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A Note from Linda ...

I'll bet we're all somewhat guilty.

Given the results of procrastination - hurried work, mistakes, stress, missed deadlines, poor self-esteem - it's a wonder why anyone would put off what can be done right away. And yet who doesn't let projects slide, especially ones we don't like doing? 

Let's face it, procrastination is seductive. It can remind us of the joy we had as kids when we got away with something.  A lot of my coaching clients are very smart people, and even the most successful of them struggle with this.

There are steps we can take and strategies we can apply.  In today's ezine you'll find some tips to overcoming the allure of procrastination.

Linda Yaffe
Certified Executive Coach

"Putting off an easy thing makes it hard, and putting off a hard one makes it impossible."

-- George H. Lorimer


GUILTY AS CHARGED...PROCRASTINATION

It makes sense that when faced with a choice as to how to spend our time, we would rather engage in the most enjoyable activities first. Even when we know there are payoffs down the road if we do something less enjoyable. We focus on immediate pleasure and choose to procrastinate. 

It's as if we're faced with "marshmallow test" hmmm, eat it now, or wait? I'm referring to a psychological experiment they did on little kids a number of years ago. Those who were able to delay gratification were given additional marshmallows, but most preferred to eat them right away. The few who were able to wait ended up being more successful adults.

If you find yourself procrastinating on a task, try thinking of it in very specific and concrete terms to encourage you to complete it sooner. 

One way of doing this is to break the task down into parts. For example, if it is a writing or speaking project, you could list the following steps:

  


·    Make a decision (topic, main points, goal)

·    Write an outline

·    Get input, do research

·    Write a first draft

·    Review with others 

·    Edit

·    Submit 

This helps get the ball rolling and reduces the size of the task (and the accompanying emotional baggage) so it immediately becomes more doable. Start with something small and then move on to the next step. 

This requires that you ignore several things: 

1.    Your mind: Don't try to understand why you want to procrastinate. Resist the temptation to figure it out. If you get started on small chunks of the project, you'll have plenty of time and energy to analyze it afterwards.  

2.    Your emotions: Don't let feelings interfere with focusing on a task. Self-doubt, resentments and insecurities are typical, but it ultimately doesn't matter. Remember that motivational slogan, "Just do it"? When you focus on getting some aspect of the task done, you'll find your emotions naturally taking a back seat.

3.    The clock and the calendar: Don't pressure yourself by thinking about how little time is left. When you start breaking down a project into small steps, you'll discover how much time is realistically required.  We sometimes have a poor conception of how much time it requires to complete a task. Rather than panicking at the thought that you only have a week to complete a project, break down the parts of the task into real time and you may find through this process that it is merely a three-hour job. 

4.    Your stress:  There are a number of techniques one can use to deal with anxiety: deep breathing, progressive relaxation, visualization, physical exercise, meditation, humor and music. Engage in these after you've already completed a part of the task. In fact, you can use some of these activities as a reward for partial task completion. 

5.    Distractions: Turn off all music, TV, cell phones and the internet, and try not eating or drinking until you get going. If caffeine helps, fine, but preparing it can also provide an excuse from actually working. Too much coffee can make you easily distractible. You want to become narrowly focused on your goal completion, so avoid letting anything interfere or slow you down. 

6.    Excuses: The mind is amazingly clever at times, and it will sometimes sabotage what you really want. Let's face it, we humans have competing commitments, priorities, and multiple demands. If you find yourself coming up with good reasons to procrastinate, remember that good reasons make for good excuses, but they're still excuses and will stop you from doing what's needed and what's important.  For example, "I'm not in the mood for this," can be reframed as, "I'm not in the mood, but if I start with one small part, I'll get inspired."

If you still find yourself procrastinating then maybe you're not really committed to the task. Perhaps someone else is requiring you to do it. You'll have to get creative about finding your own motivation. Somebody else's motivation won't necessarily work for you. 

Begin by trying to look at what the payoffs are for you. Task completion can bring rewards, such as freeing up time for things that really do matter to you. What's required is total honesty about it. You may not like it, or agree with it, but if an assignment is required, then you may as well commit to it in order to get past it so you can move on to other, more rewarding things. Procrastinating will only drag out the pain. 

It's never easy but it comes down to a matter of taking control:


·    What do you want to do with your time?
        
·    How can you find motivation and enthusiasm?
        
·    How do you circumvent your excuses? 
      
·    How can you get more done so that you'll have more time for life's truly valuable moments?

These are some of the profound questions to think about when considering the option to procrastinate.

Linda Yaffe
Working Matters 

 
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WorkingMatters' principal, Linda Yaffe, a Leadership Development and Certified Executive Coach, uses her senior and executive level management experience to help you achieve your business and career goals.

Whether you are jump-starting a business, advancing your career, an executive or president, Linda’s coaching expertise will provide you with the essential focus, skills and behaviors needed to perform, advance and lead in today’s business environment.

As well, Linda works closely with companies like yours focused on "high potential grooming and leadership performance enhancement" geared toward your top talent and next generation of leaders.

Linda delivers bottom-line benefits to individuals and organizations focused on moving to the highest levels of learning, performance and achievement.

In addition to coaching, Linda delivers Leadership Workshops to small and large businesses.

Linda abides by the strict code of confidentiality and adheres to the highest standard of ethics in accordance with the International Coach Federation.

For more information, please contact Linda by email at LYaffe@WorkingMatters.com

 
 
 


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