t blame others for your lack of motivation
Those who like to justify themselves often blame other people or circumstances. This is one of the most destructive actions because it takes away motivation and self-confidence, makes you belittle your abilities, and causes you to lose faith that you can achieve more. Take responsibility, not blame someone else.
Give up the habit of complaining about life and looking for the reasons for your failures in others. Instead, think about what you want and how to achieve it. Taking control of your thoughts and actions makes you more likely to give up excuses to avoid wasting time and moving forward.
8. To get out of the spiral of shame
As a rule, people feel ashamed for putting things off for later or making up excuses. Because of this, they feel unworthy or deceitful, which only reinforces negative emotions. When you realize that excuses are preventing you from living, you give yourself a choice. Always think about the consequences: do you want to feel ashamed again for “getting away” from something, or would you prefer to do the deed and feel like a winner? The second option will suit you much more — it should be your motivation.
9. Get rid of the habit of rationalizing
“I’m going to eat this unhealthy snack because I had a bad day” and “I’ve been working out all week so that I might skip training today” — these are simple examples of Rationalization that we use to justify. Stop resorting to it to learn how to take responsibility. Rationalization is a way to hide and embellish your motives.
You eat a deep-fried snack because it’s delicious and you don’t need to cook it, but you don’t want to go to training because a new game has been installed on your computer. There’s nothing wrong with occasionally letting yourself be a gamer or eating something useless. These things will allow you to achieve your sports or lifestyle goals.
But if you have a habit of rationalizing and justifying such actions, you are likelier to let them become a habit rather than isolated cases. To break this pattern, start looking for excuses, contradicting them, and doing the opposite. Be honest with yourself about why you are doing this or that act.
