Procrastination is all about perspective? If you want to beat up on yourself, it's a good word.
If you want to be mad at someone, it's also a good word.
And if you need an excuse, procrastination is a handy word.
But if you really want to get things done, it should be stricken from your vocabulary.
To be honest, I don't believe in it.
I mean, I know it exists but I don't think anyone really chooses procrastination consciously.
As humans, we tend towards things that give us pleasure and away from those things that cause us pain.
Putting things off is painful.
By putting things off we disappoint ourselves and others and we know we'll have to take care of -whatever it is - eventually so then we'll have to do the work and still have people angry with us because it took so long.
Guilt, anger, hostility, anxiety.
These are not pleasurable experiences.
Why do we procrastinate? I did an informal study because I was curious and these are the broad categories I came up with in answer to that question: 1)I don't know how to do it.
2)I don't have the money, time, energy to do it.
3)I hate doing it.
4)I'm worried I'll make the wrong choice or do it wrong.
But the one common thing everyone said after each of these statements - "I know I should take care of it.
" And there it is - the conflict that births procrastination every time.
We know we should do something but we're blocked by our own emotions, external circumstances or inability.
And we feel guilty about it.
Fortunately, there's an easy remedy to procrastination.
You can avoid all of those nasty feelings, all of the conflict and all of the anger and guilt.
First, define the problem.
The problem isn't that there is something horribly wrong with you or that you're lazy or that you have always procrastinated so don't even go there.
The problem is the why.
Why are you putting this off? Then break down the solution into reasonable, bite-sized pieces so you don't wind up chasing your tail.
Let's say you live in Colorado and part of your fence blew down in a wind storm.
You see it and those old tapes start running "something else I need to take care of...
I don't have the time...
I hate fixing stuff when I have no idea how to do it...
" Right? The fence blew down.
The problem is that I don't know how to take fix it and I don't have the time.
What's the solution? Well, what about hiring someone? If you want to put off calling someone to fix it, look at that too.
Why? Because you don't have the money right now? That's okay.
The goal of this isn't necessarily to solve the problem at hand immediately - it's to get it off your mind.
Break it down into little pieces.
Call around for estimates to get an idea of the cost.
Thinking about the hassle may slow you down, so put that aside.
Just get the estimates for now.
If they come in and you don't want to spend $1,200 to get a small section repaired, it's time to brainstorm.
Your choices are: take the time to learn to repair the fence yourself, spend $1,200 or ask around for more estimates.
Take a minute to brainstorm other ideas and sort through them.
This is another place people can get hung up.
They're afraid of making the wrong choice.
It might help to know that often there's no right or wrong answer.
It's about determining what works best for you, not doing it "right.
" Clear some time on your calendar to learn or to ask for more estimates or get your checkbook out.
You can do this process with every goal, every chore and every problem that you've been putting off solving.
And if you need more ideas, there are resources and professionals out there who can work with you to help you move past procrastinating.
When you determine the problem, break the solution down into smaller bits and realize it's not about right or wrong, it puts you in the driver's seat, allowing you to get to where you want to be.