Procrastination - willfully delaying or avoiding important tasks and activities.
We all procrastinate to some degree. Avoiding effort and discomfort is a fundamental human trait. But there are times when we need to get things done, whether to meet a critical deadline or to complete projects that fulfill and enrich our lives.
Over the years, I've developed some tricks to help overcome my almost constant urge to procrastinate. These tricks help me to get things started. Once we begin a task, we gain momentum. Regardless of how challenging or tedious the job might be, momentum can help us get through it and finish it.
Here are some tips for turning inaction into momentum and intentions into results. Pick any one that works for you. Or pick two. Or bookmark the list for times when you need a little push to help you get moving.
Do One Small Thing
No matter where you are, no matter what's happening, you can do one small thing. Do one small thing to move yourself forward. Make one phone call. Write one email. Do one errand. Match one pair of socks.
Even if this task takes only a few minutes (or seconds!), it's still an accomplishment. You're one step closer to reaching your goal. You've picked up some momentum. Momentum moves the entire universe. It can help us to complete a task or two.
Do Two Small Things
In the time that it takes to complete one task we can complete two. It's amazing how often this works when we pair our tasks effectively.
If you're taking out the garbage, pick up the mail. If you're going to the kitchen to look for a snack, take a dirty glass or an empty bottle with you. Do two things at once, and you'll end up with more time to relax. More work in less time should appeal to your inner procrastinator.
Develop A "Could Do" List
Forget the "To Do" list. It can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Instead, jot down some things that you "could" do. Explore the possibilities. Prioritize them in any way you wish. The fact that you've taken time to organize and consider what you need to do makes it more likely that you'll pick one and get started.
Begin With Something Easy
Athletes warm up before they perform at peak capacity. Start with the easiest task on your list. Easy, easy, easy! How easy is it to do something that's easy? It almost sounds TOO easy! :-)
Make It Even Easier
Still not motivated? Okay. Take the easiest task on your list and break it into pieces. If "easy" is easy, then one small portion of "easy" must be super easy. I'm certain that you can handle one "super easy" task today. Keep breaking those tasks down until you reach a size that you can handle.
Start With Something Challenging
The "worst first" approach - if you can address the toughest job first, the rest of your day will seem easy.
Work Fast And Get Past
Play this game with yourself: See how quickly you can finish something.
If you think that your task is going to take all afternoon, try to do it in an hour. Maybe you won't actually finish in an hour (awesome if you do, though!), but you will have worked for an hour at your maximum capacity. The thrill of racing the clock adds excitement to the work.
Embrace The "Quick And Dirty"
When I work on a challenging project, I like to think of it as a draft, a demo, or proof of concept. I want to get the idea out of my head and into some tangible or reviewable form. I know that I can always revise it. Having a rough model of what I want helps me to understand what revisions are required and how much time and effort that might take.
Get that first draft out. No one else is going to see it. No one is going to criticize it. It's yours, and it's there to help you.
The worst thing we can do is to wait around and dream of doing something perfectly. Unless we're willing to start with a simple, quick, messy version of our dream, that dream will never see the light of day.
Ask yourself, "What Am I Gaining by NOT Doing This?"
This is my secret weapon. It works almost every time I deploy it.
Shift your perspective. Instead of focusing on the inconvenience of doing something, think about the sacrifice build into NOT doing it. What are you going to lose? What are you going to miss out on if you don't get this done? What possible good will come from avoiding it?
Play
Whatever you have to do, find a fun way to do it. Include friends or helpful colleagues. Listen to music. Take some photos as you go along. Anything that you can do to make a task seem more fun and less tedious will motivate you to do it. You might even want to do it again once you finish.
Put Doing Ahead of Thinking
What should I do today? What should I do first? Should I be going something else? These are important questions, but if you ponder them when you're trying to get things done, they'll slow you down. Save the conceptual thinking for hours when you have a chance to relax and give them your full attention.
Reward Yourself
Promise yourself a treat for finishing an important task or list of tasks. You deserve a reward. You took action and got things done!
Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
