How To Silence Your Inner Critic (Without Therapy)

Here are 5 methods to silence negative inner voices and be more productive.

I have done battle with a procrastination demon my whole life. It’s not laziness or lack of motivation, but perfectionism. The inner voice or feeling… “Are you sure that’s the best you can do? What if you did it like this? Or this?” And so on. I am conditioned to hold myself to an impossibly high standard.

My productivity wasn’t good enough. Rather than just trying to push through it, something else was needed. Here are the methods I’ve found most helpful…

Method 1: Notice what you say to yourself…

Practice mindfulness. Notice your emotions and thoughts, while you are experiencing them. It is simple, with practice, allowing you to interrupt problem thoughts that can hijack your emotions and leave you stuck.

Method 2: Plan your first action before you even start

The first stage in procrastination for me can be cherry-picking through my list of actions. Remove this by deciding ahead of time what you’ll do first.

Method 3: Break up your work by brain mode

Furniture makers work in stages that use different skills. Marking out the wood, cutting, joining, sanding, finishing. All tasks have similarly different steps. Our brains like to operate in a single ‘mode’ at a time. Try doing the same.

Method 4: Use deadlines and accountability

Having to hit a deadline is a great way to create urgency for me. Breaking your work down into daily, weekly or monthly deadlines might work for you, too. Especially if you have to answer to a coach or accountability partner.

Method 5: Celebrate your wins and be kind to yourself

Talk to yourself as if you are nurturing a much younger self. Your subconscious is your inner child and needs boosting, to counteract the critical voice.

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