Just Do It: The Nike Guide to Productivity
How can you get more done during your day?
What’s the best way to beat procrastination?
How do you find time for the things that are truly important?
My favorite answer for getting off your butt and moving forward is Nike’s famous tagline: Just do it!
Nike, Inc. has been using “Just Do It” to sell athletic shoes, workout gear, and sporting equipment since 1988. The no-excuses trademark appeals to those of us who are determined to quit dragging our feet about all our life’s goals.
Do you come up with a bunch of excuses when you don’t want to do something?
“I know I should write that report, but I need to get another cup of coffee first.”
“I wish I could lose weight, but I just don’t have the time to exercise.”
“I know I should plan my spending budget for this month, but math is so boring.”
Whenever one of my friends or clients starts to list off a million reasons why they can’t do something, I like to channel Nike and tell them to just do it. More often than not, they get mad at me and tell me I just don’t understand their very unique situation.
But that’s why people hire life coaches, right?
It’s my job to get in people’s faces and give it to them straight. It says “Excuse Killer” on my business cards, so I better live up to that title.
So how do we “just do it” and be productive when our minds are begging us to sit on the couch and watch a Game of Thrones marathon?
When you find yourself drowning in excuses, remember that they are just that—excuses! They are not based on reality.
Let’s say you need to finish a work project, but it’s stressing you out. Your excuse might be to go talk to one of your coworkers or check Facebook to calm yourself.
But distracting yourself will NOT decrease your stress. That work project will still be there when you’re done goofing off.
Instead, take a deep breath and get started. Start with the tiniest step (such as opening the Excel document) and then move on to the next tiniest step (typing the title).
Just do it!
You will feel loads better by “eating that frog” and doing that thing you don’t want to do. Save your rewards for the time after you finish and you’ll appreciate them much more. Besides, how can you enjoy anything when there’s something you dread weighing on you?
It’s the same for any other time when you need to get over your excuses and be productive. Just do it, even if you have to do an imperfect job or you’re scared of looking stupid.
Our egos like to hold us back and make it seem like we can’t be successful. Don’t listen!
When you just do it, you’ll realize that you’re stronger, more productive, and resilient than you thought.
How do you make yourself just do it?
3 Simple Steps to Become a Productivity Superstar
Dump your excuses, transform your habits, and become the most productive person you know.
Cute pic!!! I’ve been procrastinating on a little side project for a month now… mostly because I wasn’t super excited about it. You can imagine the last thing I wanted to do was write this piece when I got home from a 13 hour day today but I knew the procrastinating any longer wasn’t an option and I just had to do it. So I sucked it up and did it and I feel a huge sense of relief that I have this draft done. I know that I’m just going to have to get the revisions done ASAP because I’ll fall into a nasty procrastination pattern!
I know I write about productivity a lot, but I still struggle with procrastination. Everyone does! Sometimes I need to be tough with myself and just do it even though I don’t want too. I’m glad you were able to crank out a draft. It gets easier…you just have to start. 🙂
This is SO true! I felt like this same motto ran through my mind yesterday as I cleaned our very messy office. You just have to start some place and begin. Just do SOMETHING and it’s better than doing nothing. I find that usually once I start doing that one thing I was putting off, it easily gets done and I feel so much better. 🙂
Eek, that reminds me that I need to clean up my office. 🙂 Starting on the smallest step is often the only way I get started at all. You’re right, it does make me feel better to DO something.
I repeat the “just do it” saying to myself pretty often. It definitely works!
I love that your business cards say “excuse killer”. So cute!
Thanks, Molly! Well, it says “Life Coach” on my business cards too, but “Excuse Killer” is more fun. 🙂