“It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste.” Henry Ford
“Procrastination is the fear of success. People procrastinate because they are afraid of the success that they know will result if they move ahead now. Because success is heavy, carries a responsibility with it, it is much easier to procrastinate and live on the 'someday I'll' philosophy.” Denis Waitley
“Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness; no laziness; no procrastination; never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day.” Lord Chesterfield
“Wasted days can never be recalled.” Anon
What do we procrastinate about? Here is what several people I asked told me: cleaning house, doing home repairs, doing my exercises, doing my taxes, filing expense reports, following up from meetings and telephone calls, following up on leads and inquiries, handling the mail, making phone calls, paying bills, replacing light bulbs, sending thank you cards, work projects, and writing my dissertation. We procrastinate about all kinds of stuff, big and small!
One person told me about someone who inspired her. She is a "Now" person.
As soon as she has something to do, she turns right to it and does it now. That has an impact on others, sometimes positive and sometimes negative. It provides a jump start to any project that she was involved with and provides others with a clearer picture of what else might be needed to complete the project. It brings up faster questions and issues which had not been considered and the team working on a project can deal with these things earlier so it speeds up the progress toward completion. Of course it also irritates those people that are the "Not Now" people! You know, the kind of people who may be like you and me and say "I'll get to it later after I do these other four tasks that I also don't want to do but doing them is better than doing what I should be doing!"
We laugh but those of us in the "Not now" category know that we pay a price. We think about the thing we are procrastinating about much more than we would if we just did it now; we use valuable energy in tolerating what we haven't taken care of; we get anxious when it comes down to the wire; we can't trust ourselves to do what we say we will do; we don't do the job the way we know we could do it because we run out of time, and we beat ourselves up for being lazy or, worse, for being a loser!
So how can you get beyond whatever it is that is stopping you from being the "Now" person, at least in some areas of your life? We have just past one of the all time excuses for procrastination: tax time! I decided to follow some of the tips below and complete my taxes and this posting several hours in advance of my self-imposed deadline! I am looking forward to being able to relax in the hot tub tonight as my reward - a normal evening! To get moving on this I spoke with several people and got some good ideas about this topic. I love talking with people and this was an easy first step in getting the project done. I am busy on this project as my husband is busy cleaning up the aftermath of the taxes, of course, and it is always more fun to work on projects with other people. And, I am having fun with this topic since it is one of those gremlins that is ever present in my life!! Look at the list below and see if there is something there that will make a difference in how you handle a project this week!
- Find the thing that inspires you. Is it the results you will get when you do what you should do? Is it fulfilling on a dream that is built one step at a time? Is it making a contribution to others' health and well-being? Is it the adrenaline that rushes through your brain when you consummate a deal or accomplish the project? So then take the first step toward that inspiration! The first step is always the hardest!
- Re-evaluate what it is you do. Find someone to partner with so that you can use your best talents and skills and they can use theirs. Or integrate something you really love into the flow of the activity, maybe a passion for singing, or bird watching, or the interaction with others.
- Team up with someone. Find someone that will remind you about what it is you really want and what it is you are committed to. Work in an office where other people are busy. Seeing others at work may help you focus. If you work on your own, go to the library, or rent an executive suite or a studio in a building full of artists. Find a support group or professional group to stimulate your ideas and help you overcome whatever it is that stops you.
- Make it Fun! Make it a game. The attitude you choose will make all the difference! Incorporate play into every phone call or activity. Lighten up. Ask others what they do to make things fun and playful. Wear a funny hat or clown's nose when you are doing something boring or way too serious. Be silly and laugh just to laugh.
- Know when to get help! When the tough challenges arise, decide how long you are going to struggle and then call someone and ask them for ideas. Or walk away from the task at hand and leave it for a while. Come back to it later with a fresh mind and new perspective.
Be a "Now" person and don't let your past dictate who you are in this moment! Working with a coach can help you to tap the things that get you moving, and tip the scales in favor of being more "Now" than "Not Now"! With your coach, you will look for the inspiration and craft a lot of first steps towards the things that make a difference in your life!
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