By Erica Duran
Someday I'll do this. Someday I'll do that. Procrastination. Its so easy to create legitimate-sounding excuses why something can't be done now. We convince ourselves that we are too tired, too hungry, or too busy to tackle even simple tasks. The weather is too hot, too cold, or too nice. And things come up that need to be done first. First, I will clear off all the papers on my desk. First, I will read through the e-mail, read that article in the magazine, feed my dog a treat, water the plants or clean the refrigerator.
Why do we do this?
There are basically seven reasons why we procrastinate. Procrastination is not necessarily a bad thing. I actually now see it as a tool that helps me learn how I work best. The key is to diagnose it.
1. You don't enjoy the task. This is human nature. Who wouldn't rather spend time doing pleasant stuff? Most of us welcome challenging assignments. But there is a big difference between a task that is challenging and one that is unpleasant. Compared to an unpleasant job, we would rather do most anything else. Who would want to start the day having to fire someone? Who looks forward to with an insurance claim? Unpleasant tasks get in the way.
The cure? Visualize how you'll feel when the task is over. No matter how unpleasant the job, you can tolerate it for a little while. Get it over with. Work in segments if necessary. You'll feel great when the task is done. Focus on end results. Think about the payoff. You will build enthusiasm. Enthusiasm overcomes fear.
2. You don't enjoy part of the task. If your putting off a whole project just because of one little part you don't want to do. For example, are you putting off starting your blog because you don't know how to set it up? Blogging is as easy as sending an email once it is set up.
The cure? Figure out how you can get away without doing that part and again maybe delete it, delegate it or automate it.
3. We postpone anything we think takes too long or we can't find time to do the task. The more time we estimate a job will take, the better the excuse for not doing it now. It is common to overestimate the time necessary to accomplish unpleasant things. On the other hand, we tend to underestimate the time it will take to do pleasant things. In this way, we have a rationale for doing pleasant tasks first. Being unrealistic about the time it takes to get things done can cause needless postponements.
The cure? Discover the power of appointment with yourself. It's common for us to schedule appointments with other people. We record the day, time and place so we won't forget to be there. Why not do the same for yourself? Schedule time to accomplish important projects. Be specific about start and ending times. Scheduling legitimizes any activity. It reduces interruptions and increases the likelihood you'll actually do it.
4. Feeling guilty about something you're putting off is a sure sign of procrastination. That's because our inaction causes us to break promises. We break promises to others and to ourselves.
The cure? Learn to say no. The advantage of saying no is you won't have to do it. Most social and civic obligations are self-imposed. Choose wisely. Be polite, yet be firm. Saying something like, "I am sorry but I am not available to help at this time." is unoffensive. And no further explanation is necessary. If they keep asking, don't start making excuses - you will be herded right back into the obligation. Use what we call the "broken record technique" and just repeat "I'm sorry I am not available to help at this time." Saying no makes it possible to say yes to things that matter most to you.
5. If we think something is difficult we put off doing it or you don't know exactly how to do the task. This difficult job may not be unpleasant. In fact, this difficult job may be something you would really like to do. The end result is appealing. It may advance your career, improve your home or just generally make you feel good about yourself. A good example of this situation is writer's block. A writer can have the idea in mind and interest in the subject, but the project can appear overwhelming.
The cure? Delegate the task, get help from a consultant or coach, or research how to do the task.
6. You're procrastinating simply because you feel stuck. You can't explain it, you want and need to do something but you just can seem to get motivated.
The cure? Give yourself permission to do just one small part of the project. Do the one small part, feel a sense of accomplishment and you'll gain momentum and want to do the next step now that you are in "the zone." Or, make the task new or fun. You can change your environment or do the task in a different way. Always make sales calls from your desk? Try the beach! Always blog at your kitchen table? Try going to a local coffee shop.
7. Fear of failure causes delayed or abandoned projects. One way to avoid failure is to never start. Otherwise you may learn something you would rather not know. For example, you may think of yourself as an artistic person. If you never try to paint a picture, you don't risk learning the truth. Perhaps you could have become a great artist. Fear of failure prevents your from finding out. Fear makes anything you want to do appear difficult and unpleasant.
The cure? You are are the right path! Now, you have taken the time to analyze the situation and decided that fear of failure (or success) is what is stopping you. Access if this is something that you really want to and go for it. Or, realize that this dream just isn't for you and let it go.
The Cure All:
No matter what the reason is for your procrastination here is a simple yet effective cure. Make a list of every project you want to accomplished and every step involved. We tend to view large projects as a single task. Instead, break it into manageable parts. Then, plunge right in. Don't wait for inspiration. Take each step one by one. As you complete each part, you'll gain momentum. More than half the battle is getting started. Then re-evaluate everything on the list and make sure those items are important enough to make time for. You have to schedule time to do it or get rid of other tasks to create the time you need. If you still can't do this then you need to find someone to do it for you or delete the task and move on without feeling guilty. You've looked at all your options and made the best choice for you!
When you raise your awareness of what causes procrastination, you are better able to catch yourself doing it. Identify what is holding you back. Then, use these techniques and do something about it.
So now, what's stopping you?
Erica Duran is a Certified Professional Organizer CPO® and Productivity Coach. At Erica Duran International, she provides both virtual and in-person coaching around the globe through her programs, courses, and products. Erica mostly attracts women entrepreneurs and business owners. She helps them to clear the clutter in their lives at ALL levels, gets them out of just being "busy" and "overwhelmed" and into a calm, flowing, and balanced lifestyle.
Learn more at http://www.EricaDuran.Co
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