zoozzle

Stop Procrastinating

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Recognize that procrastination stems from habit. New habits will be needed, and these take time and commitment to develop.
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Harold Taylor defines procrastination as the intentional and habitual postponement of an important task that should be done now.
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Understand the cause for procrastination, then develop strategies to fix it.
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Recognize the difference between an appropriate decision to delay, and an irrational postponement without justification.
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Fix procrastination by working on a) tasks and b) your environment:



TASK STRATEGIES

Unpleasant tasks

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Unpleasant tasks rarely turn out to be as bad as you think.
* Complete these tasks first. Schedule them for early in the day. Give yourself a reward for doing them.

Complex Projects

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Something looms ahead of you: starting a small business, getting a job, preparing the annual budget. The job is too big or will take too long to do now, so you put it off.
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Break large jobs into smaller, more manageable tasks. Plan and complete a start-up task, no matter how small.

Indecision

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People delay because they can't make up their minds.
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Determine a time for making a decision and the criteria for making it. Share your deadline with someone else.

Fear of failure (lack of self confidence)

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People don't want to face the consequences of failure, so they delay. (Some people suffer from fear of success too!)
* Develop a clear mental picture of the completed task and how you will feel at that time. Maintain a focus on the end result, not just the process. Remind yourself how good you'll feel when you're finished.

Lack of interest

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You are tired or lazy. You're just not very interested in the task.
* Reward yourself for accomplishments. Go out for special lunches when major projects are completed. If you don't earn the reward, don't take it.
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Schedule the task for when you will be at your peak.

Perfectionism

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People delay because they want to get the project perfect.
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Set deadlines for yourself. Tell other people your deadlines and encourage them to check up on you.
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Maintain your high standards, but recognize that sometimes 80% for you may well be 100% for someone else. Don't spend hours conducting a detailed cost breakdown when a rough estimate would suffice.

Hostility towards a boss

* People delay because they don't like the person who assigned the task.
* Review with your boss what exactly is needed. Clarify the expectations.
* Make a game out of unpleasant tasks. Give yourself points, or do a running commentary on yourself as you do the task.

Distraction, lack of focus

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Sometimes losing concentration causes delays.
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Create a to-do list with priorities.
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Block your time for projects.
* As you get distracted from a work project, make a rule that you are not allowed to move out of your chair, make a call, surf the net, pick up a book etc. until you return to your task.
* Complete something. Make a very small task for yourself and finish it. Very small. Then, make another one.

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

* Tailor your environment for work. Close your door, clean up the clutter on your desk.
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Remove distractions such as water coolers, snacks, in-boxes, coffee machines and magazine racks.
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If you work at home, treat your office as an office. Don't go out to lunch before lunchtime or watch television before the end of the day.
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Tell your family that you are not to be disturbed in your home office.