{"id":409,"date":"2011-10-28T09:27:38","date_gmt":"2011-10-28T14:27:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wholeperson.com\/wordpress\/?p=409"},"modified":"2011-10-28T09:27:38","modified_gmt":"2011-10-28T14:27:38","slug":"active-procrastinators-just-get-going","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wholeperson.com\/blog\/active-procrastinators-just-get-going","title":{"rendered":"Active procrastinators: just get going"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/strong>\"\"<\/a>“Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow.” — Mark Twain<\/p>\n

Seriously, procrastination is a frustrating habit. Since it\u2019s a learned one it can be overcome but only if you become conscious when you\u2019re doing it.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a professional procrastinator you need to acknowledge when you say “later” you really don’t mean it. Thousands of \u201claters\u201d create thousands of opportunities lost. To stay conscious, when you say “later” follow up with, “Later to me means never. Do I really want to get this done or not?”<\/p>\n

Also become very cognizant of your avoidance habits, which you\u2019ve probably perfected to the point that you engage in them automatically and unconsciously whenever you face an unpleasant task. Keep a journal of your thoughts and emotions when you’re delaying. Follow these steps:
\n\u00b7 Choose something you procrastinate on regularly.
\n\u00b7 Describe the activity you put off. Is it unpleasant, confusing, uncomfortable or threatening?
\n\u00b7 Write what you\u2019re thinking and feeling when you begin to delay. For instance, “I can\u2019t concentrate enough right now.” Continue to record what you say and\/or what you do to prolong your postponement.
\n\u00b7 Ask yourself why you’re avoiding action. Is it a legitimate reason or just an excuse? Also answer, “What discomfort am I evading?” Usually your answer is based on some unfounded fear.
\n\u00b7 What\u2019s your outcome?<\/p>\n

To get going try these ideas:
\n\u00b7 Timothy A. Pychyl, of Ottawa’s Carlton University, runs a procrastination research group and suggests, “Follow the 10-minute rule.\u201d Acknowledge your desire to procrastinate then do the task for 10 minutes anyway. Initiating is the hardest step for chronic procrastinators. After working on it for 10 minutes decide whether to continue. Once you’re involved, it’s easy to stay with the task.
\n\u00b7 If you have something to do, do it now or schedule it. If it’s not worth the amount of time it takes to schedule, it’s not going to get done later.
\n\u00b7 For larger projects write out your goal and list each step you have to take to accomplish it. Schedule each step in your calendar.
\n\u00b7 Invest your energy on the important and ignore the trivial.
\n\u00b7 Don’t demean yourself when you dally because it makes more likely you\u2019ll continue procrastinating.
\n\u00b7 Keep a next steps list for all projects with an estimate of how long it\u2019ll take to accomplish each one. If you have 15 minutes, look over your lists for something you can get done in less than 15 minutes. This furthers your progress in bits and pieces, which is great for those who procrastinate.
\n\u00b7 Put the task right in front of you to avoid \u201cout of sight out of mind.\u201d
\n\u00b7 Public commitment: Tell someone what you\u2019re working on and when you\u2019ll have it finished.
\n\u00b7 Reward yourself when you\u2019ve completed it. Do something just for fun. Give yourself a mental complement.<\/p>\n

For chronic procrastinators remember the most important thing to do is just start! So get going!<\/p>\n

Jacquelyn Ferguson, M. S.<\/a>, is an international speaker and a Stress and Wellness Coach. Order her book, Let Your Body Win: Stress Management Plain & Simple<\/a>, at wholeperson.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow.” — Mark Twain Seriously, procrastination is a frustrating habit. Since it\u2019s a learned one it can be overcome but only if you become conscious when you\u2019re doing it. 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