The Art of Procrastination! We all procrastinate at times - so what exactly is procrastination? Basically, procrastination is doing low priority tasks and activities instead of the high priority ones that really contribute the most to our success. Procrastination, for some, can be harmful as it stops us from moving forward. So, if procrastination is harmful, why would we do it? Often, we put things off because they are hard to do, not much fun, it's not glamorous, it's boring, time consuming / complicated / overwhelming. Have you noticed how busy you can be doing admin work or other less important tasks - so we run out of time for those harder tasks.
So, what are the warning signs that we are procrastinating?
You make excuses why you are unable to do things, repeatedly
You feel overwhelmed, not in control, cannot catch up on your work
Your to do list is pretty much the same over a number of weeks
Given you now know the warning signs, what can you do about it - how can you change from a procrastinator to someone taking actions?
Like anything, one of the first steps to overcoming anything is to admit you are one. Acknowledging what's so it the first step to doing something to change it.
Look at the activities you are having trouble with. Break it down into small manageable tasks and just make a start. When I was running marathons, often the hardest part of training, especially in the cold winter mornings in New York, was getting out the door - so I would play games with myself and tell myself, all I have to do is put on my runners, then all I have to do it walk out the door, before I knew it, I would be at the street corner and then on my way.
Do the hardest activity on your To Do list first thing in the morning. Then once you have completed it, the rest of the day will be a breeze.
Work with an accountability partner / coach to help you take action.
(For a FREE list of Top 10 Ways to Stop Procrastinating please send an email to coach@personalpowerinternaional.com with PROCRASTINATION in subject line).
TIP OF THE DAY - Instead of starting the day thinking what is the most important activity to do for the day, ask yourself what do I most want to avoid? By doing this, it will challenge you to consider your to do list and evaluate if these activities are actually moving your towards your vision.
My challenge for you: Set deadlines and then tell someone about them - it will give you added accountability and support.
Final thoughts: "You will never find time for anything. You must make it." Charles Buxton