We all do it — at least I’m fairly certain that’s correct. Putting off things until later and then not getting around to doing them. I know that I’m really good at that. However I am aware that this is what I do, so now the trick is to find ways to avoid this pitfall. It may be that I’m fearful that I won’t know what to do — or it won’t be good enough — so not doing it stops me from finding that out but it also keeps me worrying about it.
There have been times when I have really concentrated and stopped procrastinating, and it felt rather good. I could see that I was achieving things and life seemed to run a lot smoother — funny about that. Then I’d slip back into the old ways again and that doesn’t feel anywhere near as good.
So I’ve asked myself how I can stop this habit, and change it to the new one of being productive, feeling good and generally keeping in integrity. It takes a concerted effort but the end results are worthwhile.
The first step I take is making the decision to avoid procrastinating, I will get things done when I said I would. Then the next is to diarise everything that I need to do, plus I utilise my phone calendar and setting a reminder so that no matter where I am the task is there for me to find — or it finds me! That cuts out the excuses of not remembering, ‘forgetting’ about it, or pretending I didn’t see it.
For me, just getting into the mindset of avoiding procrastination is major and once I’ve started tackling tasks as soon as I can, then very quickly comes the feelings of satisfaction and that boosts my self esteem.
Of course there are times when it simply is not possible to complete a task within the allocated time. Such as when I’ve decided to do some gardening — weeding, planting those plants I bought a while ago which will die if they don’t get in the ground and so on — and then it rains. A day like today in fact when it is raining steadily — so much so that putting on a rain coat would not be feasible. Thats when I’ll be okay to push it forward to the next available and conducive time.
Now I’m underway with my project of kicking procrastination to the curb, I find that getting things done seems to come a lot easier. I complete more tasks than I thought possible and begin to feel in control of my life. Strangely this also allows me to set aside me time — time where I can sit and watch that YouTube video I’ve saved; to catch up on my Facebook or to simply sit and read a novel without feeling guilty. I don’t like feeling guilty so taking steps to avoid it is a good idea.
I also like writing a list of the daily tasks that need to be completed, and love the feeling when I can cross things off that list. Makes me a bit smug, but whilst I might think I’m really clever, it’s not something to brag about.
There is an old adage that says “If you want something done — ask a busy person.”
So be that busy person who gets things done — you’ll feel better for it.