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Procrastination results from an individual’s short-sighted attempt to postpone temporary discomfort. What results is a senseless cycle of 1. delay, followed by 2. worry (which often turns to dread before long overdue action is taken), followed by 3. a panicky attempt to "catch up" which, more often than not, results in 4. less-than-satisfactory results. Ironically, procrastination does have a psychological payoff, albeit a roundabout, illogical one. In the near term, the procrastinator avoids the need to face the unpleasant possibility that he (or she) may have given his best effort and still fallen short of his goals. Since the fear of failure is a strong motivator, some procrastinators comfort themselves by telling themselves that they could have succeeded if they had tried or if they had started sooner. Unfortunately, the long term effects of chronic procrastination are both insidious and self-defeating. Over time, the procrastinator puts off life's most important tasks as he or she fills the day with low-priority activities. Sometimes, the procrastinator may be very busy, but his activities are low-risk, low-priority tasks. And in the end, the most important, high-priority activities are left undone. Procrastination is, at its core, a struggle against oneself; the only antidote is action. Once you acquire the habit of doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done, you will avoid untold trouble, worry, and stress. So learn to defeat procrastination by paying less attention to your fears and more attention to your responsibilities. Life punishes procrastinators and rewards men and women of action, and it does so sooner rather than later. In other words, life doesn't procrastinate. Neither should you. Tips for Getting Things Done 1. Have a clear understanding of your short and long term goals, and set your priorities in accordance with those goals.2. When faced with distasteful tasks, do them immediately, preferably first thing in the morning (even if the unpleasantness is a low-priority activity, go ahead and get it out of the way if it can be completed quickly). Dispatching distasteful tasks sooner rather than later will improve the quality of your day and prevent you from wasting untold amounts of energy in the process of fighting against yourself. 3. Avoid the trap of perfectionism. Be willing to do your best, and be satisfied with the results.4. If you don’t already own one, purchase a daily or weekly planning system that fits your needs. If used properly, a planning calendar is worth many times what you pay for it. 5. Start each work day with a clear written "to-do" list, ranked according to importance. At lunch time, take a moment to collect your thoughts, reexamine your list, and refocus your efforts on the most important things you wish to accomplish during the remainder of the day. And while you're at it, consider the following quotations: The Chains of Procrastination Are Broken Only By Action "Procrastination is opportunity’s
assassin." "Don’t duck the most difficult
problems. That just insures that the hardest part will be left when you’re
most tired. Get the big one done, and it’s all downhill from then on." About Procrastination "Do noble things, do not dream them all
day long." "Action is eloquence." "Act decidedly and take the
consequences. No good deed was ever done by hesitation." "To know what needs to be done, and
then to do it, comprises the whole philosophy of practical life." "What you can do or dream you
can do, begin it; Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. " This page is written and
compiled by Dr. Cris Freeman. |
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The habit of procrastination takes a
two-fold toll on its victims. First, important work goes unfinished; second (and
more importantly), valuable energy is wasted in the process of putting off the
things that remain undone.