When time is of the essence, and you have multiple things consuming your focus, it can be hard not to procrastinate. In this article, I will share 7 ways you might overcome procrastination and perhaps win the battle.
I used to not understand that the way I was approaching the things I needed to do was causing me unnecessary stress and a cluttered mind. However, now, I see the benefits that having critical stuff completed efficiently and on time is more of a productivity enhancer than an inconvenience.
How much time and energy do you think it takes to procrastinate?
Let’s say you have to write a report, an article or a blog post. Let’s now assume you chose, for whatever reason, to fight logic and procrastinate. The choice to procrastinate leads to low-energy and feelings of guilt.
Here is the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to achieve top-level procrastination:
Procrastination SOP:
Step 1: Think about doing the work
Step 2: Put it on your “to do” list
Step 3: Talk about doing it for weeks (to your friends, co-workers, family…)
Step 4: Promise yourself this will be started tomorrow
Step 5: It’s tomorrow – you are so busy – you promise again. This time you visualize having it done.
Step 6-A: Go back to step 1, and repeat the cycle until the project is done or discarded.
Step 6-B: For those of us that dare to procrastinate on a project that has a due date: we go back to step 1 until midnight the night before the job is expected, which results in dealing with unnecessary stress and also poor food choices and lack of sleep, which inhibits healthy thought processes.
Safety Precautions: If you are in Step 6-B, please be careful. You are at risk for beating yourself up and exhibiting anger toward yourself and others. A by-product of procrastination is having an incomplete or sloppy product.
More times than I would like to admit I have resorted to this unfriendly cycle. And it has NEVER been good; not for anyone I work with, live with, or interact with. It’s not healthy for my reputation or effectiveness as a leader.
So why do we do it? Mainly, because we believe the lies we tell ourselves.
The more difficult, awkward, lame, inconvenient or scary the task is perceived to be, the more we procrastinate. We can justify and come up with very convincing self-talk that makes the delay appear reasonable and even necessary.
The following are a few remedies to win the battle over procrastination (don’t procrastinate implementing them or they won’t work):
1. Set short-term targets. Set small nuggets of time over the next three weeks and simply decide what you want/need to accomplish. Be specific and realistic. I love this step because many times I realize that my targets are not realistic, I feel in control to change them BEFORE I get stressed about them. 2. Set priorities. Get back to the targets you identified in step 1 and list the tasks/steps needed for each one of them. Now order them depending on how important they are to you, your team, your manager, and the deadline.
3. Get organized. Have the right tools and equipment to do the job. There are enough organizational and time management tools available for all types of projects–use them. If you have your phone on you at all times, get an app that will help you stay on top of all the moving parts in your work and life.
4. Think small. Try not to let the size of the project overwhelm you. How? Chunk the project down. Successful people’s approach to getting any major project completed is to break it apart and work on one piece at a time. Stay in the present doing one small task at a time.
5. Pair positive self-talk with action. Visualize yourself and your ability from a positive frame of mind and use positive self-talk to reinforce your capabilities. Our body has adverse physical reactions when we trash talk ourselves or use negative terms. It has been proven. Words are a powerful ally to set you in a better mood to move forward.
6. Take Action. I know, this is covered above but once you are in the mood, get moving! You can visualize and positive talk yourself all you want, but if you don’t get moving, nothing gets done.
7. Reward yourself. Often and generously for accomplishing the smallest of tasks. Pat yourself on the back. Small hinges open big doors!
Like many other self-defeating behaviors, procrastination can be conquered.
The place to begin is where you are. The time to start is now.
If YOU are ready to work toward higher performance and want some expert guidance, let’s have a conversation. Only if you feel ready, contact me to schedule a complimentary consultation at http://maricarmenpizarro.com/contact-mari-carmen/
