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You Are Here: Home - Newsletters - "Get Organized" - Article
"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."
-Stephen Covey When we embark on a journey and we aren't sure how to get there, we typically jot down travel directions. So why are we so resistant to planning our personal or professional GOALS that would provide a road map -- or at least a compass -- for our lives? Although some of my clients are not clear about what they want, the vast majority tell me that they struggle with taking action. In other words, they PROCRASTINATE. I believe that all of us procrastinate around some things.
CAUSES OF PROCRASTINATION
Let's reflect on the major causes of procrastination:
MAKING CHOICES
Managing our time requires tough choices. That means that sometimes we may have to say "no" to important activities in order to attend to even more important activities that will enable us to accomplish HIGHER priorities. I work with a lot of small business owners and professionals such as coaches, consultants, doctors, lawyers, and accountants. For those in the service industry, time is money. To be profitable in their work, they must learn to limit their INVESTMENT of time if there will be a limited return on that investment. Of course, money is just one way to measure the returns. A "return on investment" of time may also yield an emotionally healthy and well-adjusted child, a deeply satisfying marriage, or a beautiful garden. The first key to overcoming procrastination is to get clear about what's most important to you.
MARCH FORTH!
"A static hero is a public liability. Progress grows out of motion." -Anonymous During a coaching call last week, a client of mine shared that her teenage daughter had a revelation as she came home from school with an improved report card. Her daughter exclaimed, "Mom, I finally figured out how to do well in school -- I just have to do my homework!" This made me think of something my colleague, Harold Taylor, wrote in a recent newsletter: "Major projects will never be finished if they are never started. The key to getting things done is to get things STARTED. Pick a date and time and stick to it."
TYPES OF PROCRASTINATION
In Linda Sapadin's book, "It's About Time: The Six Styles of Procrastination and How to Overcome Them", she tells us that chronic procrastinators are not lazy; they simply need to cultivate a more natural and fluid transition from MENTAL activity to PHYSICAL activity, while allowing an appropriate amount of time and energy to complete the task. She also provides a detailed description of each of the six styles of procrastination:
DON'T GIVE IN TO FEAR
Fear is also one of the main obstacles that holds people back from getting what they really want from their personal and professional. Use the acronym FEAR to help you remember these four steps:
A WORRY LOG
I remember hearing Oprah suggest keeping a "worry log" -- a place to write down all of your worries and fears with a date next to each entry. Then you can check back monthly to see what percentage of your worries and fears actually came TRUE. A worry log provides a great reality check for those consumed by fear. After doing this for a period of weeks or months, perhaps you will choose to spend less ENERGY and thought on your worries and fears once you recognize that most of them will never come true. By choosing to become fear-less (giving less emphasis to your fears), you'll have more time to focus on the activities and relationships that are most important to you. In other words, you can choose to stop the negative thinking patters and re-educate your mind to think more positively and focus on what you want.
THE ROOT OF PROCRASTINATION
Cheryl Richardson (author of several books, such as "Take Time for Your Life" and "Life Makeovers" has shared a technique that she recently started using -- and that has made an enormous difference in both the success of her company and the quality of her life. In the morning when you start your workday, begin with the following question: What action do I most want to AVOID doing today? Once you have an answer to that question, do these two things:
A NEW PERSPECTIVE
I've always subscribed to the idea of tackling the most important tasks first. Cheryl Richardson's approach has a slight twist to it. Instead of asking what is most important, she suggests that we ask ourselves what we most want to avoid. By looking at what you most want to avoid, it will CHALLENGE you to consider whether or not the items on your "to-do" list are truly designed to move you toward an important goal. It will also keep you FOCUSED on the actions you really need to take rather than all the "busy work" you may otherwise get caught up in when trying to avoid something that feels uncomfortable or risky. If you determine that the task is indeed important, by doing it first you accelerate your progress.
WHEN IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
Many of us procrastinate around the things that MATTER most because of the ANXIETY they cause. Using this method requires some vulnerability on your part. There will be, on occasion, times where you are disappointed with the outcome. But would you rather waste time doing things that don't matter, or are you willing to take a risk! Cheryl Richardson reminds us of this: "Since there's a good chance that you'll live through disappointment or rejection, why not face your fears head on? You have far more to gain than you 'think' you have to lose!"
Kathy Paauw is an organizing and productivity consultant, certified professional and personal coach, and speaker. Visit her website at www.orgcoach.net or contact her at . Want to receive these kind of articles via e-mail each month? Sign up for a free subscription. Click here to return to "Get Organized" -- May 2004... Add this page to your Bookmarks!
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