And somehow you knew how to stay motivated...

Goals are mysterious things - they spring into our minds motivating us to succeed, fuel fires of fantasy about success and new found happiness, initiate an almost manic effort to move our lives forward, and then - suddenly fire goes out.

What once motivated you to succeed, drove you to get up early and work late, now weighs in your mind as a failure in wings.

Don't despair.

The aftermath of best intentions often feels like failure, but a few simple questions to yourself every day will provide motivation to carry you through until your goal's completion.

Step 1: Repeat goal aloud.

Repeat it again. And again. Simple statements repeated aloud and often can trigger subconscious into action.

Choose your goal, and pick strong words that inspire you. As you say them aloud, pay attention to what words mean. If your goal is to practice bassoon, say aloud "I will practice bassoon and make beautiful music!" or "I will make my bassoon sing!"

Each statement rephrases initial goal, but does so in a way that refreshes and revitalizes initial excitement of your goal.

Step 2: Tell a good friend about your goal.

Talk openly about why you wanted to pursue your goal in first place, and what you hoped to achieve.

We are all guilty of delaying what needs to be done at sometime or another; so learning ways of how to avoid procrastination is beneficial to everyone.

Although learning how to avoid procrastination is simple, applying principles is harder as those who do procrastinate, will put off even attempting to avoid procrastination itself.

Some simple tips on how to avoid procrastination are as follows. It's all a simple matter of retraining yourself to get job done.

1. Prioritize your daily tasks. Decide what has to be done, should be done, and what you would like to do.

2. Get worst out of way first. Do that 'have to' job first; get it over and out of your hair. By doing 'have to's' first, it leaves rest of your time to do those want to's and should be's.

Doing this one simple thing is one of best ways to avoid procrastination in first place.

3. Delegate, if possible, some of worst things on your list to others. This will allow you to move on to other things and allow you to avoid procrastinating on those things you really don't want to do in first place.

4. Make a list every morning of what you need to accomplish throughout day. Reward yourself each time you check an item done.