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Procrastination
One of the habits that keep us from being powerful is the habit of procrastination.
The words procrastination is usually defined as putting off until another day
what COULD be done today. We usually put something off because it seems
hard to do, or we don't want to do it, or we believe we may fail at the task,
or worse yet, we say we "don't have the time to do it". So often, we find ourselves
saying, "I'll get around to that later." The problem is that later is always
later, and the task never gets done! One of my favorite examples of procrastination
is the sign in Truckee that says "Free beer tomorrow". They'll never have
to give any away, since tomorrow is always a day away!
Procrastination comes in many forms, and in each form, steals our power to take
charge over our lives and attain our goals. When we understand how debilitating
this habit is, and begin to focus on areas where we may be procrastinating, we
can take back our power and reach our goals.
One form of procrastination is filling our time with the urgent, but less important
tasks of our day….phone calls to return, cleaning out a drawer rather than tackling
the most important project of the day. In a recent workshop, a woman shared
her story of scraping the little fuzz balls off of ALL of her sweaters rather
than tackle the task of getting her tax information ready by the deadline.
In this busy time, we all have so much on our plates that it is easy to let some
slide. The key to knowing if procrastination is stealing some of your personal
power is how you are feeling about the tasks or projects that aren't getting done.
When projects loom ahead of us, and we procrastinate starting or completing them,
we also frequently take on additional stressors….the pressure of KNOWING that
the project isn't getting done, the feeling of failure at not attaining your goals,
the lowering of your self esteem when you don't keep your agreements with yourself
and/or others. Frequently, these stressors can be overcome by simply planning
the steps, and the times you will address each one.
Solutions to the habit of procrastination?! They are easy - and feel great
when you see the progress you are making.
Step One: Create a written list. Sit down and identify
all the things (little and big) that are on your procrastination list. Break
the big projects or tasks into smaller steps so you can feel the progress along
the way.
Step Two: Identify the amount of time each will take, the
best time of the day and the amount of energy you'll need to complete them.
Step Three: Make a realistic plan for completion of each
one. Prioritize each task. Tackle the top priorities first.
Step Four: Share your plan with someone. This helps
make your commitment real.
Step Five: Plan your rewards! This is the fun part
that most people don't allow themselves. When you have finished that project
or task that you've been putting off for months, you deserve a reward! This
is the step that keeps moving you forward!
You will be amazed at your new level of self-confidence and the energy you have
for other tasks in your life when you get rid of the habit of procrastination!
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