Overcoming procrastination is no easy task, but it can be done. Sooner, the better. Let's face it, there's always something we'd rather do than work (including TV!). The good news, though, is that the TV will still be there after you've completed your daily tasks. Here are 10 tips to overcoming procrastination:
Ten Tips To Help You Overcome Procrastination
© 2000 by Kathy Paauw, OrgCoach.net
Select one idea from the list below and make a commitment to
yourself to create a new habit by making it a part of your
daily routine.
- How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! Break
larger projects into manageable "bites" and create a
timeline for yourself to accomplish these smaller tasks. - Remember that each project expands to the time allotted
to it, so set a limit for yourself: "I am going to return
all my phone calls in one hour." "I will file papers for 30
minutes." "I will spend 15 minutes picking up around the
house." Set a timer. You will be amazed how much you can get
done when you focus your time. - Check your self-talk. Do you frequently say, "I
gotta...," "I should...," or "I have to..."? Replace this
self-talk with "I choose to..." and recognize that you are
at choice about what you do. If you don't choose to do it,
don't do it! - Eat a live toad first thing in the morning, and nothing
worse will happen to you the rest of the day. Tackle that
"toad" -- the task you have been putting off, the one that
is hanging over your head -- because it will lift an
immense load and you will feel much more productive. - Train yourself to trim the F.A.T. When papers come into
your office or home, give yourself these three choices:
File, Act, Toss. (Note that "I'll just put it here for now"
is not one of the choices.) - Relieve yourself of the stress caused by all of the
clutter in your home and office by setting up some systems
to manage the paper in your life. A good filing system and a
tickler file system are essential elements. For instructions
on setting up an effective tickler system, visit
http://www.orgcoach.net/trimthefat.html. - Make a weekly appointment with yourself to plan your
coming week. During your planning session, schedule
important activities and tasks so you have a concrete plan
for following through with your intentions. - When planning your time, include both urgent (time-
sensitive) and non-urgent but important activities in your
plan. An example of an urgent activity might be a meeting or
a project with an upcoming deadline. A non-urgent activity
might be exercise or relationship-building -- something
important but not time-sensitive or deadline-driven. - Make appointments with yourself to get administrative
work done, such as paying bills or catching up with your
reading. Treat this time as you would an appointment with
someone else - Take 15 minutes at the end of each day to put things
away and look at the calendar for the next day. Gather what
you need ahead of time so you will be prepared for tomorrow.
OTHER ACTION IDEAS
Start a Worry Log and check it monthly. What percent of your
fears actually come true?
When you are aware that fear is holding you back, follow the
four-step FEAR process (available on my website at
http://www.orgcoach.net/newsletter/v3issue3.html to help
get you unstuck.
------------------------------------------------------------
Kathy Paauw, President of Paauwerfully Organized,
specializes in helping busy executives, professionals, and
entrepreneurs declutter their schedules, spaces and minds.
She is a certified business/personal coach and professional
organizer. Contact her at mailto:orgcoach@gte.net or visit
her website at http://www.orgcoach.net and learn how you can
Find ANYTHING in 5 Seconds - Guaranteed!
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