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Equipped to...Get Around To It - The Perversity of Procrastination

This newsletter introduces "Getting Around To It - The Perversity Of Procrastination", a comprehensive article found on my website.

Even if your New Year’s Resolution was NOT to make any New Year’s Resolutions, most of us do feel that the start of a new year is a good time to do all those things we’ve been putting off since the middle of last year.

The truth is, though, that we shouldn’t put off important tasks or decisions until the start of a new year (or a new week, or a new month!). We should tackle high-priority tasks as soon as they crop up – whether we “feel like” doing them or not.

Here’s how to stop procrastinating and just do it!

Read Getting Around To It - The Perversity Of Procrastination

What is Procrastination?

Simply put, procrastination is putting off important tasks that you should be focussing on right now, in favour of something more pleasurable, or that you’re more comfortable doing. 

It’s the age-old struggle between what we know we should do, and what we actually want to do. This battle will only be won when we recognise one irrefutable truth – want never goes away. We procrastinate because we choose want over should.

Do I Procrastinate?

The truth is, everybody procrastinates to a lesser or greater degree. Putting off an unimportant task isn't necessarily procrastination - it may just be good prioritisation! You may be a chronic procrastinator if you regularly:

• Tackle only the low-priority and/or easy tasks on your To Do list and ignore the important, but challenging ones.
• Spend ages reading emails without responding to them, or taking any other action.
• Decide to finally sit down and tackle a high-priority/difficult task, but within five minutes you’re making coffee, making unimportant and unrelated phone calls etc.
• Wait for the “right mood” or the “right time” to tackle the important task at hand.

The good news is that procrastinators are made and not born. Procrastination is a learned behaviour – and what’s learned can be unlearned. The bad news is that while it's possible to change, it will take a lot of time, and you may always feel tempted to slip back into your old ways.

Here are a few things to try:

• Make a list of everything you have to do each day. Put the most important tasks at the top of the list and do those first!
• Be realistic with your daily goals. Trying to achieve too much in a limited time will feel overwhelming.
• Break down bigger tasks into manageable “chunks.”
• Give yourself a small reward every time you successfully complete your daily tasks. (Do not use food as a reward!)
• Accept that perfection is a myth – and even if it weren’t, it’s seldom ever necessary. You’re human. Your best is good enough.

Read Getting Around To It - The Perversity Of Procrastination

What's Next?

Watch out for my next newsletter where you will be E-Quipped to...Create Communication From Conflict.

Tip! Save these newsletters and accumulate the series on Be More Productive.

Regards

More About Me

My goal is to inspire you to make the changes necessary to live the life of your dreams! I believe that by developing your YOU-Q - the term I have created to describe your unique intelligence, creativity and wisdom – you can find your Inner winner and live a Be-YOU-tiful life right now. On my website you'll find more ideas to get you thinking about life, love, work and other important STUFF - all based on my work as a practicing psychologist, speaker, trainer and life coach (and hat lover!)

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