I’m Not the Only Procrastinator But I’m Committed to Change.
So, I’ve heard that there is Procrastinators Anonymous. They have been in existence for some years now but they never had a meeting. Dwight D. Eisenhower ensured everyone that “Neither a wise nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him”. Don’t wait people; the time will never be “right”. The truth of the matter is real, “If it weren’t for the last minute, nothing would get done!” What is the truth? What are you procrastinating on?
If you have clarity on what is urgent and important, and if you know what needs to be done and devote your time into a bunch of less important tasks, you are a procrastinator. Do those important tasks feel unpleasant or get you overwhelmed? In conquering unpleasant tasks, you will need a rewarding motivator or an understanding of the amount of peer pressure that you will have to face, but also the muddy footprints that your procrastination will embed on your career or business. When overwhelmed, break the project into bite-sized pieces and reward yourself after every mini success. Get excited when dissecting your overwhelmed status.
As with many self-sabotaging behaviors, the first step in stopping procrastinating is your ability to recognize the behavior. Many procrastinators ensure themselves, to total persuasion, that they have ultimate reasons for delaying what they have to do. Many procrastinators get into the “victim” mindset; they probably do not realize that what they’re doing is procrastinating, and that it’s up to them to overcome it.
Procrastination sneaks in and tells you that tasks are bigger, harder, and more difficult to complete than they really are. It occurs usually when you’re allowing yourself to make poor priority calls. Developing productive habits is definitely the key. The stronger the techniques you use and the less you on a whim and a prayer, the less of “firefighting” you need. Get the right basket of productivity tools, and get them embedded on your daily routine.
Having lifelong phobias of admitting that you have limited knowledge of the subjects related to your procrastinations, as well as your inability to do the simple thing and ask for help, are crippling any effort to minimize procrastination. Procrastination is stressful, highly damaging to the personal productivity, and is often deeply frustrating for colleagues to deal with. Don’t worry, most procrastinators are not lazy or showing apathy; it is most likely a showing of self-defense protecting their image of self-worth. I’m ringing the bell, pay attention: get some help to lessen your pain of failure and criticism.
Where do you stand? Do you identify? You’re definitely not the only procrastinator; you have the company of a lot of us. Start with the commitment to change and develop some of the techniques above to work on your priorities without procrastination so you can make the most of the opportunities open to you, your career, or your business.
Until next time,
Yours truly,
Stephen Dodd, Founder of OfficeTime
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