PROCRASTINATING

Ø STOP PROCRASTINATING

Everyone procrastinates at one time or another. Some people habitually delay projects for work or school. Others put off cleaning the house or starting that diet. And while it’s only an occasional problem for most, procrastination can be a chronic stumbling block for some.

There are many reasons for procrastinating. Two common explanations are fear of failure and dread of taking on a long, boring, and/ or difficult tasks.

Fear of failure often comes into play at work or school where results are evaluated and can affect our future success. A student may put off studying for a test until the last minute. Lack of time hitting the books is a more desirable explanation for failure than lacking intelligence to learn the material.

When a task is perceived as long or difficult, many will procrastinate simply because there is no immediate gratification. For example, it will take months to lose those ten pounds. Putting off the diet one more day (and eating that yummy chocolate cake) will not make much difference.

But that one extra day (and the cake) does make a difference. Procrastination causes stress, anxiety and a feeling of failure. Students who fear failure ultimately guarantee that failure when they do not prepare for tests or start projects on time. Employees who begin tasks at the last minute rarely perform as well as their non-procrastinating colleagues. Putting off that diet will ultimately add to the number of pounds you need to lose to be healthy making the job that much harder to accomplish.

If you are a chronic procrastinator, you will not cure yourself in a day. Reward yourself for every step taken in the right direction.

First figure out why you are procrastinating. Is it fear of failure or lack of confidence? Write down all the reasons why putting off your project will bring you one step closer to failure. Does it make sense to put it off any longer? No.

Break down the task into smaller jobs. If it’s a thirty page paper due in two weeks. Write down a goal of finishing three pages a night. After you finish your nightly quota, give yourself a reward of some sort. Watch your favorite TV show (taped while you were working, of course) or have a treat.

Remind yourself (write it down and put it on the fridge) of how good you will feel when your project is done or when you’ve lost those ten pounds. Plan a big reward for that time. If the end seems too far away, give yourself a reward at the half way point.

Those of us who procrastinate on a day to day basis need a realistic clear prioritized ‘to do’ list. Keep the list with you and stick to the order. Cross things off as they are accomplished. Plan a reward for the end of the day if you accomplish all your tasks.

Tell your friends and family about your goals. If you have someone asking you how the diet is coming along, it’s more difficult to cheat. If you have a long school project to do, ask a friend to help keep you on task by calling each day to see what you have accomplished.

Procrastination can cause you to miss opportunities and sabotage your future. Stop procrastinating!