We all do it
to some degree or another; put off for tomorrow what we know should be done
today. Postpone the inevitable pain for the current moment of pleasure. But we
know that even if we can manage to put it out of our minds for the present, it
will eventually come around and bite us on the butt and disturb our external
calm demeanor.
Below are
some of the symptoms of a Procrastinator and the remedies to try.
1. Lack of
Vision
Not having a
clear vision for the future is one of the biggest reasons people procrastinate.
If you can’t see the benefits of completing certain tasks why would you bother
starting them?
Remedy: Have
a clear picture of all that needs to be achieved and the reasons why, you are
much more likely to be motivated to get going and get things done.
2. Lack of
Time
Lack of time
is the most popular excuse banded about for not getting things done. But
fortunately there are very few people in this world that don’t have the scope
for becoming at least 10% more efficient. Being busy doesn’t equate to being
efficient. Regularly when someone lacks time in their lives, it is due to poor
organization skills, poor prioritization or the inability to say no.
Remedy:
Learn to become more efficient with one’s time. This can free up many hours a
week to get the more important stuff done.
3. Lack of
Organization
The infamous
words of Peter Druker say it clearly “Fail to Plan and Plan to Fail”. If you
are disorganized and don’t keep a schedule you are likely to forget tasks and
miss deadlines.
Remedy:
Keeping a schedule will help you to track all the tasks that you have to do and
ensure that tasks aren’t forgotten.
4. Tiredness
Some will
use the excuse of being too tired to get started. Many people delay and procrastinate
on their home duties because they are too tired when they get home from work.
Remedy: Find
out the reason for your tiredness. Are you eating right? Are you exercising?
Not getting enough sleep? Find your reason and try to remedy it by changing
your ways.
5. Fear
Fear of the
outcome can be another delaying factor. Some people fear failure; they won’t be
able to do the task to a good enough standard so they delay in getting started.
Others — believe it or not — fear success. They may know that by completing a
certain task, the outcome may lead them places they are unsure they want to go.
Remedy: Become clear about the consequences of
completing or not completing a task.
“Clarity
brings Power”
- Anthony
Robins
6. Easily
distracted
In the
modern age we are bombarded with technology and external stimulation that it
becomes more difficult to stay focused.
Remedy: Turn
of email notifications and only check emails at allocated times during your
day. Switch off your phone and allow messages to go to voicemail. Close your
office door and let people know you are not to be disturbed. Remember to stay
in control of your technology and not let it control you.
7. Feeling
Overwhelmed
Some tasks
at hand can make us feel overwhelmed, mostly because we don’t know how to get
started.
Remedy:
Break it down into bite sized chunks. Then break it down even more. Plan each
part of the task so that you are focusing on completing the sub task rather
than the overall task. This helps to feel in control and not overwhelmed. Zoom
in and zoom out every now and again to make sure you are moving forward with
the overall task.
But the best
and simplest advice is to make a start on any important task. No matter how
small or how insignificant in the overall picture, just get moving. In keeping
with the laws of physics — “An object in motion tends to stay in motion” — you
can start to get rid of procrastination by moving forward.
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