by Charlotte Jane Grimaldi Phillips Dip.Hyp NLP Pract. HPD
Overcoming Procrastination: Unleashing Your Potential with Hypnotherapy
Procrastination is a common struggle that affects people from all walks of life. Whether you’re trying to reduce your weight, tackle housework, DIY, finish a creative project, stop smoking or vaping, declutter, or complete a course, putting things off can be a significant barrier to achieving your goals. At What Is Your Story Hypnotherapy, Charlotte Phillips, our experienced Clinical Hypnotherapist, offers an insightful and successful approach to overcoming procrastination through hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).
We all procrastinate over things during our life, whether it’s putting off hanging out the washing or doing our accounting or decluttering the house. When we notice we’re doing it regularly and it is hindering us from moving on with a task, a goal, a desired achievement then this is when to recognise you need help and support to overcome procrastination. With the support and encouragement of a hypnotherapist and a positive mindset technique using NLP can help you stop feeling overwhelmed, not knowing where to start. Hypnotherapy gives you the space to quiet your mind and know the steps to take to make a start. The best time to start it now. Doing a little each day while you are doing something else – habit stacking helps see the to do list shrink and the achievements grow, by you taking control.
Research has shown that hypnotherapy can be an effective tool in overcoming procrastination:
- A study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis found that hypnotic interventions led to significant improvements in task initiation and completion.
- Research in the Journal of Applied Psychology demonstrated that hypnosis techniques could enhance motivation and reduce procrastination in academic settings.
The Role of Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility, like the relaxed feeling you experience just before falling asleep, it is like daydreaming. During a hypnotherapy session, I guide you into a deeply relaxed state where your mind is more open to suggestion. By working with your subconscious, we can identify and address the underlying causes of your procrastination, such as stress, self-esteem, or negative thought patterns.
Case Study
Client: Lisa, a 45 year old writer and journalist, had been experiencing procrastination and was struggling to maintain their housework and it was affecting their work. She realised it was starting to affect other areas of her life with putting off doing important paperwork, returning friends’ calls and messages. Lisa had an idea of what she desired her life to look like and had kept saying she’ll do something about it next month, putting it off.
Intervention: Lisa sought the help of a hypnotherapist who also used NLP techniques. Charlotte guided Lisa into a state of deep relaxation and used positive suggestions to help Lisa picture the path and changes she wanted to make in her daily routine. Additionally, NLP techniques such as anchoring and reframing were used to help Lisa develop more effective coping strategies and a positive image to focus on.
Outcome: After four sessions, Lisa reported a significant improvement in her outlook and achievements. She felt more confident and in control. The feeling of being overwhelmed and not knowing where to start had gone. She had techniques she employed in her daily routine for the things she wanted to do. Lisa also developed a more positive outlook and had renewed energy. She was an achiever and proud of the things she was now doing.
Charlotte utilises the power of storytelling and vivid imagery to create a personalised, immersive experience for each client. This approach not only enhances the effectiveness of hypnotherapy but also makes the process more engaging and memorable.
Using tailored procrastination-busting techniques that include a variety of imagery-based techniques tailored to each client’s specific procrastination challenges:
- The Dickens Pattern: The crossroads with the left path to your future where you do nothing or the right path to your future where you do something. i
- The Motivation Fountain: Clients visualise a magical fountain that they drink from and it fills them with boundless energy and drive to tackle their tasks.
- The Productivity Time Machine: A mental journey where clients fast-forward to see themselves successfully completing their goals, reinforcing the positive outcomes of taking action.
- The Procrastination Monster Tamer: Clients imagine shrinking their procrastination habits down to a small, manageable creature they can easily overcome.
- The Achievement Garden: A visualisation technique where completed tasks bloom into beautiful flowers, creating a lush garden of accomplishments.
These vivid, multisensory experiences help to rewire the brain’s approach to task initiation and completion, offering enhanced motivation and reduced procrastination tendencies.
Hypnotherapy’s versatility makes it an excellent option for tackling procrastination across multiple areas:
Weight Loss and Getting Active
For those struggling to start or maintain a fitness routine, hypnotherapy can help by addressing underlying fears or beliefs that lead to procrastination. Techniques often involve visualising the benefits of regular exercise and healthy eating, creating positive associations with these activities.
Household Chores and DIY Projects
Hypnotherapy can assist in overcoming the mental blocks that make housework or DIY projects seem overwhelming. By breaking tasks down into manageable steps and creating a sense of accomplishment with each completed action, clients can find renewed motivation for these often-postponed activities.
Writing and Creative Projects
Writers and artists can benefit from hypnotherapy by overcoming creative blocks and the fear of imperfection that often leads to procrastination. Techniques may include guided imagery to access deeper levels of creativity and imagination, helping to initiate and sustain creative work.
Completing Courses and Professional Development
For those struggling to finish courses or engage in professional development, hypnotherapy can help by enhancing focus, reducing anxiety about success or failure, and reinforcing the long-term benefits of completing educational goals.
The Hypnotherapy Process
When you choose to work with Charlotte Phillips at What Is Your Story Hypnotherapy, you can expect a personalised, supportive experience:
- Initial Consultation: Charlotte will assess your specific procrastination challenges and the goals you’re struggling to achieve.
- Customised Hypnotherapy Plan: Based on your needs, Charlotte will develop a tailored hypnotherapy programme, incorporating appropriate storytelling and imagery techniques.
- Guided Hypnosis Sessions: During each session, you’ll be gently guided into a state of deep relaxation, where Charlotte will use vivid imagery and suggestions to help you overcome procrastination and boost motivation.
- Self-Hypnosis Training: You’ll learn techniques to practice self-hypnosis, empowering you to maintain momentum and tackle procrastination independently.
- Follow-up and Adjustment: Charlotte will monitor your progress and adjust the hypnotherapy approach as needed to ensure optimal results.
Embracing a Procrastination-Free Future. While hypnotherapy is not a magic solution, it offers a powerful, evidence-based approach to overcoming procrastination. By harnessing the power of your subconscious mind, you can break free from the cycle of delay and inaction, achieving your goals with renewed energy and determination.
At What Is Your Story Hypnotherapy, Charlotte Phillips is committed to helping you write a new chapter of productivity and achievement. Through her innovative use of storytelling and imagery, combined with evidence-based hypnotherapy techniques, you can embark on a journey towards overcoming procrastination and unlocking your full potential.
If you’re ready to stop putting things off and start taking action, contact What Is Your Story Hypnotherapy today. Together with Charlotte Phillips, you can begin to rewrite your procrastination story and discover the satisfaction of consistent progress and accomplishment in all areas of your life.
If you want to improve your performance, consider consulting a qualified hypnotherapist who also uses NLP techniques. These approaches can help you unlock your full potential and achieve your goals.
At What Is Your Story Hypnotherapy, Charlotte Phillips is committed to helping you write a new chapter on overcoming procrastination. Through her innovative use of hypnotherapy and NLP techniques, you can embark on a journey towards unlocking your full potential.
Email Charlotte@whatisyourstoryhypnotherapy.co.uk ☺
Research
[1] Yapko, M. D. (2010). Hypnosis in the treatment of depression: Strategies for change. Routledge.
[2] Barrios, A. A. (1988). Hypnosis as a possible method to reduce test anxiety and improve academic performance. Australian Journal of Clinical Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis, 9(2), 55-66.
[3] Milling, L. S., Gover, M. C., & Moriarty, C. L. (2018). The effectiveness of hypnosis as an intervention for obesity: A meta-analytic review. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 5(1), 29-45.
[4] Kirsch, I. (1996). Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioural weight loss treatments—Another meta-reanalysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(3), 517-519.
[5] Yapko, M. D. (2012). Trancework: An introduction to the practice of clinical hypnosis. Routledge.
[6] Rossi, E. L., & Rossi, K. L. (2007). The neuroscience of observing consciousness & mirror neurons in therapeutic hypnosis. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 50(1), 1-26.
[7] Gruzelier, J. H. (2014). EEG-neurofeedback for optimising performance. I: A review of cognitive and affective outcome in healthy participants. Neuroscience & Biobehavioural Reviews, 44, 124-141.