Speakers Platform: Would've, Could've, Should've... The Voice of Procrastination


			You are here: --> Meeting Planners --> Feature Articles Would've, Could've, Should've... The Voice of Procrastination by Barbara Bartlein, R.N., M.S.W. More Information About the Author: Click Here for the Barbara Bartlein, R.N., M.S.W. Home Page Overheard at the coffee pot: I would have finished school this year but I lost interest." I could have been manager by now, too, but who wants to spend all that time doing extra projects." I should have stayed at (fill in the blank) and I would be making twice the money." How many times do we fully intend to start, do, or finish something only to find we have NO TIME." Hello…PROCRASTINATION. Defined as the art of putting something off that could just as easily be done today. It comes in many forms. Not a Rounduit" - Because the big P" usually involves something we don't want to do…we fill our available time with smaller, easier and more comfortable projects. If there are two roads in front of us; one easy, one difficult, it is a natural tendency for people to take the less troublesome route. We avoid tasks, issues, and problems that we are not comfortable with. CURE: Tackle your biggest project first instead of getting the little ones out of the way." The little ones will be easy to sweep up in spare time. Interrupting Yourself - It's bad enough that we dodge phone calls, interruptions, and impromptu meetings; many of us actually interrupt ourselves." We do that by getting another cup of coffee, stopping to talk with someone, making a quick phone call, or answering E-mail. While we may pride ourselves on multi-tasking," we are actually avoiding the project we don't want to do. CURE: Set a time frame for the task you are by passing and seat belt yourself to the chair. Making the Project So Big, That No One Could Be Successful - It is easy to procrastinate when the mountain looks too high. They say a mule is a stubborn animal. Perhaps that is because of what we ask them to do; carry 250 pounds of heavy equipment, up the side of a cavern, mid-summer, in the desert. You would be stubborn, too. CURE: Divide your project into byte size pieces. Then set realistic goals to accomplish each one. Convincing Yourself of Defeat - If you are successful at the above techniques, it is easy to graduate to this phase where you can offer reasons why you would not be successful even if you tried. The self talk goes something like this; I wouldn't make it in school anyway." I doubt I could make the sale." How many people attempt this and fail?" We all have our own dialog but the result is always the same. Why bother trying when you are doomed to fail? CURE: When you start to think of a negative message, replace it immediately with a positive belief. Look for exceptions to the negative programming. For example: Other people are making the sales, I can too. Rationalizing it Away - When the above techniques no longer feed procrastination, the fall back position is convincing ourselves we didn't really need or want to do it in the first place. We tell ourselves it wasn't that important, it was too much work or only a fool would try. CURE: Look back at your original goal list for the year. (Oops, don't have one? It helps to make one!) There was a reason you put the goal on the list. Procrastination Feeds Poor Self-esteem - The final outcome for letting it slide" is a decrease in our own self-esteem. Rather than looking at our process of sabotaging our success, we come to the conclusion that, I am not successful." As our esteem takes a beating, we feel less motivated and energized. This in turn feeds future procrastination and leads to a vicious cycle. CURE: Evaluate your own process of getting off track when tackling your goals. Then force yourself to jump back on the train and start again. The only difference between a successful person and a failure is one did not quit. It is said that the hardest part of doing anything is getting started. An object at rest tends to stay at rest. But once started, you gain momentum which makes it easier and easier to keep going. Get your momentum going. Tackle one project or goal that has been on the back burner. © Barbara Bartlein, R.N., M.S.W. - All Rights Reserved. Barbara Bartlein, R.N., M.S.W. is a speaker, trainer, consultant and author. Barbara provides motivational keynotes, training seminars and wellness programs for business and organizations. For more information on how Barbara can help your organization please contact Speakers Platform.