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PROCRASTINATION
James A. DeSena, CSP When people don't reach their goals., procrastination is often the culprit. Procrastination robs energy, wastes time and increases stress.
WHY DO PEOPLE PROCRASTINATE?
It's seems easy to procrastinate. We just put off doing the task we should be doing. Sometimes we'd rather be doing something we like better or something more enjoyable. Sometimes, we procrastinate because we think we are not going to like what happens if we take action.
WHY DO YOU PROCRASTINATE?
When we procrastinate, we are not putting off low value projects. That is good time management. Rather, we are putting off things we know we should or must do - things that will add value to our work or personal lives or things that will diminish worry.
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES WHEN YOU PROCRASTINATE?
1) Worry & distraction.
2) Lost time & energy thinking about something but not doing anything.
3) Lost opportunities & diminished self-esteem. When we tackle the things we fear the most, we grow personally. and our opinion of our self becomes more positive. When we procrastinate, we are still doing the thing we are procrastinating about. How? We are doing it over and over in our mind. I might think, "I have to call that person, I don't want to talk with him now. I'll wait." Or, "I know I have to start that report. I'll do it later."
One time my electric garage door opener broke. I went out right away to replace it with a new one. I brought it home and opened up the boxes. The installation instructions were on a multi-panel fold out with diagrams, arrows, letters and numbers. I looked at it and said I don't have to read this right now. I'll do it later. Three months later, I still hadn't installed it. But, it was becoming quite cold, as winter approached, and I knew if I didn't get it done now, I would have to get into a cold car each day as winter arrived. When I opened the boxes and placed the parts on the floor, I had a great sense of relief. You see, everyday during those three months I had been thinking about installing the garage door opener. Every time I walked by the garage, every time I went into the garage, every time I had to open the garage door by hand it was on my mind. When I finally began the job of installation, I felt good, quite relieved. It took less than two hours to complete, but I had spent more time thinking and worrying about doing it.
THREE STEPS TO OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION
1) Realize that we pay a dear price when we put things off - worry. When we do the thing right away, the worry goes away.
2) Since one of the reasons we procrastinate is because of perfectionism, we want to do it perfectly or not at all - we need to become less of a perfectionist and more of a doer. Everyday practice doing one small thing that doesn't matter wrong, perhaps placing a stamp on an envelope crooked.
3) DO IT NOW!
Just get started. Take the first step! Once you've mastered this, the second one will come easy.
What is the one thing you have been procrastinating about? Make a note of it here______________________.
What is the first step you would take so that you are not procrastinating? ____________________________
When will you start?______________________
(Note: True procrastinators will say, I'll do this later, or I'll start in 3 months. Instead, start today, or tomorrow at the latest.©2000 James A. DeSena, salesleaders.com All Rights Reserved.
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