If I could give you a surefire way to eliminate procrastination, well I wouldn’t post it online.\u00a0 I would patent it and sell it, and be a millionaire.\u00a0 I, as many others do, struggle with procrastination when trying to write.\u00a0 It is easy to daydream or start browsing social media when I should be writing.\u00a0 I constantly find other things I need to check “just real quick” when writing, but that of course ends with a long delay.\u00a0 Sometimes I get so frustrated over all I have to do, that I don’t do any of it, and end up procrastinating.<\/p>\n
I’m not the only one who does this though, apparently its very common, but still unhealthy.\u00a0 Psychotherapist Jude Bijou explains in her book, “Attitude Reconstruction: A Blueprint for Building a Better Life” that procrastinating can be very stressful for us.\u00a0 “We usually procrastinate to avoid a task that’s unpleasant or daunting, but when procrastinating starts to interfere with performance at work – by causing us to feel worried, fearful, and stressed-out, or by causing others to feel anxious because we are holding up progress – then it is time to stop putting the task aside and get on with it.”<\/p>\n
Bijou says that there are a few steps you can follow to help keep you from slowing down the whole office.<\/p>\n
Step 1: Identify the Situation<\/p>\n
Knowing what you need to get done, and all the details will help keep you focused.\u00a0 If it helps, write it down on a calendar, a to-do list, or a notepad.\u00a0 Sometimes writing it down can help you focus on what needs to be done, and can keep you on task.<\/p>\n
Step 2: Pinpoint your Emotions<\/p>\n
This translates into, “Why don’t I feel like doing my work?”\u00a0 Typically procrastination comes from 3 core emotions: anger, sadness, and fear.\u00a0 Anger that you are having to do the work in the first place, maybe you are having to cover for coworkers, or you having to work on a day off.\u00a0 Sadness can come from general depression or a sense of being overwhelmed.\u00a0 Fear can be related to not knowing your objectives, or not being comfortable with the subject matter that you are working with.\u00a0 Many people fear failure, which leads them to putting off a project entirely.<\/p>\n
Step 3: Deal with your Emotions<\/p>\n
Once you have determined which emotion you are feeling, you need to deal with it.\u00a0 If you are angry about an assignment, afraid of failure, or feeling overwhelmed, you need to find a solution.\u00a0 Talk to your boss, a friend, punch a pillow, cry in the closet, do whatever it takes to get it out of your system.<\/p>\n
Step 4: Do Some Planning<\/p>\n
No business has succeeded without some sort of plan.\u00a0 Planning is essential to getting your work done in a timely manner.\u00a0 Make sure you set aside plenty of time to get your work done.\u00a0 Create a timeline and list of items that need to be completed.<\/p>\n
Step 5: Find Some Truths<\/p>\n
Figure out what thoughts are sabotaging you and stop them.\u00a0 Simply put, stop lying to yourself.\u00a0 Stop giving yourself excuses.\u00a0 It is easy to tell yourself that you don’t have time, or you have something else you need to do, or my go to “I deserve a night off.”\u00a0 Sometimes you just need to tell yourself the cold hard truth.<\/p>\n
Step 6: Break your Goal into Small Doable Steps<\/p>\n
During your planning stage (step 4) set small goals for yourself that you can shoot for while working.\u00a0 If you set small acheivable goals you will constantly be mentally rewarded for your work, which makes it easy to continue working and finish your tasks.<\/p>\n
Step 7: Anticipate Roadblocks<\/p>\n
You can’t stop every interruption when you are trying to work, but you can try to plan for them.\u00a0 Anticipating these roadblocks, whether it be a meeting, phone calls, or a desk lurker, can help you set aside extra time needed to get jobs done without having any delays.\u00a0 Expecting some delay is smart, and can save you some pain in the future.<\/p>\n
Whether you follow all these steps or just a few, remember to always remind yourself how good it feels to be finished with a project.\u00a0 When we finish a tough job, we get a sense of relief and self gratification that makes your day that much better.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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