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
limousine Ackley .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareA working manager needs more than time management.That old saying,... Read More
As mothers we play so many different roles and most... Read More
People always seem to be in such a hurry, everywhere... Read More
"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow... Read More
Benjamin Franklin wrote: "If you want to enjoy one of... Read More
It is not enough if you are busy. The question... Read More
If you are like most moms I know you think... Read More
As each day passes, and more and more things need... Read More
"Work smarter, not harder" is a clich? that has darted... Read More
"Slaves to the clock" was the cover story in the... Read More
Time management is absolute crucial nowadays where business decisions have... Read More
What would you say to me if I told you... Read More
How often have you tried to manage your time in... Read More
Are you too busy to put yourself first? If a... Read More
In this world there is something more precious than gold.... Read More
There are the golden rules that apply to time. If... Read More
Time is inelastic. Despite what some of us persist in... Read More
This past Friday I was asked to speak with a... Read More
I keep a fossil on my desk at all times.... Read More
Recently I've experienced a barrage of time wasters. Everything you... Read More
Clarity brings accomplishmentOne of the most important things you can... Read More
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to... Read More
TIME MANAGEMENTWith the creation of the universe, God gave humankind... Read More
Most of us know how to manage our time. It... Read More
We all get overwhelmed from time to time, and sometimes... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare Alexander ..Many of the world's most driven and successful people sleep... Read More
"The bad news is time flies. The good news is... Read More
If you can motivate yourself at will to get any... Read More
One of the issues most often raised by my clients... Read More
OK...let's assume that you're truly motivated to change. Great. But... Read More
How you spend the first sixty minutes of your day... Read More
It's been said, "That no one has enough time yet,... Read More
Whenever you have projects that can't be done in one... Read More
This is one more article on "Organizing and Enjoying Your... Read More
Letters, magazines, bills, flyers, what to do with them all.... Read More
Are you working a "day job" while building your home-based... Read More
There are the golden rules that apply to time. If... 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 never seem to have any time for myself. What... Read More
Despite the best of intentions, most of us don't use... Read More
It is not enough if you are busy. The question... Read More
Would you like to know how to get 10 times... Read More
An expert in time management was speaking to a group... Read More
Would you describe yourself as extremely busy? Do you often... Read More
Hey - Did someone press the FFW button?Have you ever... Read More
* If you were paying you to prioritise emails over... Read More
"Time is what we need the most and what we... Read More
Do you feel guilty about all the publications you purchase... Read More
It's 6:00 a.m. I'm awake. I'm pumped! I'm ready to... Read More
Time Management |