Determine Your Procrastination Personality
Brook Noel is the author of The Change Your Life Challenge: A 70 Day Life Makeover Program for Women. Learn more at www.changeyourlifechallenge.com
Let's face it: at one point or another, we are all bound to procrastinate on something. Even the most efficient time-manager will have a bump in the road now and then. But what happens when procrastination becomes the norm instead of the exception? While Nike? tells us to "Just Do It," what happens when we "Just Don't!"
Procrastination is a frustrating diversion for many. In Day 9 of the CYLC book we explore a Prescription for Procrastination. However, given this is such a hot-topic for many, I wanted to offer further exploration. Now, this exploration won't do you any good if you don't explore with me. So create a new file in Word or grab a pencil and paper. Go ahead, I'll wait here. (Come on? go? if you procrastinate you'll be missing the point! And don't do this in your 'head' because you don't like to write things down-just follow the instructions and grab that paper.)
Make five headings at the top of your piece of paper.
1. Procrastinated Task: List out at least 10 tasks you are currently procrastinating on, or remember procrastinating over in the past. (The more you list, the more revealing this exercise will be.)
2. Extent of Procrastination: How long has the task remained unfinished?
3. Life Area: What area of your life does it fall into? (Consult the sections of the CYLC book if you need help determining the different life areas, i.e. spiritual, self-care, relationships, time-management, etc.)
4. Deadline Driven: Is there a definite deadline; if so, list it out.
5. Solo or Not: Does this task involve other people? If so, list the people.
6. Reason: (We will get to this column in a moment)
Leave some space below each task that you record.
Give yourself as much time as you need to list 10 or more tasks before completing the next section of this Challenge.
Let's analyze each column.
1. Procrastinated Task: Look at this column in conjunction with Life Area. Is there a certain life area where you tend to procrastinate? (The tasks may fall into a couple of life areas-if so list them out.)
2. Extent of Procrastination: Look at how long you have procrastinated on your tasks. Then take a moment to write down all the cons of this procrastination on another piece of paper. If you are delaying exercise, could you be seriously impacting your health and your family and you might pay for it later? If you have been procrastinating on taxes or budgeting, are you furthering financial stress that will continue to weigh on your shoulders? Take a realistic look at the cost of your choices. Also, evaluate whether you are a "dawdler" or not. Dawdlers take mini-steps, just enough to say they aren't procrastinating, but never seem to finish a project. Renounce dawdling and start doing!
3-5. Deadline Driven and Solo or Not: These columns offer an interesting insight into common themes among procrastinated tasks. Some people find that the tasks they procrastinate on do not have deadlines. If this is the case, an easy remedy is to assign a self-made deadline to everything. Other people find that it is the solo activities where they procrastinate most. A quick solution is to find a support partner to be accountable to.
6. In the space that you have left blank, write down what you have learned about each of your procrastinated tasks. List a new action based on what you have uncovered. Keep this list right next to your keyboard and read through it everyday along with the page you wrote on the cost of procrastination. Continue to do this, each and every day, until you have crossed these items off of your list. Overcoming procrastination is a lot like riding a bike. Once you understand the logic behind your specific choices, you can make better choices moving forward.
Brook Noel is the author of The Change Your Life Challenge: A 70 Day Life Makeover Program for Women. Learn more at http://www.changeyourlifechallenge.com
bmw rental chicago Bath .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIn this digital age, the importance of being able to... Read More
Q. I have several projects going at once -- but... Read More
We live in a world where more is expected of... Read More
Get a grip. Is it possible to manage time? Can... Read More
Balancing Your Work, Family and Social Life... Read More
1. Do tasks less frequentlyClean house every 10 days rather... Read More
We are constantly inundated with routine (often boring!) tasks around... Read More
Are you too busy to put yourself first? If a... Read More
Having a home based business can be overwhelming. When you... Read More
Where does your time go? We all know we are... Read More
Work life balance is the new Holy Grail; that search... Read More
If you work from home, you know the kind of... Read More
Let's look at your time management skills. Most of us... Read More
Many of you have expressed the challenge of not having... Read More
Setting goals is the easy part -- but sticking with... Read More
Today, it is hard to open an e-mail newsletter, a... Read More
We don't realize many things we do until we draw... Read More
Many of us spend long hours at our desk. To... Read More
Do you have plenty to do, but don't have enough... Read More
I would like to touch upon a subject that it... Read More
Frustration is when an obstacle blocks your ability to achieve... Read More
We are all born equal! We all have the same... Read More
I keep a fossil on my desk at all times.... Read More
Do your dishes really need to be dried, or could... Read More
Fitting an education into a busy lifestyleMany people have aspirations... Read More
limousine service Ava ..We all get overwhelmed from time to time, and sometimes... Read More
Not 1 in 10 people can tell you where money... Read More
Do you have plenty to do, but don't have enough... Read More
If you can regularly ask yourself "Am I regularly and... Read More
I've divided my tips into two sections - 5 ways... Read More
Are you a worrier? Do you frequently spend time and... Read More
When I sit down with a client to work on... Read More
In our time-crazed society, lots of time is what most... Read More
You can lose, damage or waste some things in life,... Read More
I would like to touch upon a subject that it... Read More
Many of you have expressed the challenge of not having... Read More
When you decide to become self-employed, you automatically become the... Read More
A working manager needs more than time management.That old saying,... Read More
Still awaiting the birth of my baby (I am overdue),... Read More
Many of us get so caught up in day-to-day pressures... Read More
One of the biggest problems most people have when it... Read More
If you feel like your life moves faster than a... Read More
Balancing Your Work, Family and Social Life... Read More
OK...let's assume that you're truly motivated to change. Great. But... Read More
"It's just been one of those days?I can't seem to... Read More
Do you wish you could work less and play more?... Read More
Whatever providence has in store for us tomorrow is not... Read More
Yesterday, I'd just gotten comfortable at my favorite table in... Read More
Hey - Did someone press the FFW button?Have you ever... Read More
Number Yourself: Count yourself as an important individual. You are... Read More
Time Management |