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Some people like
to blame their misfortunes on others. But the
truth is, you are equally at fault. You procrastinate
because you yourself choose to procrastinate.
The sooner you accept that, the better you’ll
be able to overcome procrastination.
Tip
# 2 I want NOT to procrastinate anymore
In
line with tip # 1 above, once you accept that
procrastination is your weakness, the next step
is to eliminate this weakness. Your desire not
to procrastinate anymore should be sincere.
You need to demonstrate that determination through
small daily gestures.
Tip
# 3 Mea Culpa-Take Responsibility
You’ve
accepted the fact that (a) you’re
a procrastinator, and (b) you have a sincere
desire to change. Now tell yourself that if
you fail to achieve a particular goal or a given
task, it’s because you procrastinated.
Mea culpa. Admitting guilt is a giant step.
Note, however, that there is a huge difference
between admitting guilt and being too hard on
yourself. Admitting guilt is taking ownership
of your actions. Being too hard on yourself
is unjustified self-blame. Continue from where
you left off.
Tip
# 4 Ask: In what ways do I procrastinate?
Ask
yourself, “In what ways do I procrastinate?”
Sit down with pen and paper. Writing them will
help you focus and identify them more clearly.
Here are some ways where people procrastinate:
paying
bills
not
discussing the complaints you’ve received
about a member of your team for fear of hurting
his/her feelings
repeatedly
postponing a dental appointment because you’ve
got better things to do
not
returning the call of your son’s teacher
because you know what the problem is and you’re
fed up
not
discussing your resentment about your husband
spending too much time at work or with his buddies
not
getting that hair cut, that dress dry-cleaned,
that donation mailed
not
visiting a sick relative in the hospital
not
telling your significant other you no longer
love her/him
not
calling your doctor about that persistent numbness
in your right arm or not fixing a colonoscopy
exam date
not
having the car’s squeaking brakes
checked
not
going to confession because you never know what
the priest’s schedule is
not
sending that overdue thank you note or making
that overdue call to your mother-in-law
Tip
# 5 Goals not met because of procrastination
After
listing the ways in which you procrastinate,
make a second list of goals that you failed
to achieve because you procrastinated.
Let’s
take two typical examples: you promised your
editor you’d get that article done
by a certain due date. On the day the article
was due, the editor calls you. You tell her
sheepishly that you didn’t have time
to do it, and you say something like, “My
son was sick for days and I couldn’t
concentrate” knowing full well your
editor was generous with a deadline date.
Result?
You took one step farther away from your goal
of becoming a professional writer, and two steps
farther away from developing a good relationship
with an editor who picked you from the 25 writers
who applied for the assignment. You can be sure
your name has been taken off her address list.
Second
example: you delayed lobbying for your colleague’s
promotion even if he was the best man for the
job.
Result?
The job went to someone less deserving; second,
your colleague resigned to take up another offer.
When
you measure the consequences of a missed opportunity
because you procrastinated, ask if the consequence
was worth the delay.
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Tips For Avoiding Procrastination!