By Sandie Robertson

It’s OK to procrastinate. 

It seems nearly every client I work with reports that they wish to procrastinate less and achieve much more.

I had to try very hard to keep a straight face yesterday as a mum of 3 young children, who was with me training towards a hypnotherapy diploma and using all her holiday allowance from her full-time job to do so, said: “I just feel like I think about doing things all the time and never do them”

No blooming wonder!

I am sure we are all guilty of this from time to time. I know I do, even as I sit here, feeling more like a sleep-deprived lunatic from the effects of the recent full moon which seems to have transformed my daughter into a creature perfectly adapted for a role in the Twilight sagas.

But, there is rarely rest for the wicked (although, thank goodness for the 15min reprieves Ryder and his amazing pups bring in Paw Patrol – is it possible for an adult to LOVE a cartoon character?) Life is so full and demanding these days, with many people not only having to cope with work or family life but many also having to take on a second job or trying to create an additional post-Christmas income stream in between perhaps looking after parents, school clubs, pets, work, housework, shopping and endless list of other chores.

So, do we procrastinate more … or do we just have less time to do the stuff we’d really like to be doing?

I would say that very often it’s the latter. It comes as no surprise then that, when in our frenzied and demanding lives we do have a window of opportunity to do the unthinkable and RELAX, we feel riddled with guilt about the endless, rarely tackled to-do list and we’re not entirely thrilled about the prospect of cleaning windows or gutters (that was a well-placed dig at my own hubby here).

We will always have things to do that we are either rubbish at or simply hate doing.

So how do we make things a little better? How can we strive better to achieve more?

Well you could start by writing out an achievable – the word achievable is key here - list of the truly important tasks that need done and factor in time in your diary to complete them. Turn off the phones and distractions and get the job done. It’s wonderfully liberating as you tick off the list.

Next, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can’t always do everything on your own … even if you’d like to.

Balance up your time against cost. Would you rather have a whole weekend off than spend it trying to paint a wall? Well, remember that we are not meant to be all things to all people. So, to use the modern business parlance ‘outsource’. Get others to help when you can and remember always that your time is your most valuable asset. So, if the wall needs painted, and you can afford it, bring in a DIY expert … and don’t feel guilty about it. Ever.

You need to savour the freedom, ditch the guilt you might feel about receiving help with something you know you could have done yourself and go wild. Run a bath. Chill on the couch or anywhere else that is a comfortable quiet place to relax.

Something which should be on everyone’s to-do list is to somehow, and it’s not always easy, find time for yourself. Then you’ll be in a better place to deal with the other challenges life throws your way.

Sandie Sandie Robertson is a respected lifestyle coach and #1 bestselling author of “I Believe I can” An expert on anxiety and stress management she has helped hundreds of clients with problems from weight loss to sports performance, trauma to grief. If want her to help you contact her on www.sandierobertson.com