For most of us though we do not even realise that we are doing it. I know what I am talking about, because I too had fallen into this Procrastinating trap.

Alas, neither I or most people who know me would think that I had that debilitating habit. I always seemed to be doing something, always be on the go and always had these brilliant ideas. I would start a new project but seldom see it through, or achieve the success I was capable of, My mind would wander everywhere, not dissimilar to A.D.D., but the big point is I did not know what I was doing.

Obviously here we have problem number one: If you think you are okay and do not recognise a habit which is hindering your progress at best and downright self sabotaging at worst, you are headed for lifelong trouble and you do not know why.

Why is it so difficult to recognise a problem? Well many a habit comes in different guises. One of the many guises of Procrastination is impulse action.

Now we already have problem number two: The seasoned procrastinator will often swing between resistance to taking action and sudden impulse behaviour. To the outsider the procrastinator is an action person.

However, inside the procrastinating mind a very different story unfolds: Doubt about the action sets in almost the moment after it has been performed. Worse still, if things do not move in the direction one has anticipated straight away, the ensuing self doubt can be an absolute killer. If you are familiar with short term trading you will know what this kind of mind set will do to you.

Indeed a prerequisite for any profession that requires consistent, immediately measurable action, is consistent and confident action. Anyone in sales for instance falls into this category and so do most people in managerial positions where regular confident assessment of problem areas and decision making are the order of the day.

Problem number three, yes, you guessed correctly is the opposite of problem number two, namely painful indecision and inaction.In other words, procrastination as we understand it in the literal sense.It is there for all and sundry to see. I am always amazed how many managers have this behaviour trait. They seem to take ages to make any decision and worse still they are very clever in their evasiveness and pass the buck to someone else.

I hardly need to point out what this type of leadership does for the morale of the staff. Whatever type of procrastination you may display there are always hidden, suppressed fears, guilt or traumas, probably from early childhood, which created the problem in the first place. If you recognise yourself in one of the above descriptions you may have been suffering with procrastination all your life.

There are a number of very effective techniques that deal effectively and quickly with eliminating procrastination problems.In my mind the quickest and safest way is the use of Energy Psychology. You may want to seek out a practitioner you trust, or start off with some of the self help books which are available on the subject.

The key to any self improvement is always recognition and intent to change, and finally taking some form of action. It is action that eventually gets the ball rolling. You can think about it, have wonderful visions about it, or meditate on the subject till you heart is content, in the final analysis it is only some type of action that will get you to achieve your goal.

Therefore, if you think you fall into any of the above procrastination groups, or perhaps all of them, take action, get a book, do a workshop, or book a one-to-one session with a trusted professional. Everyone can improve their life, so be kind to yourself and take the right action.